Activision Officially Confirms New Call of Duty Sub-Franchise

Activision has officially confirmed that a brand-new Call of Duty sub-franchise is in development. This could be the rumored Call of Duty 2027 project that was previously rumored and could be a potential turning point for the franchise. The series is currently relying on its two main franchises, Modern Warfare and Black Ops, and that hasn’t gone very well in the last two years.

Activision say that the next Call of Duty will be a ‘new sub-franchise’ “We’ve already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already laid the groundwork.” (via @thegamebusiness) https://t.co/LskzCmKXPJ

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) October 15, 2026

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the next title in the series, and it comes out next week on October 23, 2026, with different editions. And according to the latest comments, the studio’s plans for the franchise seem more interesting than just another Modern Warfare or Black Ops game. Let’s get into the news.

Activision Confirms New Call of Duty Sub-Franchise Is in Development

Speaking to The Game Business, Activision Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl confirmed that the company is currently working on a new sub-branch of the Call of Duty franchise. He did not reveal the project’s name or give more details, but we know for certain that Activision is cooking up something new for next year. Bahl explained during the interview:

We’ve already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already laid the groundwork.

This follows years of Modern Warfare and Black Ops games. The former received consecutive entries in 2022 and 2023, while Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 continued the other major sub-series in 2024 and 2025, respectively. With Modern Warfare 4 arriving in 2026, players will have seen another return to one of the franchise’s familiar properties.

According to Bahl, Activision has received feedback from players who want bigger changes to the series. Although individual games have introduced different settings and gameplay features, the publisher believes that a more noticeable shift in direction is necessary.

Activision has not announced which development studio is responsible for the upcoming project.

Call of Duty‘s 2027 Game Could Introduce Different Gameplay Direction

We don’t have any official details, but previous reports have given us some clues about what the new Call of Duty game could look like. Last year, it was reported that the 2027 game could have a modern setting while moving away from the established Modern Warfare and Black Ops universes.

EXCLUSIVE: COD2027 by Sledgehammer Games will NOT be Advanced Warfare 2 and will instead be set in a completely new subfranchise. Set during the Modern era. No Jetpacks but movement is planned to be a big focus. Zombies is currently not planned for the game. Get High is planned to return. There may be a focus on martial arts within the gameplay with "karate kicks" and "karate chops" as examples.

— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) July 17, 2025

It was also rumored that the title could have a focus on martial arts and more elaborate close-quarters combat. However, Activision has not confirmed these rumored features, so we’re still speculating here. The challenge will be introducing meaningful changes without changing the fast-paced shooting and multiplayer that define the series.

For now, Activision’s immediate focus remains on Modern Warfare 4, which is expected to conclude the storyline that began with the 2019 reboot. Bahl has indicated that the publisher is excited about the upcoming release. But with the new sub-franchise already in development, Activision is investing in a future in which Call of Duty can expand beyond its two most recognizable names.

What do you think Call of Duty should do next? Let us know in the comments!