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Activision has officially confirmed that the Call of Duty entry arriving next year will launch a brand-new sub-franchise. This departure marks a shift away from the established Modern Warfare and Black Ops series, as the company looks to introduce fresh narratives and settings to the long-running brand.
The decision follows community feedback regarding the release of consecutive titles within the same sub-series, such as the back-to-back launches of Modern Warfare 2 and 3, or Black Ops 6 and 7. Chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl acknowledged that players expressed a clear desire for tonal shifts rather than repeated entries in familiar sub-franchises.
Sledgehammer Games is reportedly developing the upcoming title. While 2021's Vanguard also attempted to establish a new sub-franchise, it struggled to gain traction. Rumors suggest the 2027 release will feature a setting spanning the late 90s and early 2000s, introducing an entirely new cast of characters to distinguish itself from previous entries.
The upcoming game is slated for release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Its long-term success will depend on its ability to differentiate itself from the existing Modern Warfare and Black Ops pillars and whether it can secure a future as a recurring series.
