Was Infinite Warfare Successful?
A Critical Analysis
Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is the thirteenth installment in the Call of Duty series. Released in 2016, the game received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. Was it successful? Let’s dive into the details and analyze the game’s performance.
Direct Answer
No, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was not successful in the sense that it did not meet the expectations of both fans and critics. Although it received some positive reviews, it was widely panned for its storyline, gameplay, and overall presentation.
Reasons for Lack of Success
- Competition from other Call of Duty Games: The Call of Duty franchise is known for its annual releases, and the previous installment, Black Ops III, was still popular among fans. This meant that Infinite Warfare had a high bar to clear to stand out from the rest of the series.
- New Setting and Genre: The game’s shift from the traditional World War II or modern-day setting to a futuristic, space-faring environment was a risk that didn’t pay off. Fans were divided, and the game’s reception suffered as a result.
- Campaign Length: The game’s campaign was criticized for being too short, lasting only around 5-6 hours to complete.
- Lack of Innovation: Critics felt that the game did not innovate or bring anything new to the table, leading to a sense of stagnation and boredom.
Financial Performance
Despite its critical reception, Infinite Warfare did reasonably well in terms of sales. It generated $1.12 billion in revenue worldwide, with 13.6 million copies sold as of March 2017.
| Region | Sales | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 6.2 million | $344 million |
| Europe | 3.6 million | $163 million |
| United Kingdom | 1.8 million | $102 million |
| Australia | 600,000 | $32 million |
Reception and Reviews
Infinite Warfare received mixed reviews from critics and fans. The game’s Metacritic scores are as follows:
- PS4: 57/100
- Xbox One: 57/100
- PC: 59/100
Comparison to Other Call of Duty Games
When compared to other Call of Duty games, Infinite Warfare ranks towards the bottom. Its average critic score is significantly lower than other titles in the series.
Why People Didn’t Like It
Some common complaints about Infinite Warfare include:
- Campaign Length: The game’s short campaign was a major disappointment for many fans.
- Lack of Innovation: Critics felt that the game did not innovate or bring anything new to the table.
- Unengaging Storyline: The game’s storyline was criticized for being overly predictable and lacking emotional impact.
Conclusion
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was not a successful game in the eyes of many fans and critics. While it did generate decent sales, its poor critical reception and lack of innovation were major factors in its downfall. The game’s campaign length, unengaging storyline, and lack of innovation were major disappointments for many fans, leading to a sense of stagnation and boredom.
In the end, Infinity Ward learned a valuable lesson from Infinite Warfare’s disappointing reception: to innovate, innovate, innovate, and bring something new to the table to keep fans engaged.