Call of Duty is one of the most electrifying FPS franchises ever made. It has a history that stretches back more than twenty years, and for the last decade, it has been coming up as one of the most popular esports games in the business. In this guide, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about Call of Duty esports, from the best tournaments to the most notable players who have spearheaded the growth of the competitive scene.
If you want to know as much as possible about COD esports, look no further than this guide.
Is Call of Duty an Esports Game?
Typically, any game that boasts a competitive, multiplayer-based platform can be an esports game – that’s all that’s technically needed. However, Call of Duty transcends that, with the series being the home of a multi-million-dollar esports ecosystem backed up by Activision Blizzard and some of the best esports organisations in the world.
Call of Duty has been growing as an esports game for more than ten years, with the first big-budget, mainstream Call of Duty tournaments surfacing in 2012 with Black Ops II. That was when the first Call of Duty World Championship tournament took place, but thanks to MLG and similar organisations, the origins of COD esports still go back a little further.
It might not be as big as Counter-Strike or as valuable as Dota 2, but Call of Duty esports are still popular enough to pull in hundreds of thousands of viewers with each new tournament.
Best Call of Duty Tournaments
The Call of Duty esports scene would be nothing without the tournaments that make it so popular. Every year, the best Call of Duty teams fight for millions of dollars and immense bragging rights, taking to grand stages around the world to face off against their opponents.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the best Call of Duty esports tournaments:
- Call of Duty League: The top-tier competitive league in COD esports which takes place annually
- Call of Duty Challengers: The second-level tier of competitive Call of Duty that is played alongside the CDL
- World Series of Warzone: Call of Duty Warzone’s foremost tournament, which is played on a global level
- Esports World Cup: Call of Duty appears at the Esports World Cup with a multiplayer and a battle royale category
What is the most valuable Call of Duty tournament?
The most valuable Call of Duty tournament is the Call of Duty League, which is the highest tier of competitive COD. It has a prize pool that exceeds $5 million per year.
What is the most popular Call of Duty tournament?
The Call of Duty League remains the most popular COD tournament in 2024, boasting peak viewership counts that almost reach half a million users per event.
Related: Best Esports Tournaments Right Now
Best Call of Duty Pro Players
We’ve got a full breakdown of the best Call of Duty esports players, but for now, here’s a small assortment of the top COD players in history:
Damon ‘Karma’ Barlow
In 2024, Karma became the first COD player with four ‘rings’ after winning the Call of Duty League Championship as OpTic Texas’ coach. He has secured three world championships as a player and won the first-ever title in BO2 in 2012 with Fariko Impact.
Ian ‘Crimsix’ Porter
Crimsix is the winningest COD player ever, boasting more ‘chips’ and rings than any other player. He is retired from Call of Duty now, but his legacy lives on and he’s regarded as a Hall of Fame player by many.
Seth ‘Scump’ Abner
Scump was known as the King of Call of Duty before his retirement in 2023. He has been the face of COD esports for years and is one of the most popular creators and gamers in the COD space.
Chris ‘Simp’ Lehr
Simp is considered a prodigy in Call of Duty esports, being one of the most consistent players ever seen by fans. He has represented Atlanta FaZe for years and has become one of the wealthiest players thanks to his many wins and close finishes.
Matthew ‘FormaL’ Piper
FormaL now plays competitive Halo, but in his Call of Duty days, he was a force to be reckoned with. Many consider FormaL to be the greatest controller-based esports player ever, and he’s one of just two people in the world with an esports world championship win in two different games.
Related: Is Esports a Good Career Path?
How to Watch Call of Duty Esports
Activision Blizzard often changes where the Call of Duty League is broadcast – some years it’s Twitch, others it’s on YouTube. That’s the sum total of the debate, though – it’s one of those platforms.
Every year, the most popular COD streamers will also sign up to ‘co-stream’ any gameplay in the Call of Duty space, so you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to figuring out how to watch Call of Duty online.
Best Call of Duty Teams
The roster of Call of Duty teams is chopping and changing all the time, but these days, the core organisations tend to remain the same. The players that represent these organisations will regularly change, but their make-up mostly remains static.
Here are some of the best Call of Duty teams in the esports scene right now:
- OpTic Texas
- Atlanta FaZe
- Toronto Ultra
- New York Subliners (brand shut down following acquisition by C9 in 2024)
Because the Call of Duty League has a franchised structure, the teams won’t ever really change that much. There are plenty of teams outside of the CDL that deserve a spot on this list, though:
- Lore
- OMiT
- Decimate
- WaR
How are COD Esports Played?
Traditionally, Call of Duty esports won’t change too dramatically year-over-year. The game modes that are represented in these tournaments have remained the same for a very long time, and usually, only one mode will be dynamic.
Three core game modes make up the beating heart of COD esports: Search and Destroy, Hardpoint, and Control. Usually, each match will be a ‘best-of-five’, except for a grand final in a tournament, which tends to be a best-of-seven or even a best-of-nine. That means that most often, the first team to win three ‘maps’ will be crowned the victor.
Every team has four players and a coach, and almost every event known in the Call of Duty space is played on PC rather than on consoles. Players are only allowed to use controllers in COD esports, which has led some diehard esports fanatics to question the ‘legitimacy’ of the skill levels of COD players.
Can You Bet on Call of Duty?
Call of Duty is one of the more popular games when it comes to esports betting, particularly in North America and the United Kingdom. The most populated event for COD betting is the Call of Duty League, which has plenty of market coverage across the staggering variety of esports betting sites out there.
Related: Esports Betting Guide
That’s everything you need to know about Call of Duty esports. If you’d like to know more, simply leave a comment and we’ll update this page as needed.
