Is the X timeline just doomers complaining, or is CoD:M esports actually cooked?
Let's break it down with hard numbers player base is thriving, but esports viewership lags behind its potential.
CoD:M still pulls 27-49 million MAU (late Oct 2025 estimates via
ActivePlayer.io up 30% That's massive for mobile FPS, sustaining $20-30M monthly revenue.
Game ain't dying. But my timeline's flooded with "esports dead/dying" takes visa drama, "Activision neglect," pros retiring, low hype outside India/China. Valid gripes on investment, but "dead"? Nah viewership is modest/niche, not zero. 2025 highlights (Escharts, global platforms; China Huya/Douyu adds untracked millions) Call of Duty Mobile Major 2025 (China/Global, Jul-Sep): 11,018 peak viewers, 406,804 hours watched, 2,184 avg viewers, 186h airtime (X posts note 4.9M total views ex-China, up to 26.7K peak CCV).
escharts.com WC 2025 North America (Sep): 2,718 peak, 24,222 hours, 1,563 avg, 16h airtime.
escharts.com WC 2024 Finals (ref): ~31,000 peak, 431,000 hours (similar scale expected for 2025 finals).
Total 2025 estimate: 1.5-5M+ hours watched (qualifiers/majors; full year TBD). All-time peak: 97k (2021).
escharts.com vs Player Base: ~0.05-0.1% of 27-49M MAU watching peaks. Typical for esports most play casually, don't watch pros. (MLBB/PUBG Mobile peaks millions all-time, but CoD:M holds steady regionally.) Worlds Finals (Nov 7-9, Katowice): $850k pool, in-game rewards, online stream. Could hit 30k+ peak tune in!?
Bottom line: Esports isn't "dead" it's underinvested globally (focus on CDL?), creator support lacking, China carries quietly (40M+ for past events?). With this MAU, massive upside if Activision amps marketing/rewards. Timeline's half-right on complaints, half-wrong on doom.