Call of Duty Pivots to All-New Sub-Series After Back-to-Back Sequels

Activision is officially starting from scratch for its next major Call of Duty era. Following 2026's Modern Warfare 4—which serves as the final chapter in that storyline—the subsequent entry will launch a brand-new sub-series, stepping away from the franchise's reliance on existing pillars.

In an interview with The Game Business, Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl confirmed that the publisher is laying the runway for something new. "We've already kind of stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we've already kind of laid the groundwork there," Bahl said.

The decision comes after Activision publicly acknowledged that releasing consecutive games within the same sub-series hit a wall with players. "Yeah, I think we were pretty public about the idea of us going back-to-back with Modern Warfare 2 to Modern Warfare 3 and Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7 was not something that our community was looking for," Bahl said, noting that players wanted a clearer tonal shift between annual entries.

The details

• Strategy shift: Moving away from back-to-back sub-series releases
• Preceding entries: 2025's Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and 2026's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
• Upcoming entry: Rumored for 2027 with a late-1990s and early-2000s setting
• Developer: Sledgehammer Games is understood to be making the next game

The last time Activision attempted to establish a new brand pillar was 2021's Call of Duty: Vanguard. Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Vanguard underperformed and failed to spawn a lasting sub-franchise. With Sledgehammer understood to be helm-side for the upcoming title, the publisher is betting that a new cast and setting can break the cycle.

For a annual franchise built on reliable comfort food, convincing players to try an entirely new recipe remains the ultimate balance test.