How a Cold War thriller became the top-selling video game of 2020

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in November 2020, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War emerged as the most purchased game in the United States that year. This first-person shooter, set in 1981, blended historical intrigue with intense combat, offering players a complex narrative that ultimately sold 30 million copies by December 2024.

The development of Black Ops Cold War was marked by internal friction. Originally a collaboration between Raven Software and Sledgehammer Games, the project shifted in May 2019 when Activision appointed Treyarch as the lead studio. This transition reportedly led to concerns among staff regarding intense overtime requirements. The final product, built on an upgraded version of the IW engine, featured a campaign that allowed players to customize their protagonist and navigate missions with non-linear objectives. The story follows CIA operative Russell Adler as he tracks a Soviet spy named Perseus, incorporating real-world figures like Ronald Reagan into its high-stakes plot.

Beyond the campaign, the game expanded the series' signature multiplayer and cooperative Zombies modes. Multiplayer introduced new formats like VIP Escort and Fireteam: Dirty Bomb, while Zombies offered a progression system where players could earn Aetherium Crystals to permanently upgrade their gear. The game's marketing was equally unconventional, utilizing cryptic online puzzles and a website, PawnTakesPawn.com, to build anticipation. This strategy included sending physical crates to influencers and hiding clues within Call of Duty: Warzone, culminating in a full reveal during an in-game event.

Critical reception was generally favorable, though opinions on the multiplayer component remained divided. While some reviewers praised the map design, others found it less polished than its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Despite these mixed reactions, the game achieved significant commercial success, moving 5.7 million digital units in its launch month alone. Its legacy continued through six seasons of post-launch content, including crossovers with iconic film franchises, before the release of its sequel, Black Ops 6, in October 2024.

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