Activision CMO Tyler Bahl confirmed a new Call of Duty sub-franchise is in development to break the recent cycle of Modern Warfare and Black Ops sequels.
Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl has confirmed that a new sub-series is on the way for Call of Duty. This announcement follows the upcoming launch of Modern Warfare 4, which marks the fifth straight year of either a Black Ops or Modern Warfare entry in the franchise. Bahl stated that the company has already laid the groundwork for this future title.
In an interview with The Game Business, Bahl explained that the decision to introduce a new sub-franchise stems from player feedback. He noted that while recent games offered different time settings and features, the community was seeking a distinct change in tone.
"[The Call of Duty community] wanted something fresh, and even though there were different time settings, and ways to play the game with new features, that tonal shift is something that they were looking for," Bahl said. "So, we've already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise, and we've already laid the groundwork."
Bahl added that Modern Warfare 4 addresses some of this feedback, but the new sub-series represents a longer-term shift in strategy. According to Dexerto, sources have confirmed that this new game will arrive in 2027.
The move signals a potential return to a three-team rotation for Call of Duty, similar to the structure used during the PS4 generation. For several years, annual releases have alternated between Modern Warfare and Black Ops. The last game in the franchise to not be a Black Ops or Modern Warfare entry was 2021’s Vanguard, which was created by Sledgehammer Games.
Reports indicate that Sledgehammer Games is in charge of the 2027 Call of Duty title. This would give the studio precedent for launching a new sub-series, as they did with Vanguard. Meanwhile, Black Ops developer Treyarch teased last month that it is working on "something that nobody’s ever experienced before."
Activision has not yet revealed the name, setting, or theme of the new sub-series. KitGuru notes that there is no indication the new series will revisit older concepts like Advanced Warfare. Insider Gaming reported in July 2025 that the 2027 release would be set in the "modern era" and would not be a "jetpack-style" game, though these details have not been officially confirmed by Activision.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. This marks the first time a Call of Duty game will be released on a Nintendo platform since Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013.
Preordering the game unlocks campaign early access on October 16 and the DMZ mode on October 20. The campaign centers around the Korean Peninsula and the threat of a full-scale invasion, with other confirmed locations including New York, Paris, and Mumbai.
The confirmation of a new sub-franchise breaks a five-year cycle of sequels to the franchise's two most popular series, Modern Warfare and Black Ops. By introducing a new branch of the franchise, Activision aims to address fan fatigue and diversify its annual release strategy. The involvement of Sledgehammer Games suggests a return to the multi-studio rotation that characterized earlier years of the franchise, potentially offering players a wider variety of settings and gameplay styles in future titles.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign is now available in early access for pre-order customers. The full game launches on October 23, featuring a campaign estimated to take eight hours to complete.
Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will conclude the current Modern Warfare series and launch a new chapter. The game is scheduled for release on October 23.
