Call of Duty Shakes Things Up: What New Sub-Series Is Coming to Turn the Franchise on Its Head?

Activision to Launch New Call of Duty Sub-Series Next Year

Next year’s Call of Duty game will break away from the franchise’s established sub-series. Activision has confirmed its intention to create a new sub-series in an interview with The Game Business. Tyler Bahl, Activision’s chief marketing officer, stated, “We’ve already kind of stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already kind of laid the groundwork there.”

This year’s installment, Modern Warfare 4, will serve as the final chapter in one of the franchise’s most successful sub-series, following 2025’s Black Ops 7, which marked the seventh entry in another popular sub-series.

In a strategic shift, Activision announced last year that it would no longer release two back-to-back titles in the Modern Warfare or Black Ops sub-series. This policy is expected to apply to future sub-series as well. Bahl acknowledged that the community did not respond positively to the back-to-back releases of titles like Modern Warfare 2 and 3, as well as Black Ops 6 and 7.

Bahl remarked, “Yeah, I think we were pretty public about the idea of us going back-to-back… was not something that our community was looking for.” He emphasized that despite different settings and gameplay features, there was a tonal shift the community was expecting.

The last Call of Duty game to attempt establishing a new sub-franchise was 2021’s Vanguard. This title did not perform well and failed to create a lasting sub-series within the broader brand. Notably, Vanguard was developed by Sledgehammer Games, which is reportedly behind next year’s new game.

Looking ahead, the 2027 Call of Duty title is rumored to be set in the late 90s and early 2000s, introducing a new setting and cast of characters. The success of this new sub-series will be pivotal in its differentiation from existing franchises and whether it receives a sequel.

News Courtesy of Eurogamer