Activision Confirms Next COD After MW4 Will Be a New Sub-Franchise

Activision has confirmed that the Call of Duty release slated to follow Modern Warfare 4 will not be a sequel in an existing line but will instead launch a brand new sub-franchise, marking the first major tonal overhaul for the series since Call of Duty: Vanguard arrived in 2021.

Players Wanted Something Fresh

According to GamesRadar, Call of Duty marketing lead Tyler Bahl spoke to The Game Business and pointed directly to community feedback as the driving force behind the decision. Bahl stated that the ongoing string of Modern Warfare and Black Ops sequels was “not something that our community was looking for,” adding that players wanted a tonal shift even when different time periods and new gameplay features were on offer. The new sub-franchise is described as already having its groundwork laid, though no title or setting has been announced.

Modern Warfare 4 Still Takes Center Stage for Now

Before any new sub-franchise arrives, Activision is focused on Modern Warfare 4, which GamesRadar reports will release on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Notably, the game will also launch on Nintendo Switch 2, making it the first Call of Duty to appear on a Nintendo platform since Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013. The campaign focuses on the Korean Peninsula and the threat of a large-scale invasion with potential global consequences, with confirmed locations including New York, Paris, and Mumbai. Multiplayer technical designer Jack Hoppus has described the game’s tone as “ripped from the headlines” with a “boots on the ground” approach.

What This Means for the Series Long Term

The Call of Duty franchise has operated on a strict annual release cadence, cycling primarily through the Modern Warfare and Black Ops lines in recent years. Bahl acknowledged that Modern Warfare 4 itself is also intended to address some of the community’s desire for fresh experiences, even within an established name. However, the clearest answer to that demand appears to be the unannounced follow-up project. Whether the new sub-franchise draws from a historical period, a futuristic setting, or something else entirely remains unknown. Activision has not provided further details beyond confirming the shift is coming and that early development work is already underway.

Sources: GamesRadar