Call of Duty 2027: Activision Confirms Brand New Sub-Franchise, Not a Sequel

Tired of the same old Call of Duty? You're not alone, and Activision is finally listening. The company has confirmed that next year's big Call of Duty release won't be another Modern Warfare or Black Ops sequel—it'll be a completely new sub-franchise, just like Vanguard was back in 2021.

In an interview with The Game Business, Call of Duty marketing lead Tyler Bahl admitted that the recent string of Modern Warfare and Black Ops games wasn't what the community wanted. "It was not something that our community was looking for," Bahl said. "They 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."

So what does that mean for you? Well, if you've been craving a new vibe from the franchise, you're in luck. Bahl confirmed that a future title will be a new sub-franchise and that groundwork has already been laid. But before that, we've still got Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to look forward to.

Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and—for the first time since Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013—a Nintendo platform, specifically the Nintendo Switch 2. The campaign will take you to the Korean Peninsula, where a full-scale invasion threatens global destabilization. You'll also fight in New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

According to multiplayer technical designer Jack Hoppus, Modern Warfare 4 should feel "ripped from the headlines" with a "boots on the ground" lens. And Activision execs are already hyping it up: one even said it's among the "biggest games of the year," alongside GTA 6—so you know it's a big deal.

But the real buzz is about what comes after. Bahl says Modern Warfare 4 "addresses some of that feedback" from players wanting new experiences, though we don't know exactly how yet. Could it be a new mode, a new setting, or something else entirely? Only time will tell.

For now, it's clear that Activision is trying to shake things up. After years of sequels, a brand new sub-franchise could be just what the doctor ordered. But will it be enough to satisfy players hungry for change?

What do you think? Are you excited for a fresh Call of Duty sub-franchise, or should Activision stick to what works? Let us know in the comments!