Activision is reportedly laying the groundwork for a new Call of Duty subseries, potentially marking a fresh direction for the long-running first-person shooter franchise. The development was confirmed by Activision Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl during an interview with The Game Business, as the company responds to players seeking something different from its established series.
For the past five years, Activision has primarily alternated between its two major subseries, Modern Warfare and Black Ops. The company now appears to be exploring another branch of the franchise that could introduce a distinct identity, rather than relying exclusively on its two most familiar names.
The last mainline Call of Duty entry to introduce a different subtitle was Call of Duty: Vanguard, released in 2021. It arrived between Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War in 2020 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II in 2022. Since then, subsequent releases have continued rotating between Modern Warfare and Black Ops.
According to Bahl, players are looking for experiences that feel new, improved, or fundamentally different. He also acknowledged that the gaming industry continues to evolve, with audience expectations changing as new titles and gameplay experiences enter the market.
Although previous Call of Duty games have featured different settings, mechanics, and storylines, those changes have not necessarily created the broader shift in identity some players want. A new subseries could give Activision greater freedom to experiment with different concepts without being tied to the expectations associated with Modern Warfare or Black Ops.
However, the company has not revealed the new subseries’ name, setting, gameplay features, or release window. It also remains unclear whether the project will follow the conclusion of the current Modern Warfare storyline or be developed alongside other entries in the franchise.
Meanwhile, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, scheduled for 2026 according to the supplied report, is expected to continue the established release pattern. Bahl indicated that the game will conclude the storyline developed by the revived Modern Warfare subseries since its 2019 return.
With early preparations for another subseries reportedly underway, Activision could be laying the foundation for a broader evolution of Call of Duty. For now, fans will have to wait for an official announcement to learn how the next chapter of the franchise will differ from its predecessors.
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