{
  "id": 14781844,
  "title": "Activision Confirms Brand New Call of Duty Subfranchise Is in the Works, Leading to Rampant Fan Speculation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/activision-confirms-brand-new-call-of-duty-subfranchise-is-in-the",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-15T19:15:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IGN",
    "slug": "ign",
    "url": "https://www.ign.com/articles/activision-confirms-brand-new-call-of-duty-subfranchise-is-in-the-works-leading-to-rampant-fan-speculation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Activision is currently in the process of creating a fresh Call of Duty subfranchise, signaling their intent to shift focus away from Black Ops and Modern Warfare for the moment. In an interview with The Game Business, Activision's Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl confirmed the development of this new subfranchise. While Bahl did not disclose the specific studio or the release date, it is speculated that it will be a game developed by Sledgehammer Games, with a potential release next year. Bahl mentioned that Modern Warfare 4 will wrap up the story that Infinity Ward has been telling since 2019, but hinted at the possibility of continuing the universe later with certain characters. However, Activision is aiming for innovation rather than relying on established franchises and familiar faces. Bahl stated, \"Where we go with future games, we have to innovate. What we heard from the audience is they want new or better or different. The landscape is changing right under our feet. You’re seeing new games being built overnight, and you’re seeing tastes change and how people want to play.\" This has sparked a multitude of speculations regarding the direction of the next Call of Duty game. Will they explore the future or delve into the distant past? What innovative mechanics can they introduce to make the game feel fresh without deviating too much from the familiar? A rumor from Call of Duty leaker TheGhostofHope in 2025 might shed some light on this, assuming it becomes true. The rumor suggests that Sledgehammer's next game will focus on martial arts, featuring karate kicks and chops. This could potentially embody John Wick's gun-fu combat, blending satisfying gunplay with fluid, flashy close-quarters combat. If successful, this approach could be compelling, although implementing such gameplay in a third-person game with a strong emphasis on animations might be more challenging in a first-person, fast-paced, competitive setting. Despite this uncertainty, Sledgehammer Games initially aimed for innovation when they were tasked with developing a third-person Call of Duty game set during the Vietnam War. The studio was formed with the expectation of creating a new kind of Call of Duty experience, drawing on the team's expertise from games like Dead Space. However, this project was eventually discontinued as Sledgehammer was brought in to assist with the development of the original Modern Warfare 3 following Infinity Ward's collapse. Nevertheless, Sledgehammer tried innovation again with its first standalone title, Advanced Warfare. This game introduced exosuits, enabling players to perform acrobatic jumps, dashes, and slides thanks to enhanced movement mechanics. Although this was a significant departure from the franchise, fans largely did not embrace the idea of taking Call of Duty into the future. Since then, Sledgehammer has maintained a more conservative approach, releasing two World War 2 games and another game that was also titled Modern Warfare 3. The success of Sledgehammer in captivating fans again remains to be seen, but the prospect of a Call of Duty game that isn't a Modern Warfare or Black Ops title in over five years is promising.",
  "summary": "Activision is actively developing a new Call of Duty subfranchise, suggesting it is ready to move on from Black Ops and Modern Warfare for the time being.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}