Activision has confirmed that one of the future instalments of Call of Duty will launch a new sub-series. The information came in an interview with The Game Business by Tyler Bahl, the publisher’s marketing director.
Bahl’s interview was published on Thursday, October 15, on The Game Business. Bahl said the publisher had previously announced that one of its upcoming games would be a “new sub-franchise”, and that the foundations for it were “already laid”. He did not reveal the title, setting or release date. The story was first reported in Poland by CD-Action.
Response to Player Criticism
According to Bahl, players were expecting something fresh. Two pairs of “quick sequels” – Modern Warfare 2 and 3 (2022–2023) and Black Ops 6 and 7 (2024–2025) – failed to meet those expectations, because the changes were limited to campaign length and new features. There was a lack of change in tone, as he put it. He added that the publisher was not satisfied with every aspect of last year’s game and had “heard the feedback loud and clear”.
The Game Business notes that Black Ops 7 disappointed fans and posted the lowest sales results in nearly two decades. In Europe, the game’s launch was 50 per cent weaker than the previous instalment’s, and in the US the title ranked fifth in the annual chart – the series’ lowest placement since 2008. The outlet also cites data from Ampere: in 2026, the series’ monthly player count is around 20–30 million in most months, compared with about 40 million in 2024. We wrote about Black Ops 7’s problems in our article on the drop in sales and the Steam rating.
Modern Warfare 4 Comes First
Before the new sub-series arrives, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will hit the market. According to the official series account, the release is scheduled for October 23. The early access campaign starts on October 16, and the DMZ mode on October 20 – for those who placed a pre-order.
Bahl promises an “epic finale” for the current Modern Warfare series and the closing of that chapter. The game is set to return to a realistic, “grounded in reality” shooter, more cinematic and authentic. It will also come to Switch 2 – the series’ return to Nintendo platforms for the first time since 2013.
Bahl stressed that the goal is not a specific number of copies sold. What matters more is whether fans enjoy the game. He added that upcoming titles must be innovative, because player tastes change quickly.
What It Means for Players
For now, there is nothing concrete to buy or pre-order: the new sub-series has no name, date or platforms. The next release is Modern Warfare 4, a week from now. Bahl’s comments suggest, however, that after this game the series is meant to change direction rather than repeat the pattern of annual sequels within the same sub-series. In the background is GTA 6 – Bahl believes Rockstar’s release will draw more people to consoles and may also help Call of Duty.
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