The Call of DutyThe series remains one of the most prominent brands in gaming, and it looks like Sledgehammer Games is in the running for its next big step. According to an insider known for his reliable information on the series, Sledgehammer Games is set to take over development of the Call of Duty-Title, which will be released in 2027.
The upcoming title is expected to directly follow Infinity Ward's game, which is scheduled for release in 2026 and is expected to be... Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be. In contrast to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3While the previous game is considered more of an expansion of its predecessor, the Sledgehammer game will be a standalone title. However, it remains unclear whether it will be a sequel like the previous one. Advanced Warfare 2 or it is a completely new idea.
New team steers the direction of the shooter series
But it's not just the development studio that's generating buzz: Under Microsoft's new leadership, Activision is forming a dedicated team to handle overarching features and systems across the franchise. This team will make key decisions, such as which innovations will be integrated into the games. Studios like Infinity Ward and Treyarch will have less influence on gameplay mechanics than the much-discussed Omnimovement system. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Instead, the focus is on innovations in maps, modes, and storytelling.
Black Ops 6: Game Pass launch without major impact on sales
Another hotly debated topic is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which was the first game in the series to be included in Game Pass directly at launch. Despite initial concerns, the move doesn't appear to have negatively impacted sales. Analyst Mat Piscatella emphasized that Game Pass “apparently did not lead to a massive cannibalization of sales.“I have – at least in the USA.
Interestingly, the share of PlayStation sales in the overall figures continued to rise. PS5 and PS4 players thus dominated both physical and digital sales, underscoring Sony's strong market position. At the same time, Xbox hardware sales failed to increase – hardly surprising, since Black Ops 6 It offers neither exclusive content nor significant advantages on the Microsoft platform.
Nevertheless, Microsoft should be satisfied with the success: According to its own statements, it has achieved Black Ops 6 the biggest launch in the history of the franchise The broad platform release contributed significantly to this. In Europe, the title also reached the top of the charts, while other new releases such as the Silent Hill 2 Remake or Dragon Age: The Veilguard fell far short of expectations.
The direction for the franchise is therefore clear: secure blockbuster status, while the focus on creative maps, modes, and stories is intended to strengthen the core of the games. Whether Call of Duty 2027 Whether Sledgehammer Games will live up to this success remains to be seen.
