CODM Esports is dying: Revival is possible by following proven roadmaps from other titles

Story Highlights

• COD Mobile started well but failed to keep the pace both in competitive and ranked.
• The game needs to get out of the America-based esports competition to get mainstream attention.
• The revival of this title is still possible, CODM needs to work on the suggestions from experts, viewers, and players.

Esports in the mobile gaming world has gained significant traction recently, despite its origins being deeply embedded in the industry for many years now. As we’ve seen, various esports titles have emerged, only to decline later on. The majority of these games are manufactured by leading companies such as Tencent, NetEase, Activision, and others. Regrettably, Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) falls into the category of those that have not fared well in the esports scene due to several factors.

Regardless of being backed by a large corporation, the mobile game didn’t manage to break into the forefront of mainstream esports competitions. This piece examines potential reasons for esports’ decline and the chance of its resurgence.

A Brief History of CODM Esports

CODM Esports originated in 2020 with its first season kicking off. This tournament was arranged by Activision and initially planned to take place in Los Angeles, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill, ultimately leading to the event’s cancellation. The substantial prize pool of $750,000 was distributed among all teams except Oxygen Esports. Each team received approximately $107,000 .

Subsequently, four additional occurrences transpired, resulting in modifications to the format, team counts, and various aspects. Sponsors were also replaced. In the following year, 2021, the world finals were called off once more and were restructured into two significant events known as the East Finals and the West Finals.

Over the ensuing years, CODM Esports encountered a series of highs and lows. Numerous local leagues and smaller competitions either shut down or struggled to draw substantial audiences. Subsequently, major events were unable to maintain their initial buzz or expand it further.

In 2021, Blacklist Ultimate emerged victorious at the East Finals of the Call of Duty Mobile World Championship. Meanwhile, Tribe Gaming claimed victory in the West Finals. The following year, in 2022, the championship was held as a single event again, with Tribe Gaming taking home the trophy and a prize pool of $400,000. In 2023, the championship title went to Wolves, while Elevate won the most recent tournament in 2024, pocketing the trophy and a prize money of $400,000.

The reasons why CODM Esports is dying

The mobile gaming market for esports is seeing significant growth in funding, infrastructure, expansion, and longevity, whereas the Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) esports sector appears to be going in the opposite direction. Despite other successful esports games sharing similar genres, mechanics, and playstyles, none seem to resonate with Activision’s title effectively.

However, I outlined some of the primary reasons why CODM Esports is dying.

1. Weak Competitive Ecosystem

Since the launch of the CODM esports system, it has struggled to keep up with the level of competition expected. It’s understandable for a new title to begin modestly since the game was released not long ago. However, the challenge lies in nurturing the game to a point where it can thrive among its competitors.

Hesketh2, Liquipedia’s APAC Wiki Manager for Mobile Esports, shared his thoughts on the decline of COD Mobile: “In my opinion, one major factor is the scarcity of competition.” He explained that the esports schedule is limited and mainly focuses on the World Championship, which creates issues. Additionally, he pointed out a significant gap between Ranked Modes and Competitive modes, with distinct rules making it difficult for players to bridge this divide independently.

In simpler terms, the game “Call of Duty Mobile” struggled to live up to its potential as an esport. Although it boasted a large prize pool and attracted sponsors, it failed to meet viewer expectations. The game only has five global regions for the Snapdragon Pro Series and three leagues in Asia, with most major events taking place in North America. As a result, the game receives limited attention and struggles to reach many players.

Apart from us, we also posed the same questions to Bobby Buckets, who is known as RealBobbyPlays. He identified two major issues: “Firstly, inconsistency in the competitive environment (few events, varying formats across regions, and a gap between ranked and competitive play). Secondly, there were concerns about the organization of Championships, including the destination for Stage 5, streaming times, and slot allocation.

However, it’s the titles such as PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Honor of Kings that have surged ahead primarily due to their strong focus on nurturing grassroots and community efforts, coupled with swift expansion. On the other hand, CODM has not been able to match this approach effectively.

2. Declining Viewer Engagement

The audience is the soul of any esports competition. A larger audience means stronger marketing and increased engagement for both players and the community. Content creators will also have a larger fanbase to share their work with. Unfortunately, Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) didn’t manage to retain its viewership. In 2024, the game struggled to attract more than 50,000 peak viewers, which indicates a challenging situation for the game.

RealBobbyPlays also expressed his thoughts on the decline in viewers. He stated that calling it a simple loss of half of its viewership oversimplifies the problem. As an example, he pointed out that the viewership for the 2023 World Championship was significantly different from that of the 2024 event. In essence, he suggested that the absence of a popular figure like “Godlike” in the 2024 event is what led to the decline in viewers.

He also proposed that holding the event in countries where it can start at a time beneficial for a larger audience, particularly from India, Philippines, and the US (the three primary demographics), might effectively address this issue. This would be particularly advantageous if the event was hosted in Europe or Asia.

In the world of mobile esports, there aren’t too many pure action shooting games to choose from compared to those in the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre. To be honest, I can only remember PUBG Mobile as the standout action shooter title. The competition mainly comes from the MOBA scene, and you probably know who they are.

Although we focus on Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) solely competing with PUBG Mobile, which boasts a comprehensive esports infrastructure, it nonetheless didn’t manage to outshine its competitor. The trajectory of PUBG Mobile serves as a model for success, but CODM struggled to replicate this or introduce something novel.

3. The success of other Esports titles

At present, the top dogs in mobile eSports include PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Honor of Kings. Additionally, Supercell’s games also command a significant share of the mobile eSports scene. Events for Brawl Stars, Clash of Clans, and Clash Royale are frequently held and draw a huge following.

The primary reason for the success of these other titles is their extensive and far-reaching esports infrastructure. For instance, PUBG Mobile boasts a colossal ecosystem that reaches from regional to national levels, and even grassroots communities. The level of backing and local community involvement for this game is unmatched among its peers. Similarly, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has followed suit, expanding beyond the Southeast Asian region at a rapid pace and quickly growing its esports scene.

4. Limited Developer Support for Esports

It appears that support for the game’s development might be quite restricted from an external perspective. I’d like to clarify that the game itself isn’t indifferent; it’s just the developer team seems smaller or less active. Notably, the CODM World Championship is structured into two main events: the Snapdragon Pro Series, and the Asian Leagues. This structure, determined by rigorous qualification processes, allows teams to compete on a global stage.

5. Other reasons

Beyond these explanations, there are additional factors contributing to the decline of CODM esports. A thriving esports scene requires harmony among all its components. Hence, it’s crucial for the game to consider the needs and operations of the participating teams.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been pondering about the future of our favorite game and its presence in the esports scene. I brought up the idea that perhaps it’s time for us to step out from third-party organizers like ESL and invest more in a self-backed league. Hesket agreed, highlighting the importance of event density as the main concern. He pointed out that there’s a significant void in esports events for COD Mobile. Taking a look at roadmaps such as PUBG Mobile, where they introduced an officially run regional league (albeit still managed by third parties like NODWIN or ESL), could potentially provide a straightforward solution. This approach would allow us to host more games, more matches, and ultimately, more airtime for our esports scene.

In some cases, people might say that it’s not the game’s responsibility to support the teams, but rather the organizations should handle this. However, I’d like to present a different perspective here. When the event budget (prize pool) is limited, team owners or organizations encounter challenges in covering these costs. Running a team involves expenses such as accommodation, travel, coaching, equipment, and many others. If a team fails to generate earnings from events, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to sustain their operations.

In addition, when a game gains a large audience and an active community, its teams can cover their expenses, even without significant backing from the game’s publisher or creator. Sponsorships can bridge that financial gap for these teams. However, this wasn’t the case with Call of Duty: Mobile.

Even though established organizations can overcome financial hurdles due to assistance from various sources, since they encompass multiple teams, novice competitors lack this backing to sustain their own teams. Consequently, the aspiration of breaking into the mainstream spotlight or even gaining prominence, often gets thwarted at an early stage.

The leaders in mobile esports: A brief overview of the mainstream titles

Esports on mobile devices is primarily ruled by several popular games that span various genres such as action and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA). Titles like Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, Pokémon Unite, among others, are leading the pack.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed that in the world of mobile gaming, Mobile Legends is leading the pack with its strong following, Honor of Kings is rapidly gaining ground, and PUBG Mobile has an established ecosystem that’s been going strong for quite some time. When it comes to the titles from Supercell, it’s Brawl Stars that’s powering their esports scene. Meanwhile, Pokemon Unite boasts a large community and a passionate fanbase, making it a strong contender for success in the esports world.

Is revival possible for CODM Esports to make a comeback

While it may not be easy to predict, there’s certainly hope for the game to regain its strength. However, it must address the current shortcomings first. This would involve gathering player opinions and making necessary improvements based on their feedback.

Hesketh proposed several alternative solutions regarding how to get the game back on track when we inquired about it. A potential approach for this could involve revising the game’s plan to include additional events instead of solely being designated as a “Worlds Qualifier.” Additionally, COD Mobile may consider adopting a two-phase roadmap similar to the top-tier titles.

It’s crucial to shift World Champs hosting locations beyond the U.S., as this would encourage more participants and spectators to participate. Additionally, he proposed some adjustments in gameplay mechanics. One of these changes includes unifying the ruleset for Esports and Ranked play. He also pointed out that Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) can’t afford to be complacent with upcoming mobile games like VALORANT on its heels.

Additionally, I need to incorporate some other elements in this mix. It would be beneficial for the game to offer enhanced player assistance and establish a comprehensive league structure that reaches deep into the grassroots level. This is crucial because the core communities, which form the lifeblood of the game, require more attention at their base levels.

Initially, it’s essential to address any missing aspects within the ecosystem to involve participants. The strategy should center around marketing efforts and engaging influencers, providing captivating content to maintain our title as a hot topic in discussions.

It’s astonishing how deeply ingrained games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and PUBG Mobile have become, as they seem to have no end in their popularity. Remarkably, even my university hosts regular events featuring these games! Incredible, isn’t it?

Learning from the drivers in the mobile market: Possible way out

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve observed that COD Mobile could significantly benefit from learning some strategies straight from the success story of PUBG Mobile. Here’s my take:

From the get-go, PUBG Mobile nailed their esports scene. Frankly, it’s tough for any other game to catch up now. The blueprint they set, particularly their approach since day one, is nothing short of impressive. I think COD Mobile could learn a thing or two from this.

Subsequently, the game aims to emulate the stratospheric success of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Its partnerships, collaborations, and content are truly exceptional and deserve recognition for their innovative approach. Initially, the game was limited to the Southeast Asia region, but following the MSC 2024 in Riyadh, it soared to new heights of success, much like a rocket.

Other games are thriving. While Honor of Kings hasn’t expanded into international markets yet, its global counterpart, Arena of Valor, has proven successful. Now, the game is accessible globally, and it’s taking careful steps forward. In essence, Honor of Kings is undergoing a series of transformations that point towards a very optimistic future.

Final Thoughts

One of the video games I’ve grown particularly fond of over the years is Call of Duty Mobile. When it became available worldwide, my excitement knew no bounds! The idea of playing this game on a mobile device was exhilarating, but what truly got me pumped was learning about its esports scene.

There’s no doubt that countless enthusiasts would jump at the chance to witness its triumph, given its potential. However, the game seems to be experiencing some rough patches right now. I strongly believe that with appropriate solutions to tackle the current problems, this game stands a good chance of flipping the script and becoming a top-tier mobile esports title.

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2025-03-09 15:12