The modern identity of theCall of Dutyfranchise is very different to what fans have seen in the past. Perhaps inevitably, the longstanding franchise has followed in the lucrative footsteps of other giant gaming entities likeFortnite, with the FPS series leaning heavily into more live-service elements. This live-service approach has had a massive impact in terms of howCall of Dutycontent is delivered, with things like in-game seasons and battle passes now being the vehicle for post-launch additions to any active title.
As expected,Call of Duty’s affair with live-service approaches has been extremely divisive. The modern abundance of wackier and outlandish in-game skins is just one example of the controversy that this can bring. One of the most unavoidable elements ofCoD’s new identity isCall of DutyHQ, a live-service single-stop hub for many more recent entries to the franchise. The overbearing and bloated nature ofCoDHQ has been the source of a lot of criticism, yet leaks suggest thatMW2andMW3may soon leave the launcher. There are a few explanations as to why this might be happening, with some fans hoping that this marks a serious change in how futureCoDcontent is delivered.
The Call of Duty HQ Leaks Are a Double-Edged Sword
Call of DutyHQ launched in 2023 as a way for Activision to consolidate the rapid annual release schedule of the franchise. At launch,CoDHQ combined the rebootedMW2,MW3, andWarzone, with subsequent annual titles then also being added to the service. Fans have always been divided over the benefits of this approach, withmany criticizingCoDHQ for its massive file sizes, poor UI, and how it waters down the identity of differentCoDprojects.
Call of DutyHQ has also been criticized over how it makes tracking player counts for individual games much more difficult, withCoD’s player numbers likely taking a hit onceMW2andMW3leave the hub.
While theCoDHQ experiment is in its relative infancy, some leaked changes to the hub have already been welcomed by many players. According to prominent leaker Reality, string text within someCall of Dutygame files suggest that bothModern Warfare 2andMW3will soon leaveCoDHQ. Reactions to this news have largely come in the form of players hoping this marks the end ofCall of DutyHQ, with individualCoDreleases instead offering things like individual achievement/trophy lists and more distinct identities.
Of course, it seems more likely that this is simply a way for Activision to phase out older titles fromCoDHQ,making room for the likes ofBlack Ops 7and beyond. As per the leaks, it seems as if players will have to redownloadMW2andMW3away fromCoDHQ to continue playing the titles. It seems logical that this process will be repeated every two years, with outdated titles continuously being cycled away once they fall out of the spotlight.
For Better or Worse, It Feels Like Call of Duty HQ is Likely Here to Stay
CoD’s at-times predatory live-service nature has been a constant source of criticism for the franchise in recent years, with morecritiques ofCall of Duty’s intense in-game advertisingrecently surfacing.Call of DutyHQ has grown to become the ultimate symbol of all these live-service criticisms, yet it seems that the franchise’s non-stop content across mainline games andWarzoneis too perfect of a match for the hub to be completely shut down.
There is an outside chance that Activision may limitthe overall content ofCoDHQ going forward, allowing players to more easily navigate between more relevant games with fewer file size issues. Even if Activision simply ends up replacingMW2andMW3with other titles, theModern Warfarereboot played a huge role in creating and consolidatingCall of DutyHQ, with these recent leaks marking the biggest shake-up that the hub has seen to date. Still, if fans were hoping this was a sign that the HQ was being retired, they should be prepared for disappointment.
