Call of Duty Still Dominating Consoles Despite Being Its Worst-Performing Era in 18 Years
Called its weakest run in nearly two decades, Call of Duty still dominates Xbox and PlayStation charts. Critics rage, players complain, yet the franchise keeps owning console gaming.
Widely criticized. Frequently debated. Constantly declared “finished.”
And yet Call of Duty continues to dominate console gaming as if none of the outrage ever happened.
Despite what many players describe as one of the franchise’s weakest-performing eras in nearly 18 years, the series remains one of the most played and highest-selling titles across both Xbox and PlayStation ecosystems. Complaints trend online. Sales trend upward.
Every release now follows the same ritual.
Trailer drops.
Community skepticism rises.
YouTube declares the franchise dead — again.
Then launch day arrives.
And millions log in.
Whether driven by brand loyalty, competitive multiplayer habit, Warzone integration, seasonal battle passes, or pure routine, Call of Duty maintains a grip on console culture that criticism has failed to loosen.
Even during years labeled “disappointing,” engagement remains strong. Streaming categories stay active. Matchmaking queues fill instantly. The conversation may turn negative, but the player count doesn’t.
For a franchise approaching two decades of annual releases, decline has been predicted repeatedly.
Domination, however, keeps renewing its contract.
Console players debate quality.
They question innovation.
They insist this will be their last purchase.
Yet the scoreboard keeps telling the same story.
Call of Duty doesn’t need universal praise to win.
It only needs players to keep pressing “Start.”
And year after year, they do.
