Activision Thinks GTA 6 Will Actually Help Modern Warfare 4: 'No Offense to Zelda, but [GTA and COD] Are the 2 Biggest Games of the Year'

Activision believes GTA 6 will help Call of Duty, not hurt it, with hopes that the two games will be the biggest of 2026. In an interview, Activision's chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl discussed the possibility of GTA 6 and Nintendo's exclusive Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launching in November, potentially creating a video game "Barbenheimer" moment that could overshadow Call of Duty.

Bahl insisted that Call of Duty should be considered part of the conversation, stating, "No offense to Zelda, but [GTA and COD] are the two biggest games of the year." He explained that more people playing GTA 6 and returning to their gaming consoles would result in more viewers for Activision. Bahl emphasized that Call of Duty's success relies on its community and social experience, with friends being a major factor in the game's appeal.

The company hopes that Modern Warfare 4 can improve upon the poorly received Black Ops 7 and that the sub-brand will eventually evolve. Activision plans to release Modern Warfare 4 for early access tomorrow, with the full game coming out November 19, while GTA 6 will be released on November 19.