Johanna Faries, the current commissioner for the Activision Blizzard esports leagues, is gaining more responsibility over theCall of Dutyfranchise. After General Manager Byron Beede declared his departure from the company, Faries will take up the mantle. This is a big step forCall of Duty,as the future of the franchise is now in her hands.
Faries came to the franchise from a background in the National Football League. She spent 12 years working for the NFL beforejoining Activision Blizzard to aid in theirCall of Dutyesports efforts. She has multiple celebrated distinctions, including being on Fortune’s “40 under 40” most influential business leaders.
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As General Manager, Faries will have managerial oversight for theCall of Dutyfranchise. This includes live operations elements as well as oversight for the esports organization. During this time, she will continue to oversee all league and team business for Activision Blizzard, which includes several other competitive titles. This is a chance for her to set a newvision forCall of Dutyesportsand potentially take the industry to the next level. In a statement, Faries acknowledges the impact thatCall of Dutyhas had on the world, and said she seeks to usher the game into its next chapter.
Call of Dutyis a competitive brand with massive salesand lots of digital monetization.Call of Duty: Warzone’sSeason 3 continues to see surges in popularity, andCall of Duty: Mobilebrought the franchise to new platforms. It is evident thatCall of Dutyis continuing to grow in popularity and production, and many fans are eager to see what will come next.
That is where Faries will come in, as she gets to help direct the franchise’s future. While her focus is evidently on competitive play, that does not mean thatCall of Dutywill become a solely multiplayer experience. The franchise’s community has been following its stories for years, and there is still a lot that the games can bring to their community.
Call of Dutymay be seeing a change in leadership, but that does not change developer direction as of yet. The rumoredCall of Duty: WW2 Vanguardis still slatedfor this year, andCall of Duty: Warzone’sSeason 3 has only just begun. There is tons to see as the game series progresses into the future, and Faries will be at the forefront of that new history.
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