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Call of Duty
The Vault · 2003

Call of Duty

The shot heard 'round the world.
DeveloperInfinity Ward
PublisherActivision
Players1 Player (campaign), Multiplayer
Call of DutyPCShooter
VGASound BlasterCD AudioMultiplayer

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision in 2003. Set during World War II, the single-player campaign follows soldiers of the United States, British, and Soviet armies through a series of tightly scripted missions. The game was built on a modified id Tech 3 engine and became known for its cinematic intensity, massive AI-driven battles, and immersive sound design. Players experience iconic moments like the defense of Stalingrad, bridge assaults, and urban combat. The multiplayer component introduced modes such as Search and Destroy and Behind Enemy Lines, and the killcam feature, showcasing the final moments before death, became a series staple. Call of Duty was a critical and commercial success, launching one of the most influential franchises in gaming history.

Screenshots5 shots
Call of Duty screenshotCall of Duty screenshotCall of Duty screenshotCall of Duty screenshotCall of Duty screenshot
In the News3 mentions
Jun 272026
Three More Games Have Quietly Vanished From the Xbox Store
Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier, Signs of the Sojourner, and Boom Boom Rocket have all been pulled from the Xbox Store, with no physical editions to fall back on.
Preservation
Jun 202026
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 Getting Native PlayStation Ports, Launch Said for July
Activision is bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II to modern PlayStation consoles, reportedly in July, with full campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes.
Release
How to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Original disc releases are easily found online and in second-hand shops. Requires a Windows 98/ME/2000/XP PC with a 3D accelerator and a sound card.
Modern Re-release
Available on Steam; currently $19.99. Runs on modern Windows systems with minor tweaks, and includes the original multiplayer.
Emulation / Other Options
Not required; runs natively on modern Windows. For legacy systems, use PCem or 86Box with a Windows XP virtual machine.
Game Record
PlatformPC
ReleasedOctober 29, 2003
DeveloperInfinity Ward
PublisherActivision
GenreShooter
Players1 Player (campaign), Multiplayer
SeriesCall of Duty
Call of Duty Series
Call of Duty (2003)
Windows PC
Not Reviewed
This
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
PC / PS3 / Xbox 360
Not Reviewed
Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
PS3 / PS4 / X360 / Xbox One / Wii U / PC
3.5
Original PC Specs
OSWindows 98/ME/2000/XP
CPUPentium III 700 MHz or equivalent
RAM128 MB RAM
GPU / Display32 MB DirectX 9.0b compatible
Storage1.4 GB free hard drive space
Drive4x CD-ROM drive