Call of Duty Sidesteps GTA 6, But Can It Bounce Back?

June 1, 2026 - 07:50

The next entry in the Call of Duty franchise has been officially revealed, and it is making some big changes to its release strategy. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23, 2026, for Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by Infinity Ward, the game will include a campaign, multiplayer, and the extraction mode DMZ. Notably, it will skip PlayStation 4 and Xbox One entirely.

This release comes after a rough year for the series. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 underperformed commercially, marking the first time in recent memory that the franchise was not the best-selling game in the United States. It was actually outsold by Battlefield 6. Player numbers have also taken a hit. According to Ampere, monthly active users dropped to 12.5 million last month, the lowest since tracking began in 2022. That is a steep fall from the peak of 36 million players in November 2024.

Activision is also changing its release rhythm. Since 2022, the company has put out a major Call of Duty game followed by a direct sequel the next year. That plan produced mixed results. The 2022 hit Modern Warfare 2 was followed by the disappointing Modern Warfare 3 in 2023. Black Ops 6 did well in 2024, but Black Ops 7 flopped in 2025. Activision is now dropping that strategy.

Another big shift: Modern Warfare 4 will be the first Microsoft-owned game to skip Xbox Game Pass on day one. Instead, it will arrive on the subscription service about a year after launch. The October release date also means the game avoids a direct clash with Grand Theft Auto 6, which launches on November 19. That gives Call of Duty a few weeks of breathing room before Rockstar's juggernaut arrives.

The question is whether that is enough. The franchise needs a win. Early buzz around Modern Warfare 4 is positive, and Infinity Ward seems focused on the modes players actually want. Pulling the game out of Game Pass could help sales, but that remains to be seen. A Nintendo Switch 2 version might bring in some new players, but history suggests it will not be a major factor. Previous Call of Duty games on Wii and Wii U did not move the needle much.

The good news for Activision is that there is no new Battlefield or Arc Raiders launching this year to compete directly. The bad news is that Grand Theft Auto 6 will still cast a long shadow over the entire holiday season. When GTA 6 hits, engagement for every other game will likely drop. But if GTA 6 brings in new audiences and brings back lapsed players, that could be an opportunity for Call of Duty as well. It all comes down to whether Modern Warfare 4 can deliver a solid, sticky shooter that keeps people playing.