All articles tagged with #activision
Microsoft's Xbox is shifting investment toward high-priority studios—Activision, Bethesda/ZeniMax, Blizzard, King, Mojang, and Xbox Game Studios—as part of a sweeping restructuring that includes 1,600 layoffs now (3,200 total), a 50% cut in vendor spend, and a push to accelerate development of big-budget titles while continuing to support mobile games; no first-party titles are being canceled.
Activision says Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be removed from the Call of Duty HQ launcher on July 7 at 9am PT and released as a standalone download, with HQ-only content removed to free space; players will need to redownload to access the standalone game, a move expected to clear space ahead of the October release of Modern Warfare 4, which will likely get its own standalone achievement list.
Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be on Xbox Game Pass at launch, despite two years of day-one availability, as a pre-order ad explicitly states 'Not on Xbox Game Pass this year.' The messaging comes after Microsoft pulled new COD releases from Game Pass, with Bloomberg citing $300 million in lost revenue from Black Ops 6 on the service. The move signals a return to a traditional release model to stabilize revenue while Microsoft grapples with platform strategy and subscriber dynamics.
Activision is bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II to PS5 via Iron Galaxy in July at $39.99 each with no DLC or map packs included, and no Xbox Series X|S versions announced. While Xbox listings show discounts for DLC, the PS5 ports are basic, offering only the original content with no enhancements, prompting criticism that two aging games are being sold at full price.
Mark Gordon is stepping down as Treyarch’s studio head after 22 years with the company, having joined in 2005 as CTO and becoming studio head in 2016. He will be succeeded by co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, as Treyarch continues to steer the Call of Duty franchise and its creative direction.
Activision will end Warzone support on PS4 and Xbox One later this year, removing storefronts on June 4 and the in-game store on June 25; the game will be unplayable once Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 begins, driving players to upgrade to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S to continue playing. Modern Warfare 4 will launch on current-gen consoles and Switch 2, marking COD’s first release on Switch 2.
Activision and Infinity Ward have begun officially teasing the next Call of Duty, which is widely expected to be Modern Warfare 4. A live teaser titled Camera 004 | LIVE and an indication from developers echoing a bold, relentless approach point to MW4, with a likely reveal during the Xbox showcase on June 7 and further activity around other major showcases (State of Play, Summer Game Fest).
Activision confirms the next Call of Duty will not release on PS4 or Xbox One, making Black Ops 7 the last eighth-gen entry and signaling a shift to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC; rumors persist that the new game could be Modern Warfare 4, with an official announcement anticipated soon.
Activision confirms that this year’s Call of Duty will not be released on PS4, ending the last-gen era for the franchise after 13 PS4 COD titles. A rumour about a PS4 version was denied by the official Call of Duty account, as the series shifts to newer consoles for COD 2026.
Activision confirms the next Call of Duty will not be developed for PS4 or Xbox One, ending 12 years of last‑gen support as players must upgrade to newer consoles to access the latest multiplayer; the move comes amid rising prices for new hardware and PC components, and COD will no longer land on Xbox Game Pass day‑one.
Rumor claims Microsoft may remove Call of Duty from Day One on Xbox Game Pass this year, potentially undoing a $300 million gamble that boosted subscribership while sales faltered and amid a price hike for Game Pass.
Activision will shut down Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile on April 17, 2026, with servers going offline that day and current players able to play until then. The title had been flagged for delisting and received no new content since May 2025, while the broader Call of Duty ecosystem remains available on other platforms (including Call of Duty: Mobile with Battle Royale on mobile and Warzone on PC/console).
Activision will shut down Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile servers on April 17, 2026, ending all updates, social features, and in-app purchases; after shutdown, guest accounts will be inaccessible while Activision accounts remain usable on other titles.
Insider Jez Cordon suggests that the first Call of Duty game for Nintendo Switch is nearly complete and could launch in a few months, signaling a return of the franchise to Nintendo platforms after a period of silence following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision.
Microsoft is committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo Switch, with reports suggesting a near-complete version could launch as soon as next year, possibly in 2026, though the exact details and timing remain uncertain.