The Call of Duty team has announced a major shift in how it structures the franchise’s yearly releases. Going forward, the series will no longer launch consecutive Modern Warfare or Black Ops titles in back-to-back years.
The official statement frames the change as a quality decision. The team says it wants to “ensure we provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year.” The message also promises the “future of Call of Duty is very strong” and that developers will “deliver, and overdeliver” on player expectations.
This move directly responds to heavy criticism of recent releases. Modern Warfare III in 2023 was widely seen as repackaged content from Modern Warfare II rather than a true sequel. The campaign was short and relied heavily on multiplayer-style open combat missions. Many players felt they paid full price for what should have been DLC.
Black Ops 7 has faced similar criticism since its 2025 launch. The game feels like an expansion of Black Ops 6 from 2024. Players have criticized its rushed campaign, always-online requirements, and controversial use of AI-generated cosmetic content.
The timing suggests more than just creative concerns. The announcement comes during Black Ops 7‘s launch window, with signs pointing to underperforming sales compared to previous entries. The decision to announce this policy change before the holiday season ends indicates internal worry about franchise fatigue.
Annual releases aren’t going anywhere. The statement repeatedly mentions providing unique experiences “each and every year.” Call of Duty will still ship one game per year. The difference is how those games are structured and branded.
Instead of Modern Warfare followed by another Modern Warfare, or Black Ops followed by another Black Ops, the franchise will rotate between sub-series. A potential schedule might look like Modern Warfare one year, Black Ops the next, then something else entirely.
That third slot opens space for experimentation. Activision could revive dormant franchises like Ghosts or Advanced Warfare. A new World War II series from Sledgehammer is possible. Vietnam or other historical settings are on the table. The key is giving each main sub-brand at least two years between entries.
This system mirrors the older three-studio rotation that gave each team three years of development time. That model broke down in recent years due to production issues and compressed timelines. The result was the “1.5 sequel” problem that plagued both MWIII and BO7.
What actually changes
Players should expect one Call of Duty per year but with more variety in setting and sub-franchise. Modern Warfare 2022 to Modern Warfare 2023 won’t happen again. Same for Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7.
The practical impact depends on what Activision greenlights to fill the rotation gaps. If the third slot becomes predictable filler, the franchise ends up in the same spot with different branding. If it enables genuine creative risks, the change could matter.
