Remember the vibe before Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) launched? The FPS community hadn’t been this fired up in years. There was palpable energy in the air, the promise of cross-play for the first time, free post-launch maps and modes, no loot boxes (finally!), and microtransactions being openly described as direct-purchase only. It was a bold declaration from Activision and Infinity Ward: ‘We’ve heard you, and we’re going back to what makes Call of Duty great.’
And let’s not forget the glow-up in visuals. The new engine made everything — from operator animations to muzzle flashes — feel gritty and grounded. Add in the introduction of large-scale 20v20 and even 64-player Ground War modes, and you had a game poised to rewrite the franchise DNA. For many, MW2019 was a reset button on a series that had lost its edge with the likes of Black Ops 4.
So… what happened?
It went off the rails.
Despite all its strengths, MW2019 was a Trojan horse. Sure, the polish was undeniable, but underneath the surface, there were early warning signs: map design that felt claustrophobic and overly reliant on door mechanics, an experiment with removing the classic minimap, and the deeply controversial introduction of Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) that punished players for improving with tougher lobbies.
The real kicker? The shift in COD’s design philosophy. The multiplayer was tailored more for casuals and new players, boosted by the pandemic’s surge in player base. Features long considered core to the experience — persistent lobbies, combat records, lobby leaderboards, ranked play — were noticeably absent or stripped down. The game was beautiful, sure, but in the way a luxury car has no engine under the hood if you bothered to pop it open.
The Warzone Effect: A blessing and a curse
Warzone proved to be a game-changer, quite literally. It exploded in popularity and quickly became the main focus of Activision’s live service strategy. Each new game now exists within the orbit of Warzone. That meant tighter integration, yes, but also more homogenised gameplay systems, shared progression, and the slow erosion of what made each annual COD release unique.
And here’s the thing: Warzone wasn’t all bad. It brought Battle Royale into the COD universe in a way no one had done before. But it also washed over individual COD titles with its identity — unifying, but also dulling their edge. The focus moved away from a refined multiplayer offering toward supporting a sprawling, chaotic live service model.
The irony: Players now miss the loot boxes?
Let me explain: No one likes loot boxes, right? They’re predatory, manipulative, and often pay-to-win. But here’s the twist: at least back then, you could earn gear by playing. Now? The current system, built on shops, bundles, and endless “FOMO” tactics, feels like psychological warfare. You’re less likely to find satisfaction in grinding and more likely to swipe your card every time a nostalgic skin drops, especially when it’s wrapped in a $20 bundle for Warzone and not core multiplayer.
Where classic COD content goes to die
Activision loves to wave old fan favourites like carrots: pitches about bringing back iconic maps, revive classic mechanics, hint at trilogy callbacks. But they increasingly get folded into Warzone crossover events or seasonal drops that end up buried in chaos. The magic that once defined COD DLC — lovingly crafted new maps, deep season content, and meaningful progression — feels diluted.
It’s little surprise long-time players are dusting off overlooked titles like Call of Duty: WWII, where the DLC felt handcrafted and multiplayer still had focused direction. It’s like going back to a high school reunion and realising the people you once called your tribe were replaced by strangers obsessed with TikTok and NFTs.
The cold truth: The money’s too good
At the end of the day, here’s the harsh reality: We’re the minority. There’s a whole generation of players who grew up with MW2019 and Warzone as their first love. They see SBMM as a safety net, not a shackling mechanic. They’ve got no wistful memories of prestige mode prestige grinds, of clutch 1v1 S&D plays for bragging rights: just TikTok clips and trendy operator skins.
Meanwhile, millions dump real cash into the COD store. As far as Activision’s concerned, the system’s working perfectly. The demand for remasters, better maps, or a return to tighter multiplayer design? That’s just noise under the sound of cash registers ringing.
Will it ever get better?
Maybe. Just like we saw with MW2019 post-BO4, when the franchise feels like it’s circling the drain, Activision pulls out all the stops. Maybe we’re a couple of years away from another full reboot that blows us away again with next-gen visuals, fan service, and a “return to form.”
Until then? We grit our teeth, reminisce about the glory days… and maybe, just maybe, boot up Black Ops 2 for the hundredth time, if only to remember what excellence once felt like in this franchise.
Do you think Call of Duty can ever recapture its old-school magic, or has the franchise changed too much to go back?