Call of Duty’s Endgame: Is Single-Player Officially Over?
Just 5% of PlayStation players finished the campaign in last year’s Black Ops 6. That statistic, stark and unsettling, isn’t just a reflection of shifting player habits – it’s a potential obituary for the traditional, narrative-driven single-player experience in Call of Duty. For decades, the series balanced blockbuster multiplayer with cinematic campaigns, but with Black Ops 7 doubling down on co-op and leaning heavily into live-service elements, the question isn’t whether single-player is changing, but whether it’s being phased out entirely.
The Erosion of the Campaign
The shift didn’t happen overnight. Activision has been experimenting with multiplayer integration for years, dating back to the co-op additions in 2008’s World at War. The outright removal of a campaign in Black Ops 4, replaced by the battle royale foray Blackout, was a clear signal. But Black Ops 7 feels different. It’s not simply including co-op; the entire campaign is designed around it. The mission structure, stripped of the series’ signature scripted moments and replaced with simplistic corridor shooting and “bullet sponge” bosses, feels fundamentally geared towards a four-person squad.
This isn’t a case of co-op being a welcome addition; it’s a fundamental restructuring of the DNA of a Call of Duty campaign. The introduction of enemy health bars, tiered loot systems, and an open-world area, Avalon, reminiscent of Destiny or Warzone, further distances the experience from the tightly-crafted, story-focused missions that defined titles like Modern Warfare (2019) and even last year’s Black Ops 6. Avalon, and the evolving 32-player PvE “Endgame” mode, are increasingly becoming the focal point, with Activision even considering allowing players to skip the campaign entirely to jump straight in.
The Rise of the “Games as a Service” Model
This pivot isn’t happening in a vacuum. The gaming landscape is rapidly shifting towards “games as a service” (GaaS), prioritizing ongoing engagement and monetization over discrete, self-contained experiences. Call of Duty, now a tentpole title on platforms like Game Pass, is subject to these pressures. A five-hour campaign, however well-received, doesn’t generate the sustained revenue of a constantly updated, evolving live-service mode like the proposed Endgame.
This mirrors trends seen in other major franchises. The success of titles like Fortnite, Destiny 2, and even Helldivers 2 – all built around persistent online experiences and continuous content drops – has undoubtedly influenced Activision’s thinking. As reported by The Verge, the focus is now on creating a persistent world that keeps players engaged for months, not just a few days.
What Does This Mean for the Future?
The future of Call of Duty’s single-player isn’t necessarily extinction, but it’s likely to be profoundly different. We may see more campaigns designed as extended prologues to larger co-op experiences, or even fully integrated into live-service ecosystems. The emphasis will likely shift from narrative depth to providing a framework for ongoing multiplayer activities.
However, the risk is alienating a core segment of the fanbase. While completion rates for campaigns are declining (8% for 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, 12.6% for 2019’s Modern Warfare reboot), there’s still a dedicated audience that values a compelling single-player experience. The challenge for Activision will be finding a way to cater to both the demands of the GaaS model and the expectations of its loyal players.
The trajectory of Call of Duty is a microcosm of a larger trend in the industry. The era of the blockbuster, standalone campaign shooter is fading, replaced by persistent online worlds and evolving live-service experiences. Whether this is a positive or negative development remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the way we play – and experience – Call of Duty is changing, perhaps irrevocably.
What are your predictions for the future of Call of Duty campaigns? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
