New console generation launches mark a turning point for consumers – they’re most likely to switch gaming brands upon upgrading consoles. So, will COD become of a relic of the past? Some analysts believe so.
According to analysts at Cowen & Company, upcoming Bungie shooter Destiny could sell 10 million units during its lifetime. Combined with Hearthstone, the titles could make up Activision-Blizzard’s losses from the declines in the COD series. The analysts explain that COD sales were down 26% and Ghosts was poorly reviewed and received on the market – this could be a sign of franchise fatigue.
Heading into 2014, the franchise is likely to face competition from four to six other shooter genre titles, including heavyweight next-gen IPs Titanfall (EA) and the company’s own Destiny.
We are very concerned that the first full year of a new console cycle is the most likely time for consumers to switch gaming ‘brands’, and with several new choices available, we think CoD is particularly vulnerable. We are reducing our FY14 title estimate to 16 million units lifetime, down from peak levels of ~25 million units in 2010-12.
COD certainly has some stiff competition ahead of it. With games such as Titanfall and Destiny on the horizon, not to mention MMO third-person shooter The Division, there will be plenty of options for gamers to shoot things in all new environments. While COD may have gained a certain amount of brand loyalty, it might not be enough to keep it going through the next generation.
Plenty of people love to hate COD. However, it certainly has dominated the FPS market this generation. Those are some pretty big guns to fill – will Titanfall and Destiny become the next big thing?
Last Updated: February 5, 2014
Kromas
February 5, 2014 at 14:06
Signs of a franchise in fatigue? Seriously? They need to Old Yeller the COD series very very fast.
Also kill BF while your at it.
Also keep Mario or the WII is dead.
Also no more RE.
But MAKE HL3!!!
melodicmizery
February 5, 2014 at 14:14
cod is the mario brothers of the 80s and 90s that girls who arent gamers play and say they are gamers just because they have a boyfriend ignoring them at some point and try to pick up a controller. its just one of those games that caters to every retard in the world out there. battlefield bad company 2 and even 3 was the closest thing that could beat that game and even though battlefield was great and it made alot of people with common sense switch, it still didnt bring over the ones without common sense who are the mario duplicates. its going to be hard to pry them off that because its all they know. console game franchises changed alot over time because the consoles upgraded so much. but now were kinda at a stable point where its not that much different. cod is the same boring game it was before and as the dummys start affording the new consoles theyll still stay on the cod bandwagon. personally i play every game i dont pick sides but i know the type of fan base it has. serious gamers who like variety dont really stick to that game long
Rags
February 5, 2014 at 14:36
I don’t like you speaking about Mario in the tone of voice sir. 😛
Brian Murphy
February 5, 2014 at 23:18
“cod is the mario brothers of the 80s and 90s”
Minus the innovation, of course.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 5, 2014 at 14:16
Are there any big shooters coming up that actually have a proper SP campaign?
RinceThis2014
February 5, 2014 at 14:19
Thank the lords the demise is already happening. Looking forward to the days where we sit in the pub reminiscing about the days of CoD and the rage over a pint or ten.
Rock789
February 5, 2014 at 14:24
Honestly? I tend to like COD…
**pause for abusive statements hurled at me**
Now that that’s out in the open, I am seriously looking forward to Destiny – been excited about it ever since I heard Bungie were making it and then got to see some gameplay. I truly think it’ll be epic. Will it be the COD killer / replacement? Only time will tell. But I do think it can carve out a nice niche’ for itself in the industry… And from there, who knows.
Hammersteyn
February 5, 2014 at 14:54
LOL it’s more of a COD stereo type that I rip on usually.
Rock789
February 5, 2014 at 15:07
I know what you mean… Believe me – I ain’t one of **whispers** those…
Hammersteyn
February 5, 2014 at 15:10
Oh you mean **them** LOL
oVg 60fps > 30fps
February 5, 2014 at 14:39
NO because cod people only have a 3 second memory.
Mabenito
February 5, 2014 at 14:44
“THE DIVISION” is the only game that will make me switch, and start playing online. Otherwise, I hate Telkom.
Melasco
February 5, 2014 at 14:53
Killzone: Shadow Fall already killed COD for me. I have a lot of faith in Destiny, however,, I don’t think you can make a direct comparison to COD. From what I’ve seen it’s a very different experience, not really focusing on competitive play, and it’s got some MMO / RPG elements.
Someone that plays only COD probably wont care about Destiny… Either way, I’m looking forward to it!
I can’t really speak for Titanfall, but that could possibly eat into the COD base?
Mossel
February 5, 2014 at 15:26
Loadout killed CoD! OK it cant really be compared, but seriously though, the 3 matches I played last night was really fun.
Brian Murphy
February 5, 2014 at 21:46
/facepalm
There’s always some game, every generation that is somehow…miraculously going to replace/kill Call of Duty, and to that I say, who gives a shit? If you like CoD, play CoD. If you hate CoD, hate CoD and play something else. Yes, it sucks seeing developers get hideous stacks of cash for a shit product, but…people have been paying absurd amounts of cash for shit products for years (cough, apple, cough).
Bottom line, only Activision and the developers of CoD can kill CoD. If a game they develop looks like it’s more financially viable, they’ll put their marketing muscle behind it, and forget all about CoD. Any games outside of that equation, will simply co-exist with CoD. Hell, it may even become more popular/profitable than CoD, but replace it entirely? Hell no.