Call of Duty: Ghosts' critical failure nearly ended the franchise

Call of Duty: Ghosts' 2013 release is seen as a near-fatal misstep for the franchise, despite its commercial success. The game faced significant criticism for its graphics, gameplay, and story, leading to a decline in player numbers and sales compared to its predecessor, Black Ops 2. Ghosts' lukewarm reception marked a downturn for the series during the transition to new consoles, though Infinity Ward later revitalized Call of Duty with the 2019 Modern Warfare.