The Call of Duty logo is like a series of shots: sonorous, clear, and precise. The emblem reflects a pair battle. At one end is the user; at the other is his opponents. From the characters in the image breathes stability and a long history that does not plan to end.
Call of Duty: Brand overview
Founded: | October 29, 2003 |
Founder: | Infinity Ward |
Headquarters: | United States |
Meaning and History
Despite a large number of developers for the franchise, the series still managed to maintain a visual identity. Logos are created centrally and do not change dramatically. The only adjustments relate to the minimum adjustment to the content of the current release or the next version.
What is Call of Duty?
Call of Duty is a series of military-themed video games published by Activision. It is recognized as the most successful gaming franchise in the United States and has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records for sales volume. The main genre of Call of Duty is a first-person shooter. As the story is based on military conflicts, gamers complete various missions using weapons and vehicles. The games offer both single-player and team modes.
2003 – 2007
The debut version immediately focused on the title of the game. Indeed, at that time, it was important for the publisher: it is necessary that the novelty be familiar and remembered by users by name. The first icon consists of the original spelling “Call of Duty.” Symbols are smooth, even, straight, arranged horizontally, in one line. The right and left parts are made large, and between them, there is a miniature preposition “of.” The letters are metalized, decorated with a turned edge, shadows, and 3D effect. The only drawing on them is traced from tracer bullets. “C” and “Y” are longer than the others and are slightly shifted down.
2007 – 2008
After expanding platform capabilities (the game was adapted to most devices), the developers changed the logo’s design. The icon has become much lighter – with a gradient transition from emerald green (bottom) to gray (top). The middle of the letters is white. The three-dimensional effect, as well as the shape of the signs, have been preserved.
2008 – 2009
The release of another version of the game led to a redesign of the logo. The designers painted the words in several shades of gray – from light ash to dark metallic. We added a roughness to them in tracer bullets but did it selectively and to a limited extent. On the sharp edge of the letters, a red-orange line was drawn, reinforced at the bottom. The main texture of the inscription was a haze of dust.
2009 – 2010
For this version of the shooter, the developers have proposed white symbols with a green outline around the perimeter. They placed the title on dark gray background in the form of a horizontal rectangle.
2010 – 2011
2010 was a watershed year for the Call of Duty logo. The authors minimized the colors to black and white by removing the backing. The dark lettering on a light background looked very intimidating, which is what the releasers wanted. The emblem breathed with tension and anticipation of threats. The letters’ edges were chipped and chipped, as from bullets, axes, or cold steel.
2011 – 2012
This time is characterized by a completely different symbolism – off-white. On the words’ surface, traces of redoubt boards, stacked close to each other, seemed to be imprinted. The drawing also resembles a stretched wire protecting the territory from the enemy. “C” and “Y” are now the same length as the rest of the letters. “T” and “Y” are connected at the top. The base color of the emblem is light monochrome.
2012 – 2013
The game developers have separated the signs and gave the words a military bearing, so the signs look strictly geometric. They also swapped white for black and made oblique cuts at “Y” and “A.”
2013 – 2014
All the letters have chipped edges in this version – as if broken off or shot by a ricochet. Uneven edges make some characters appear smaller: “Y,” “T,” and “A.”
2014 – 2015
The designers restored the letters and added four horizontal lines in white – two for each word. As a result, the legs “A,” “L,” “U,” “T” was crossed out.
2016 – 2017
The horizontal stripes are gone. The letters are pushed close to each other. Bevels and sharp points appeared: on the bar “A,” the head “T,” and in the lower part of the “U.”
2017 – 2018
The developers brought back the 2011-2012 version with the Y and T connected, but instead of white, they used black. All signs have been added with a “shot” and “damaged” design to match the shooter concept’s surface.
2019 – today
The current logo is presented in a modified color as if shaded by a haze. Pastel black looks interesting on strict symbols. The letter “A” now has a slice on the connecting bar on the left.
2023 – today
The new Call of Duty logo design is filled with progressive modernization and carefully thought-out typography. Without graphic images, the designer emphasized masterful font rework, replacing smoothness and evenness with figured elements. The letters “C,” “A,” “O,” “D,” and “U” have acquired unique beveled corners, adding more facets to the overall composition and hinting at the continuous development and dynamism of the game series.
However, the greatest transformation is seen in the letter “Y” – it has gained a short leg and strictly vertical tops, which increases visual tension and adds character. The bold dot previously adjacent to the “Y” has disappeared, giving the logo even more space and purity. The interesting point is that the “Y” glyph is no longer connected to the neighboring “T,” creating a new harmony and balance in the visual space of the logo.
All letters have become more similar to rectangles, highlighting the brand’s structure and solidity. This transformation testifies to the boldness and innovative approach, embodying Call of Duty’s endless aspiration for high quality and recognizability in the gaming industry.
Call of Duty: Interesting Facts
Call of Duty, a game series that has reshaped the first-person shooter genre, has an impressive background and has achieved much since it began.
- Start and Growth: Infinity Ward created Call of Duty, and Activision published it in 2003 with a World War II theme. Since then, it’s covered different times and settings, like the Cold War and futuristic battles.
- Success: It’s a hit, both with critics and in sales, becoming one of the top-selling video game series ever.
- World Records: The series has set Guinness World Records for the largest DLC pack and the most-watched game trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops III.
- More Than Games: Call of Duty has branched out to comics and action figures, and there’s talk of making movies, showing its wide influence.
- Esports Presence: It’s big in esports, with the Call of Duty League hosting international competitions.
- Zombies Mode: This popular co-op mode, where players fight zombies, started in Call of Duty: World at War and has become a regular feature, complete with its own story.
- Gameplay Innovations: Call of Duty has introduced many new features to shooters, like killstreaks and the prestige system, influencing many other games.
- Celebrity Features: Big names like Kevin Spacey and Kit Harington have lent their voices and appearances to the games, adding to the storylines.
- Online Multiplayer Milestone: The 2007 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare set new standards for online console play.
- Creative Marketing: Its marketing campaigns, including live-action trailers and celebrity promotions, make each release a big deal.
- Cultural Impact: The series has gone beyond games, affecting pop culture and sparking conversations about war portrayal in media.
- Veteran Support: Activision Blizzard helps veterans find quality jobs after service through the Call of Duty Endowment.
Call of Duty has grown from a single game into a major franchise, exploring different warfare aspects and leaving a mark on gaming and beyond.
Font and Colors
The evolution of the Call of Duty logo is a small tweak to the debut version. The main focus is on the title, which accurately conveys the game’s visual and informational identity. The fixes affected only the letters’ size, the shape of the edges, the intersymbol spacing, small cuts, and color. The changes were constantly changing.
Presumably, Impact Sans Serif typeface was used for the inscription in the emblem. Its author is Geoffrey Lee, who introduced the typeface in 1965. It was released by a plant named Stephenson Blake. The font is also similar to the custom version of Call of Ops Duty. The palette is mostly monochrome. Its spectrum covers black, gray in all shades, off-white, green, and red-orange.
Call of Duty color codes
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |