We’re less than a week away from the next franchise addition, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it’s now known that Activision is pursuing development for a sub-franchise. This information comes from Activision Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl, who shared details about the expansion project in an interview with The Game Business (a fun read for fans of the franchise). Activision is well aware that it has work to do in order to regain COD’s top spot among fans and new players following the lackluster release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which ended a reign going back roughly two decades of it outselling rival shooter Battlefield. Player counts have steadily dropped off in recent years, with some of the lowest happening in 2025 when Battlefield 6 launched and somewhat crushed Black Ops 7, leading Activision to rethink its approach for the iconic franchise. “I don’t think we were happy with every aspect of last year’s game, and we heard the feedback loud and clear,” said Tyler Bahl.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23 for PC and consoles (including Nintendo), and it sounds as if Activision is looking at a back-to-basics approach for the next installment.
“With Modern Warfare 4, we’ve tried to adjust based on that feedback. It’s getting back to a grounded military shooter. Making it cinematic, making it authentic, and bringing that edge back that Call of Duty is known for.”
Bahl added that Modern Warfare 4 is intended to be the final chapter for a number of characters and story arcs, but also that Activision has other plans for the franchise, which has typically seen different branches handled by teams from Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer, and Treyarch. Tyler didn’t go into detail, but said that “The landscape is changing right under our feet,” and that the team has already laid the groundwork for a new franchise long-term branch. With over twenty years of releases from multiple studios, it will be interesting to see what new directions can be explored and how Activision will move forward with the franchise.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 description:
“War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that threatens to destabilize the world. A young squad of South Korean soldiers fight to survive on the collapsing front lines, while half a world away a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step ahead of those hunting him.”
Discussion
Join Discussion →No replies yet. Be the first to reply on the forum.