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Call of Duty Esports
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Launch Sales Nosedive 63% Behind Battlefield 6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has launched to disappointing sales in Europe, falling 63% behind Battlefield 6 and posting a 50% drop compared to last year's Black Ops 6. For a franchise used to dominating shooter sales, these numbers signal real trouble. The data comes from Game Sales Data tracking across European markets. Black Ops 7 sold roughly 4.4 million copies in its opening week, calculated from Battlefield 6's reported 7 million copies sold in three days. Neither Microsoftmore
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ZywOo Wins PC Player of the Year: All Esports Awards 2025 Winners
The 2025 Esports Awards ceremony has taken place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, celebrating some of the biggest and most influential names across the industry throughout the year. Among the complete list of Esports Awards winners, a few victors stand out across the 22 total categories, such as Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, League of Legends, Riot Games, Team Falcons, and more. Let's take a look at the complete list of winners at the Esports Awards 2025. 2025 Esports Awards Winners Esports Gamemore
Operation Deadbolt | A Ruthless Call of Duty Experience
Operation Deadbolt is a major Zombies mode featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. It builds on the Dark Aether Saga first seen in Black Ops Cold War and takes place more than 35 years after the events of Forsaken. This guide explains how the mode works, how the map functions, and what players face as they move deeper into the Exclusion Zone. What is Operation Deadbolt? Operation Deadbolt is set across a large open map in Zaravan, Urzikstan.more
Competitive Call of Duty is a professional esports discipline that has evolved from local tournaments into a structured, global, city-based franchised league.
History & Grassroots Competition
The foundation for professional Call of Duty was laid in the early 2000s through local LAN (Local Area Network) events and online competitions. The release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in 2007 is widely recognized as a pivotal moment, as its multiplayer features, including customizable classes and perks, provided a strong framework for high-level competitive play. Organizations such as Major League Gaming (MLG) were instrumental during this period, hosting a circuit of open tournaments that helped establish many of the scene's foundational teams and players.
The Call of Duty World League (CWL)
In 2016, publisher Activision established the Call of Duty World League (CWL). This was the first officially sanctioned, year-long international circuit for Call of Duty esports. The CWL featured a pro league, open events, and a significant prize pool, which culminated annually in the Call of Duty Championship. The league ran for four seasons, from Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2016) through Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2019), and helped professionalize the scene by providing a more consistent and structured competitive calendar.
The Call of Duty League (CDL)
The Call of Duty League (CDL) was founded in 2020, replacing the CWL. It adopted a city-based franchise model similar to other professional sports leagues, with permanent team slots owned by various investment groups. This model was designed to foster regional fanbases and increase the financial stability of the ecosystem. The inaugural season featured 12 teams and a prize pool of over $6 million. The CDL represents the highest tier of professional Call of Duty competition.
Leagues and Tournaments
Call of Duty League (CDL)
The CDL is the premier professional league for Call of Duty. The annual season consists of several stages, with teams competing in online qualifying matches and at multi-day LAN tournaments known as Majors. Teams earn CDL Points based on their performance, which determine their seeding for the Majors and their qualification for the season-ending championship.
Call of Duty Challengers
Call of Duty Challengers is the official amateur and semi-professional circuit. It serves as the primary development league and path-to-pro for aspiring players. Challengers consists of online tournaments (Cups) and LAN events, where players compete for prize money and the opportunity to be scouted by CDL franchises.
Call of Duty Championship
The Call of Duty Championship, commonly known as "Champs," is the final event of the CDL season. The top-ranking teams from the regular season qualify to compete for the largest prize pool of the year and the title of World Champion.
Game Format and Rules
Game Modes
Professional Call of Duty matches are contested across three primary game modes:
- Hardpoint: An objective mode where teams fight to control a rotating objective area on the map to accrue points.
- Search and Destroy: A round-based mode where one team attempts to plant a bomb at one of two sites, while the other defends. There are no respawns within a round.
- Control: A hybrid objective mode where one team must capture two objective zones while the other defends. Each team has a limited pool of 30 lives per round.
Team Size and Format
From the 2021 season onwards, the CDL has used a 4v4 team format. This was a change from the 5v5 format used in the inaugural 2020 season and the final years of the CWL. Matches are played as a best-of-five series, with a predetermined order of game modes.
Notable Teams and Dynasties
OpTic Gaming
Often considered the most popular brand in Call of Duty esports, OpTic Gaming has fielded numerous championship-winning rosters. The "OpTic Dynasty" of the Advanced Warfare season (2014-2015), consisting of players Seth "Scump" Abner, Matthew "FormaL" Piper, Ian "Crimsix" Porter, and Damon "Karma" Barlow, is widely regarded as the most dominant team in the franchise's history. The organization currently competes as OpTic Texas.
FaZe Clan (Atlanta FaZe)
FaZe Clan has been a prominent organization since the early days of competitive Call of Duty. Its CDL franchise, Atlanta FaZe, has been the most successful and consistent team of the CDL era, winning the 2021 World Championship and numerous Major tournaments. The core roster has included star players like Chris "Simp" Lehr, Tyler "aBeZy" Pharris, and McArthur "Cellium" Jovel.
Team Envy (Dallas Empire / OpTic Texas)
Another foundational organization, Team Envy won the first Call of Duty Championship in 2013 under the name Fariko Impact. Their CDL franchise, the Dallas Empire, won the inaugural 2020 CDL Championship. The organization later merged with OpTic Gaming to form the current OpTic Texas franchise.
Legendary Players
The history of competitive Call of Duty is defined by a number of highly skilled and influential players.
- Ian "Crimsix" Porter: Holds the record for the most major tournament wins in Call of Duty history (38) and is a three-time World Champion (2014, 2017, 2020).
- Seth "Scump" Abner: A 2017 World Champion and one of the game's most iconic and popular players, known for his exceptional slaying ability as a submachine gun (SMG) player for OpTic Gaming. He retired in 2023.
- Damon "Karma" Barlow: The first player to become a three-time World Champion (2013, 2014, 2017). Known for his high game intelligence and versatility.
- James "Clayster" Eubanks: A three-time World Champion (2015, 2019, 2020) known for his leadership and longevity as a top-tier assault rifle (AR) player.
- Chris "Simp" Lehr: A two-time World Champion (2019, 2021) and two-time MVP, considered one of the most impactful players of the modern era.
Impact of Annual Releases
The annual release cycle of the Call of Duty franchise is a unique characteristic of its esports scene. Each new game introduces different weapons, maps, movement mechanics, and overall gameplay balance. This forces a yearly "reset" of the competitive metagame, requiring players and teams to adapt quickly. While this keeps the viewing experience fresh, it can also disrupt team chemistry and prevent the long-term mastery of a single title, a factor that distinguishes it from other major esports like Counter-Strike or League of Legends.
FAQ
What is Call of Duty?
Call of Duty (COD) is a popular first-person shooter (FPS) video game franchise developed and published by various studios, including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games, under the supervision of Activision.
Call of Duty games are known for their engaging single-player campaigns, which often feature intense action, cinematic storytelling, and a focus on historical or fictional conflicts. However, the franchise is perhaps best known for its fast-paced, competitive multiplayer modes, which have attracted millions of players worldwide and given rise to a thriving esports scene.
Over the years, Call of Duty has become a cultural phenomenon and a cornerstone of the gaming industry, with each new release generating significant interest and anticipation among fans and players alike.
When did Call of Duty first get released?
The original Call of Duty game was first released on October 29, 2003. Developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, this World War II-themed first-person shooter marked the beginning of what would become a highly successful and influential franchise in the gaming industry.
How many Call of Duty Games are there?
At the time of writing, there was 21 mainline Call of Duty games, including Warzone and the recently released Warzone 2.0. The franchise has come a long way since its inception in 2003, continually expanding and evolving to maintain its position as a top-tier first-person shooter. With the most recent additions of Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 in the latter half of 2022, the Call of Duty series continues to push the boundaries of the genre, offering engaging single-player campaigns, highly competitive multiplayer experiences, and the ever-popular battle royale mode. The enduring popularity of the franchise, combined with its diverse settings and gameplay styles, has cemented Call of Duty's status as a gaming juggernaut and a household name among fans and players worldwide.
Which Call of Duty game is the best?
The title of 'best' Call of Duty game is highly subjective, as it largely depends on individual player preferences and the aspects they value most, such as single-player campaigns, multiplayer modes, or gameplay mechanics. Some of the most highly regarded and popular titles in the franchise include Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which is lauded for its engaging single-player campaign and revolutionary multiplayer experience, setting the standard for future games in the series. Call of Duty: Black Ops is another fan favourite, known for its gripping Cold War-era story and strong multiplayer component as well as its expansion of the now iconic Zombies mode (which was originally introduced in Call of Duty: World at War).
Other players may prefer more recent instalments like Modern Warfare (2019) or Warzone, which have brought updated graphics, gameplay mechanics, and the highly popular battle royale mode to the franchise. Ultimately, the "best" Call of Duty game is a matter of personal taste, and each instalment offers unique features and experiences that cater to different players' preferences.
How Many Call of Duty players are There?
The franchise boasts an impressive average of 8 million monthly players, demonstrating its enduring popularity and appeal in the gaming community. With a diverse array of titles spanning different eras and gameplay styles, Call of Duty continues to attract both new and returning players who seek the adrenaline-fueled action and intense competition the series is known for.
The wide range of gameplay experiences, including engaging single-player campaigns, fast-paced multiplayer modes, and the highly popular battle royale mode, ensures that there is something for every kind of player. The consistent player base of 8 million monthly players highlights the franchise's success in maintaining its relevance and status as a top-tier first-person shooter, even as the gaming landscape continues to evolve.
Welcome to our Call of Duty Esports page, the ultimate hub for fans and players looking to immerse themselves in the adrenaline-fueled world of Call of Duty esports. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, tournament updates, and in-depth analysis of professional matches, while delving into the fast-paced gameplay, diverse game modes, and compelling narratives that have made Call of Duty a standout in the first-person shooter genre.
Explore the various roles, load-outs, and tactics employed by top players as they compete in high-stakes matches across the iconic maps and settings from the Call of Duty franchise. Our platform offers an extensive array of resources, insights, and community connections, tailored to engage both experienced players and newcomers alike, helping them fully immerse themselves in the intense, skill-based gameplay and thriving competitive scene that defines Call of Duty esports.
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