This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:10:05
The video delves into the identity crisis of the "Call of Duty" franchise, tracing its struggles since its peak from 2007 to 2012, with titles like "Modern Warfare" and "Ghosts." Initially celebrated for its grounded military realism, the franchise began losing its way by incorporating disparate elements like pop culture icons and futuristic features, driven by a pursuit of trends rather than genuine innovation. Key releases like "Advanced Warfare" and "Infinite Warfare" tried to stay relevant by mimicking competitor successes such as EA's "Titanfall" and "Battlefield 1," but these attempts often felt inadequate and derivative.
Efforts like "Blackout" in "Black Ops 4" highlighted a shift towards financially motivated decisions, such as foregoing a traditional campaign. A significant revival occurred with "Modern Warfare 2019" and its successful free-to-play mode, Warzone, which felt fresh and innovative. However, subsequent entries have been criticized for being repetitive and lacking originality.
The video also critiques the mishmash of collaborations and in-game purchases, arguing that such features clash with the franchise’s serious tone. In conclusion, there is cautious optimism that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision might steer the franchise back on track. The video ends by involving the audience with a question about the franchise’s future and thanking them for their engagement.
00:00:00
In this segment, the speaker discusses the identity crisis that the game franchise Call of Duty is facing. They highlight how Call of Duty, once epitomized by “boots on the ground” soldiers and realistic weapons, has strayed from its roots by incorporating elements like Nicki Minaj, Attack on Titan, and jetpacks. This shift is seen as a result of the franchise chasing trends rather than innovating. The speaker identifies the franchise’s peak years as between 2007 and 2012, citing Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare to Call of Duty: Ghosts, during which the game was highly influential and mainstream. The identity crisis began with Call of Duty: Ghosts, which tried to differentiate itself with larger maps and interactive environments, attempting to mimic the success of Battlefield but ultimately failing to innovate successfully.
00:03:00
In this segment, the video discusses the perceived decline in the Call of Duty franchise, highlighting the minimal impact of features like “Levolution” and how attempts to innovate often felt half-baked. Specifically, it mentions “Advanced Warfare” pushing the series into the future with its 2054 setting and new movement systems. The segment also covers the competitive pressure from EA’s Titanfall, known for its advanced movement mechanics, prompting Activision to introduce similar features in “Black Ops 3,” including wall running and specialists, which were seen as derivative. The ongoing struggle continued with “Infinite Warfare,” further compounded by the success of EA’s “Battlefield 1,” set in World War I, which countered the futuristic themes exhausting the market at the time.
00:06:00
In this segment of the video, the discussion centers around Activision’s attempts to compete with other successful gaming titles. Infinite Warfare’s sales were initially helped by bundling it with Modern Warfare Remastered. However, the game copied concepts from other titles and failed to establish a distinct identity. This trend continued with Call of Duty: World War II, which borrowed ideas from Battlefield 1 and Destiny.
The segment highlights Call of Duty’s foray into the Battle Royale genre with the release of Blackout in Black Ops 4, which was perceived as rushed and financially motivated rather than passion-driven. This mode’s inclusion led to the scrapping of a traditional campaign.
The turning point came with Modern Warfare 2019, which felt innovative and independent, reviving the franchise’s success with the free-to-play Warzone mode. Despite this breakthrough, subsequent entries post-2019 have been viewed as repetitive reskins of Modern Warfare 2019, showing Activision’s attempt to replicate success from that period.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the concept of collaborations and item shop bundles in Call of Duty, comparing their effectiveness to those in Fortnite. They argue these features don’t fit well in Call of Duty due to the game’s serious, grounded military experience and first-person shooter perspective, where players can’t see their own skins. Additionally, these bundles add to the already high cost of the game. The speaker highlights Call of Duty’s current struggle with its identity but expresses hope that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision may improve the development process and overall gaming experience. The video ends by engaging viewers with a question about Call of Duty’s identity crisis and thanking them for watching.