News Ledge
  • Home
  • Gaming
  • Gear
  • Movies + TV
  • Contact Us
  • About
Search
News Ledge
  • Home
  • Gaming
  • Movies + TV
  • Contact Us
News Ledge Gaming Call of Duty Will Skip Annual Release in 2023 For The First Time Since 2004: Report
  • Gaming

Call of Duty Will Skip Annual Release in 2023 For The First Time Since 2004: Report

  • February 23, 2022
  • Alex Chavers
Call of Duty skipping 2023

According to a Bloomberg report, Holiday 2023 will bring something to the gaming industry not seen since 2004. A holiday season with no mainline Call of Duty game. 

Why the unprecedented delay? The report says in part, “after a recent entry in the series failed to meet expectations, leading some executives to believe that they’re introducing new versions too rapidly.” Yeah, Vanguard and Cold War weren’t exactly premiere entries into the franchise. 

It’s also hard to ignore how much online gaming has shifted towards Battle Royale. A quick look at Xbox’s most-played chart shows this clearly. We see Modern Warfare (Warzone) at #3, Vanguard at #14, and Cold War at #16. 

Xbox’s most played games chart.

What does that mean for 2022 and 2023? The next Modern Warfare is still set for a holiday release this year. The Bloomberg report expands a little further:

“Activision is working on other projects to fill the gap next year. A Call of Duty game set to come out this fall will receive a steady stream of additional content, and there will be a new, free-to-play online title next year, said the people. Treyarch, the Activision-owned studio working on the now-delayed game, will also help with the free-to-play title, the people said.”

I like the move. It’s clear the annual release grind combined with the difficulties of developing games during the pandemic was causing the quality of games to suffer. Add in Warzone’s tremendous success, and it’s unnecessary to keep pumping out games each year. 

I hope the decision to skip 2023 means Activision is highly confident in this year’s entry. Plus, we can expect to see more content than usual for 2022’s game as development shifts more fully into treating the game as a ‘live service.’ 

Image: Call of Duty 2 / Activision

Related Topics
  • activision
  • Call of Duty 2023
  • Modern Warfare
Alex Chavers

When I’m not playing Rocket League (best game ever), you can find me writing about all things games, space and more. You can reach me at alex@newsledge.com

Previous Article
the last kingdom season five
  • Movies + TV

When Will The Last Kingdom Season 5 Air on Netflix?

  • February 22, 2022
  • Marcus Chavers
View Post
Next Article
peaky blinders season 6
  • Movies + TV

How to Watch Peaky Blinders Before It Comes to Netflix

  • February 23, 2022
  • Marcus Chavers
View Post
You May Also Like
pubg rondo map gameplay
View Post
  • Gaming

PUBG Rondo Gameplay Reveal Trailer Shows Wild New Features Including Buy Station, Airdrop Cover, And More

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 28, 2023
Destiny 2 the final shape delayed
View Post
  • Gaming

Now It’s Official, Destiny 2: The Final Shape Expansion Pushed Back To June 2024

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 27, 2023
Rust MW3 map
View Post
  • Gaming

Rustment 24/7 Will Be Peak Call of Duty When It Launches Next Week

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 24, 2023
MW3 weapon balance update
View Post
  • Gaming

Modern Warfare 3’s First Big Weapon Balance Update Takes Aim At Burst Rifles

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 21, 2023
Modern Warfare Gaia skin removed
View Post
  • Gaming

Call of Duty Dev Responds To ‘Groot’ Skin Hate, Will Pull It Until Visibility Issues Fixed

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 20, 2023
MW3 armory unlock changes
View Post
  • Gaming

Modern Warfare 3 Armory Unlocks Now Less Of A Headache

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 17, 2023
MW3 tac sprint changes
View Post
  • Gaming

Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Movement Gets A Gigantic Buff With Tac Sprint Changes

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 17, 2023
View Post
  • Gaming

PUBG Rondo Map Looks Like A Mix Of Deston’s City And Sanhok’s Jungle

  • Alex Chavers
  • November 14, 2023

© News Ledge 2023. All Rights Reserved

Input your search keywords and press Enter.