Company research: Call of Duty players primarily seek social connection, not violence

Company research cited in the material says the leading reason people play is that their friends are there—not the guns or violence. Games are also described as a way to decompress after a long or stressful day while spending time with friends.

Warzone helped some players reconnect with friends during COVID, while online groups can become meaningful social circles even when teammates have never met in person. One player described regularly communicating with teammates about their lives despite never meeting them offline.

The material also suggests that some parental concerns may be shifting from violent content toward social-media addiction and game quality, although it does not establish how widespread that change is.