Call of Duty is preparing a new sub-series as Modern Warfare 4 brings the current Modern Warfare storyline to a close. Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl discussed both plans in an interview with The Game Business, but did not give the new game a release year or name its developer.
CharlieIntel separately reports that Sledgehammer Games is making next year's Call of Duty. The 2027 timing and studio attribution remain reporting, not details Bahl confirmed in the interview. He also did not reveal the new sub-series' name, setting or platforms.
Modern Warfare's current chapter is closing
Bahl described Modern Warfare 4 as the conclusion of this recent run of Modern Warfare games, while leaving room for characters and other elements to return or be reinvented. That is not a declaration that the Modern Warfare name, or Captain Price, is being retired permanently.
The storyline began with the 2019 reboot and continued through Modern Warfare II in 2022 and Modern Warfare III in 2023. Activision's official story recap sets up the fourth game with Price operating outside official channels and a separate front following South Korean soldiers during an invasion.
Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23. Campaign early access is scheduled to begin today, October 16, for digital Standard and Vault Edition pre-orders on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. Those are Modern Warfare 4's platforms, not an announced lineup for the future sub-series.
Moving beyond consecutive sequels
Bahl linked the new direction to feedback about releasing Modern Warfare II and III in consecutive years, followed by Black Ops 6 and 7 in consecutive years. He said players wanted a fresher tone between releases despite the games' different settings and features.
He told The Game Business:
“So, we’ve already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already laid the groundwork.”