8 Video Game Franchises That Made Their Mark With Sequels

3. Call Of Duty

The first few Call of Duty titles weren't bad games by any means, just a little under the radar to mainstream audiences. Now, Call of Duty is one of the most mainstream games in the entire industry. During the big World War II shooter craze, the first few Call of Duty titles were well received, but they were never breakout successes like the fourth entry into the franchise. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare's impact on the industry cannot be understated. It went on to sell over thirteen million copies in just a few short months, injecting much needed change into the shooter genre and altering the direction of the entire series as it put it on the map. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is responsible for making the series a household name, but in being so successful, it managed to choke all of the life and innovation out of future titles, to the point where it may be slowly dying, if relatively low sales figures are any indication. Ironically, Activision originally opposed the idea of a Call of Duty in a modern setting, because the idea was too crazy. After fighting for every inch, Infinity Ward was allowed to create one of the most groundbreaking games of all time, leading to one of the most lucrative franchises in gaming history. Sadly, Activision isn't a company keen on learning from past mistakes. Much like how the market was was once over saturated with World War II shooters, the market is now full to burst with modern military shooters, with the core gaming audience clamouring for an end to a franchise they feel is poisoning the medium with its influence. All of this can be traced back to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the influence of which is difficult to fathom when one looks at the bigger picture of the industry.