The Soldier of Fortune franchise helped write the "FPS Bible". The two games, though lacking a great story, were excellent with regards to multiplayer, pacing, moddable capability, pacing and gameplay mechanics.

The third entry, Soldier of Fortune: Payback, was a critical and commercial failure. It was developed by Cauldron HQ and published as a value title by Activision Value.

Activision purportedly is tied up in a failure to properly negotiate the rights to the name "Soldier of Fortune". Raven Software now develops CoD maps. Activision, BRING BACK SOLDIER OF FORTUNE. BRING BACK THE SHOP. BRING BACK JOHN F. MULLINS AND HIS 1980s PORNO MUSTACHE! BRING BACK THE GHOUL ENGINE! BRING BACK 100% MODDABLE GAMING! BRING BACK OUR HERO!