Yes and no. A two year development cycle is pretty reasonable for a linear game where the engine and foundational mechanics and elements of design are already in place and well understood by all involved. Even animations and assets are to a certain degree acceptable to reuse. Given those constraints, there have been some pretty good COD games.

That’s just the development side though. The crazy part is selling a new game where multiplayer is a large element to people every year. I don’t know if I’m more baffled by the publisher for deciding to do it, or for audiences for putting up with it. I’m personally very sluggish to switch away from an MP shooter that I like. Which is the reason why I stopped trying to keep up after MW2, and only played the other games on a delay and primarily for single player.