Right about the pendulum aspect to a degree.
Just want to add - they could be like a food company if COD kept it simple and simply kept releasing addition content for their titles and really slowing down the release cycle. They could still make quite a generous profit while keeping the community relatively happy for that game for extended periods.
Will not happen in the next 3 years but if Actv want a continual revenue stream from COD I can only see this as the most logical path to take.
Actv can burnout the franchise while trying to scrape every cent from consumers before death, or prolong their life in a slightly less immediate profitable setting but earning more over a longer period from the franchise continuing.
IMO the best way forward - is a step backwards.
Stakeholders will cream and shout as they will take a huge revenue hit every year but if they are in it for the long haul they will make more $$.
Doubtful as most will I imagine be in it to squeeze every cent out they can, then sell their shares for an ever bigger profit.
Who cares if the consumers and companies have been bled dry ? They made annual profit then got a massive payday from selling out when the well dries up.
I know many say "this is the make or break game" and BO3 isn't an example of this by any means; but it is Actv current business model that IMO is killing the franchises. Decreasing game quality is a byproduct of their business model which requires more profit to appease stakeholders - - - cutting costs such as the more extensive quality control measures etc etc. The spiral of decline will continue until push comes to shove and they realise they have pushed that fine line one inch too far. (looking at mDLC, RNG, no legacy support, exclusivity)
Diluting the franchise with 12 month release cycles has proven to lack foresight (IMO being blinded by greed) - consumers are becoming indifferent with COD as you can very rarely play a full year of a single game. Meanwhile they are shoving the next down your throat halfway through then offer minimal support (if any) for previous titles (let alone current) with BO2 as an exception (cheers 3Arc).
Not efficient is what I usually argue but in this case, it's not a cost aspect, it's basic service provision with little overhead.
"Buy our new game or you won't be able to enjoy COD as many of our past titles are full of hackers which we don't prevent LEL soz not soz. Want to buy an ASD while your here, maybe 10 or 20 of them or a new camo for a gun you don't have access to?? Also whats your CC details and bank account number by the way ??"