Activision Confirms New Call of Duty Sub-Franchise Underway

Activision has confirmed that work has begun on a new Call of Duty sub-franchise that will launch with a future title in the series, its chief marketing officer told The Game Business.

Activision outlines plans in recent interview. The confirmation came during a discussion with The Game Business about the series' direction. Tyler Bahl, Activision's Chief Marketing Officer, stated that groundwork for the new sub-franchise is already in place.

"We’ve already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already laid the groundwork," Bahl said. The remarks distinguish the project from prior one-off entries such as Vanguard, Advanced Warfare, and WWII.

Current focus remains on Modern Warfare 4. Bahl noted that the team is prioritizing the upcoming Modern Warfare 4 release. Players who pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 can get access starting Friday, ahead of its launch next week, Insider Gaming reports.

The interview positioned the new sub-franchise as a longer-term step beyond the established Modern Warfare and Black Ops lines.

Prior reports receive partial confirmation. A July 2025 report had described the 2027 release as an unrelated modern-era sub-franchise without jetpack mechanics. Activision's statements align with that report in part by confirming the sub-franchise concept and that development has started.

No additional details on setting or gameplay mechanics were provided in the interview.