Activision is actively creating a new Call of Duty subfranchise, suggesting it is able to transfer on from Black Ops and Modern Warfare in the meanwhile.
In a new interview with The Game Business, Activision’s Chief Advertising and marketing Officer, Tyler Bahl, confirmed that one of its studios is creating a new Call of Duty subfranchise. Though Bahl did not state which studio is making it or when it could launch, it’s extensively believed this would be the subsequent sport from Sledgehammer Video games, anticipated to launch subsequent 12 months. He additionally famous that Modern Warfare 4 will conclude the story that Infinity Ward has been telling since 2019, however advised that universe may proceed sooner or later with sure characters.
Nonetheless, Activision believes the trail ahead for Call of Duty is much less about leaning on legacy franchises and acquainted faces, and extra about innovation.
“The place we go together with future video games, we’ve to innovate,” stated Bahl. “What we heard from the viewers is they need new or higher or completely different. The panorama is altering proper below our ft. You’re seeing new video games being constructed in a single day, and also you’re seeing tastes change and the way individuals need to play.”
These feedback have led to every kind of hypothesis about the place the following Call of Duty sport will go. Will they fight to enter the long run? The far-flung previous? What variety of mechanic can they introduce to make it really feel recent with out altering issues up an excessive amount of? Properly, a rumor from Call of Duty leaker TheGhostofHope in 2025 might present some perception, assuming it pans out.
The rumor means that Sledgehammer’s subsequent sport could have a give attention to martial arts, with karate kicks and karate chops. It is potential that Sledgehammer is attempting to lean into John Wick’s gun-fu fight, which mixes satisfying gunplay with fluid, flashy close-quarters fight. That appears extra doable for a third-person sport with a heavy emphasis on animations, however a first-person, fast-paced, aggressive sport might have a more durable time implementing that sort of gameplay. If it really works out, it could possibly be actually compelling, although.
Curiously sufficient, Sledgehammer Video games actually started its tenure as a Call of Duty group by attempting to innovate. The studio was constructed with the expectation that it could develop a third-person Call of Duty sport set within the Vietnam Struggle, making an attempt to leverage the group’s expertise on video games like Lifeless House to create a new variety of Call of Duty expertise. That undertaking was finally killed as Sledgehammer was pulled in to assist develop the unique Modern Warfare 3 after Infinity Ward imploded.
Nonetheless, Sledgehammer tried to innovate once more with its first solo title, Superior Warfare. The sport launched exosuits, permitting gamers to leap, sprint, and slide due to enhanced motion mechanics. It was a radical leap for Call of Duty, although followers largely rejected makes an attempt to take the franchise into the long run. Since then, Sledgehammer has performed it pretty protected with two World Struggle 2 video games and a completely different sport that additionally occurred to be titled Modern Warfare 3, sarcastically sufficient.
Whether or not Sledgehammer Video games could make one thing to excite followers once more stays to be seen, nevertheless it’ll be good to have a non-MW or Black Ops sport for the primary time in additional than 5 years.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s information group. He covers all issues leisure, together with gaming, movie, and extra. You could find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.