In a move that’s surprising to some but inevitable to others, Activision has announced it’s pulling the plug on Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile just over a year after its global release. The decision, according to internal sources and official statements, comes after the title failed to hit performance expectations across critical engagement and revenue metrics. For a franchise that’s long dominated the FPS landscape, Warzone Mobile represents a rare misfire—and one Activision appears keen to quietly phase out.

A Promising Start That Fizzled Fast

When Warzone Mobile launched globally in March 2024, the hype was real. With over 50 million pre-registrations, a massive marketing push, and full cross-progression integration with Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, the expectations were sky-high. The game pulled in $1.4 million in revenue in its first four days, signaling a strong start.

But what followed was a slow, painful slide.

By April 2025, U.S. revenue had dipped to just $300,000, and downloads fell to around 600,000—figures dwarfed by competitors like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire. Despite using iconic maps like Verdansk and Rebirth Island and having deep ties to the broader Call of Duty ecosystem, Warzone Mobile couldn’t keep pace with its mobile rivals.

Why Did It Fail?

According to sources familiar with internal discussions at Activision, the primary issue came down to a fundamental mismatch between expectations and execution. While the idea of a full-scale Warzone experience on mobile was enticing, the reality was riddled with compromises.

The biggest culprit? Optimization.

Across both Android and iOS, players reported overheating issues, poor frame rates, heavy battery drain, and frequent crashes—particularly on mid-range devices. Even flagship phones couldn’t consistently deliver smooth performance, and with mobile gamers less tolerant of technical issues than PC or console players, retention suffered.

Then there was the pacing. In trying to remain faithful to the traditional Warzone formula, the game offered long match times and large-scale engagements—elements that simply didn’t align with how mobile gamers typically play. Games like Call of Duty: Mobile succeeded because they catered to quick, accessible matches. Warzone Mobile did not.

The End of the Road

On May 18, 2025, Activision officially began winding down the game. It has since been delisted from the App Store and Google Play, though those who previously downloaded the game can continue playing for now. However, the writing is on the wall—no new seasonal content will be released, in-app purchases are disabled, and backend support is being phased out.

Notably, no refunds are being issued for unspent COD Points or purchases. Instead, Activision is offering a migration incentive: existing Warzone Mobile players can transfer double the value of their remaining COD Points to Call of Duty: Mobile by logging in with the same Activision ID. This offer is valid until August 15, 2025.

What This Means for Activision—and the Franchise

For Activision, this shutdown marks a significant setback in its mobile ambitions. After the massive success of Call of Duty: Mobile, which remains one of the highest-grossing mobile games globally, Warzone Mobile was supposed to be the next big leap. Instead, it’s become a cautionary tale about overextending a formula that works well on consoles into a format with entirely different expectations.

That said, sources suggest the company isn’t abandoning mobile altogether. Development continues on future updates for Call of Duty: Mobile, and there are whispers of another mobile title in the early prototyping phase—one built from the ground up for mobile-first players rather than retrofitting console gameplay.

Final Thoughts

Warzone Mobile was an ambitious project that never quite found its footing. Its shutdown isn’t just about poor optimization or missed revenue targets—it’s about a broader lesson in understanding the mobile market’s unique demands. Activision bet big on brand loyalty carrying over to handheld screens. Instead, it learned that even giants can stumble when the formula isn’t right.

For fans, the best way forward now is to embrace Call of Duty: Mobile, which continues to thrive with regular updates, shorter matches, and smoother gameplay. As for Warzone Mobile, it joins the growing list of high-profile mobile experiments that couldn’t meet the moment.