Call of Duty is one of the most successful video game franchises, generating billions through its diverse revenue model. Call of Duty’s revenue model involves premium sales, in-game purchases, mobile gaming, esports, and so on. This blog will navigate you through everything needed to learn how Call of Duty makes money. It’ll allow you to know the pricing strategy and leverage it to drive revenue to your game.
From $27 billion in 2020, followed by $30 billion in 2021 and $31 billion in 2022, Call of Duty reached $35.3 billion in revenue in 2025. That’s what makes it the best-selling first-person shooter game series. Call of Duty is the most successful video game in the USA and the second-best-selling video game franchise of all time.
Be it the original Call of Duty (2003), Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), or Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020), each of these releases has contributed to the franchise’s massive success. But how does Call of Duty make money? It employs a well-defined game economy design & monetization strategy, including game sales, downloadable content (DLC), in-game purchases, battle passes, and microtransactions.
This diverse monetization strategy of Call of Duty is a masterclass, fostering engagement and long-term profitability. This blog will examine each and every insight into how Call of Duty makes money, along with factors influencing the revenue model and what you can learn from this to implement in your game as well.
Call of Duty is a military first-person shooter video game series and media franchise published by Activision, starting in 2003. The first episode, simply known as “Call of Duty,” was released in 2003 by Infinity Ward and Activision. It experienced massive success and set the stage for a blockbuster franchise. The game scored 91 on Metacritic and won the Game of the Year 2004 Interactive Achievement Awards.
Since the very beginning, Call of Duty has kept releasing new games uninterruptedly. The series has explored WWII, modern warfare, futuristic conflicts, and the Cold War to make the game immersive. Popular for cinematic storytelling and evolving gameplay, Call of Duty introduced multiplayer games in 2007, battle royale with Blackout in 2018, and free-to-play with Warzone in 2020.
Furthermore, titles like Black Ops II added player-driven narratives, demonstrating the franchise’s willingness to innovate frequently. Regardless of varied reception across releases, CoD remains a cultural icon developed on adaptability, quality, and robust player engagement.
Call of Duty has generated over $35 billion in lifetime revenue, establishing it as one of the highest-earning game franchises in history. Call of Duty: Mobile is a free-to-play first-person shooter game primarily released for iOS and Android in October 2019. The game amassed 88 million downloads worldwide in the first month after release. In January 2025, the title generated around $35.3 million in IAP revenue.
Now that you know the basics and earnings, let’s come to the key point and answer the question, “How does Call of Duty make money?” Here’s how!
Direct game sales have been the core revenue driver of Call of Duty since its inception in 2023. It earns substantial revenue from the very model, often with various editions providing extra content like Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate. Typically, the Call of Duty edition’s price ranges between $60-$100.
This traditional model provides the game with a strong upfront income, especially during launch windows. It assists in funding long-term development, marketing, and live service updates.
Example: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Modern Warfare II topped the global sales chart in 2022, selling millions of copies in just the first week of release. The sale crossed $1 billion in just a matter of 10 days, exhibiting the potential of full-priced AAA games.
Through microtransactions, Call of Duty allows players to buy in-game items ranging from skins to perks with real money. Though optional, these small, repeatable purchases add new experience to the game, particularly in multiplayer and mobile versions. They drive consistent revenue beyond the initial game sale.
COD Points (CP) are the currency in the Call of Duty game. They’re used to purchase digital content, including accessories, items, and the Battle Pass. Players buy this in-game currency in exchange for real money and use it to unlock Battle Pass tiers, cosmetic items, and bundles.
It enhances the game experience with different Call of Duty titles, like Warzone, Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, and Black Ops 6. Implementing this system helps CoD by encouraging repeat spending while easing in-game purchases across platforms.
Example: Warzone, MW2, and CoD Mobile
COD Points simplify spending while unifying the game economy across platforms. In Warzone, game enthusiasts spend real money on COD Points, enabling them to buy Battle Passes and skins. It helps these games fuel ongoing revenue without new game launches.
Through the battle pass, Call of Duty offers exclusive rewards for a limited season. Game players progress by completing in-game challenges, with premium tiers unlocked via purchase. It creates a sense of urgency, fosters engagement, and helps the game generate steady revenue throughout the year.
Example: Introduced in Warzone (2020)
Battle Passes replaced loot boxes, providing a clearer, more rewarding system. It soon turned out to be a key driver of player retention and recurring revenue, specifically during seasonal content drops.
Cosmetic Items in Call of Duty are in-game items that enhance player customization and aesthetics. They include weapon camos, operator skins, calling cards, emblems, gestures, etc. Players can purchase them through the in-game store, earn them via gameplay, or by accomplishing challenges.
Cosmetic items don’t affect gameplay; however, they provide a personal touch and status appeal that are key motivators for gamers and contribute to the in-game spending for CoD.
Example: CoD: Vanguard, Warzone, CoD Mobile
Unmatched skins (Godzilla, Snoop Dogg, and anime-themed operators) helped Call of Duty generate buzz and boost sales. Cosmetic-only purchases help avoid pay-to-win backlash while monetizing personalization.
Free-to-play is another one of the ways through which Call of Duty makes money. Warzone is a free-to-play battle royale game that attracts millions of gamers with no entry cost. In free-to-play games, monetization comes through microtransactions, battle passes, and in-game events, proving that even free-to-play games with the right design can be massive revenue generators.
Example: Call of Duty: Warzone
Warzone is an excellent example of a free-to-play game, which is 100% free to download and play. The game got monetized through microtransactions such as cosmetics, COD Points, and a battle pass. Warzone succeeded in attracting over 125 million players, becoming a top revenue generator.
Call of Duty uses paid DLCs, adding new features, maps, and story missions post-launch. Keeping the game updated extends the life of a game while encouraging previous buyers to re-engage. DLCs give Call of Duty a chance to test new ideas with an existing game and its audience.
Example: Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty: WWII is an excellent example of using traditional DLC packs (map packs, zombies expansions). It sold season passes for bundled content, enhancing the gameplay experience. Downloadable content helps extend the game lifecycle and keeps the multiplayer ecosystem thriving longer.
The Call of Duty League (CDL), launched in 2020, has cemented its position as an esports industry leader. Call of Duty’s esports scene, including the CDL, generates income via media rights, sponsorships, team branding, and merchandise.
Tournaments boost engagement, grow community loyalty, and open new channels for monetization and global brand recognition.
Example: Call of Duty League (CDL) — Built Around Modern Warfare (2019)
It was a franchised league with a $6 million prize pool that streamed on YouTube Gaming. CDL increased watch time, generated sponsorship deals, and deepened fan loyalty, opening the door for increased business possibilities.
Call of Duty partners with brands through sponsored content, in-game ads, and co-branded promotions. These collaborations help the franchise boost revenue while attracting attention from non-gaming audiences. It turns Call of Duty into a game and a marketing platform, boosting profitability.
Example: Warzone – Godzilla vs. Kong Event
Call of Duty teamed up with the popular movie franchise Godzilla vs. Kong. The movie crossover featured themed skins and game modes, making the game feel like an extension of the movie. It opens up huge monetization opportunities. It sponsored energy drinks, peripherals, and content creators. This initiative turned CoD into a multi-brand entertainment platform.
Right from apparel to action figures, Call of Duty extends its brand into physical products. Licensing deals with external partners help it monetize fan loyalty while introducing the franchise to new audiences that exist beyond gaming.
Example: Call of Duty-Branded Merchandise
CoD doesn’t just live on screens, but it’s also a lifestyle. Over the years, Activision has released official Call of Duty merchandise, allowing fans to buy it at stores such as GameStop, Walmart, Target, and online platforms like Amazon.
It includes action figures based on iconic characters like Soap and Ghost on branded apparel like hoodies, hats, t-shirts, and collectibles such as mugs, replica weapons, and themed gear.
Call of Duty makes money from global markets with region-specific pricing, promotions, and localized content. Major markets, including the U.S., Europe, and Asia, drive billions, showcasing the significance of tailoring strategy for regional growth.
Example: Call of Duty: Mobile (and Warzone Mobile)
CoD is localized in Chinese, Arabic, Russian, and many other languages. It partnered with Tencent in China for CoD Mobile. Backed with the very initiative, the franchise maximized reach and profit from diverse markets, including India, Brazil, and Southeast Asia, broadening its limits and growth.
Call of Duty: Mobile provides console-quality action games for free on mobile, bringing the franchise to handheld gamers. It gives CoD a way to earn heavily through in-app purchases, exclusive mobile cosmetics, and mobile-only events. Mobile gaming creates a scalable, high-engagement mobile monetization model.
Example: Call of Duty: Mobile
Call of Duty Mobile has experienced over 650 million downloads and over $1.5 billion in revenue. It includes Battle Royale, Zombies, and Multiplayer games. It assisted CoD in extending its reach beyond PC and console while becoming one of the most successful mobile shooters ever, opening the doors for an enhanced gaming experience and wider growth.
Call of Duty employs a variety of ways to make money. Mentioned below are the factors that influence the revenue model of the very franchise:
With over 20 years of legacy, Call of Duty is one of the most popular gaming franchises worldwide. This brand power fosters built-in trust, anticipation, and global appeal, assisting every new release or product to sell faster.
Frequent content drops (new events, maps, modes, operators) help CoD keep the game fresh and engaging. This strategy significantly extends the game’s lifecycle and encourages repeat spending on battle passes and cosmetic bundles. It also keeps gamers coming back consistently, creating and promoting a habit that fuels revenue.
Call of Duty allows players to play games together across platforms like PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile, breaking barriers to unify the player base. It skyrockets matchmaking speed, community size, and monetization reach while minimizing churn rate.
Furthermore, game players can seamlessly switch devices without losing progress or purchases. Cross-platform playability encourages deeper investment and elevates game success.
Right from traditional multiplayer to zombie survival, battle royale (Warzone), co-op missions, and campaign storylines, Call of Duty appeals to a larger player base. That diversity level thrives in engagement and monetization, as various audiences are targeted through different gaming experiences under a single franchise.
Call of Duty is backed by an official Call of Duty League (CDL) and a robust player community. That level of competitive and social elements builds loyalty, inspires aspirational play, and attracts sponsorships. Gamers don’t just play, but also watch, buy merchandise, discuss strategies online, and support teams. It fuels long-lasting growth and revenue, elevating games’ profitability.
If you’re the one willing to build a game like Call of Duty and make money in the same way, you should learn from the very franchise. Have a look at the pointers below to learn more about how Call of Duty makes that much money:
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Since the very beginning in 2003, Call of Duty has crossed over $31 billion in revenue, as per the recent data in 2025. It’s one of the most profitable video games in the gaming industry.
Modern Warfare 2 (2022) seems to be the highest revenue-generating title in the Call of Duty franchise. It became the fastest Call of Duty game to reach $1 billion in sales in just 10 days of release. By generating $800 million worldwide in just its opening weekend, Modern Warfare 2 stands out as the franchise’s most financially successful game ever.
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