Call of Duty is one of the biggest annual franchises in the video game industry, but that hasn't stopped it from going through a recent rough patch. Activision admitted the series was having an identity crisis and that the company's structural approach to releases contributed to its recent decline, but now it looks to put things back on track, as Infinity Ward claims 2026's release will be "the definitive Modern Warfare" game that kicks off "a new chapter" for the series.
A video from the official Call of Duty YouTube account interviewing the co-studio heads of Infinity Ward, Mark Grigsby and Jack O'Hara, confirmed what we had already learned from rumours, which is that Call of Duty 2026 will be another Modern Warfare game, but they implied it'll be more than just another entry in the series long history.
"We're making the definitive Modern Warfare," says O'Hara at the end of the video when asked if Infinity Ward was indeed leading the next entry in the series. It's a strong statement that was then followed up by a slightly longer post shared on Infinity Ward's social media accounts.
"We are Infinity Ward," the statement began. "We build visceral, immersive combat experiences that hit different. As a new chapter begins for this studio, we're focused on what defines us: passion, precision, obsession, and an unrelenting drive to make the best entertainment in the industry. Our next game is a result of that mindset. Determined. Bold. Relentless. Built by a team pushing every detail, every system, every moment to its limit."
"On behalf of everyone at IW, we're proud of what we've been building and excited to finally start sharing it with you."
Strong words from the studio heads and a strongly worded statement can be encouraging, but they're ultimately just words until we see the actions Infinity Ward has taken to try and back its claims up. Thankfully, though, they're not the only sign that the series is on the upswing.
Firstly, the fact that the next game in the series, and every game after it won't launch into Xbox Game Pass on day one should help with its declining sales. Of course, what 'declining sales' means for a Call of Duty game is very different compared to the rest of the industry, and by normal metrics, recent entries have still sold well. But it's undeniable that its Game Pass inclusion at launch was eating into the game's annual sales.
Second, though perhaps more importantly, the recent confirmation that this year's Call of Duty will not launch on last-gen consoles has fans looking towards this year's release with more hope, since it will no longer be hampered by consoles that are a decade and a half old.
But again, even if those elements point to this year's entry potentially strengthening the franchise once again, nothing's certain until we see it in action. It'll be interesting to see if Infinity Ward can pull it off, or if 2026 will be another year of Battlefield dominating the sales charts over its rival.
"Our culture is really about trying to make the best game possible," O'Hara told IGN in an interview. "About being passionate about your craft and excellence in your craft, and making sure that we're good at giving each other feedback and direct with each other about what needs to get better, and how to improve the game, and to make sure we listen to feedback and have no egos in it and just make the best game possible."
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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