In a recent official communication, Activision confirmed that in the future, Call of Duty sub-franchises will no longer be released two years in a row. In other words, fans will no longer see, as before, two Modern Warfare games or two Black Ops games in a row. This decision comes in a context of questioning, after a mixed reception of Black Ops 7, described internally as a difficult launch.
The firm announced this bluntly via a blog post, in which it acknowledges the criticisms made by the community: “We also know that for some of you, the franchise has not fully met your expectations. To be very clear, we understand your expectations and rest assured that we will meet them, and even exceed them, in the future.”
Call of Duty releases will remain annual, but more varied
Despite this reorganization, Activision does not intend to end the annual rhythm of the franchise. The publisher specifies that it wants to offer “an absolutely unique experience every year”, while introducing more variety into the worlds and approaches of the games.
This clarification puts an end to rumors of a slowdown in pace. The group mentions new things to come, but without giving immediate details. “It appears that these plans will not be revealed today, but in due course.”
An admission of partial failure after Black Ops 7
The tone of the message published by Activision contrasts with the franchise’s usual communication. The company adopts rare, almost introspective language, by publicly acknowledging that some players have been disappointed by the latest games.
“To be clear, the future of Call of Duty is very bright and we are confident that the best is yet to come, given the talent and expertise of our development teams.”
The statement suggests a desire to win back, particularly after the numerous criticisms aimed at the technical stability and content of Black Ops 7, deemed uneven by some of the players.
What’s in store for fans in the next era of Call of Duty
Beyond the promises, Activision claims to have already prepared a “new era of Call of Duty”. If the details are still kept secret, the publisher affirms that this phase will be based on two pillars: meeting expectations… and surprising.
“We’ve built the next era of Call of Duty, and it’s going to deliver exactly what you’ve come to expect, while also throwing in some surprises that will evolve the franchise and the genre.”
For fans, this means that each annual release could now change tone, universe or style, without remaining locked into traditional narrative cycles. A risky bet… but potentially beneficial.