{"id":1917857,"date":"2026-05-04T21:13:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1917857"},"modified":"2026-05-04T21:13:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T18:13:31","slug":"call-of-duty-2026-wont-be-releasing-on-last-gen-consoles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1917857","title":{"rendered":"Call of Duty 2026 Won&#8217;t Be Releasing on Last-Gen Consoles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/call-of-duty\">Call of Duty<\/a> fans can breathe a sigh of relief as this year&#8217;s entry will not release on last-gen consoles, so developers don&#8217;t have to hold back.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this week, a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HeyImAlaix\/status\/2050956019124072943\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rumor began to spread<\/a> that the next Call of Duty game, rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, was being playtested on PlayStation 4. This caused some panic among fans, as the PS4 will be turning 13 around the time of the next Call of Duty game&#8217;s release, and rumors indicate the PS6 is only a year or two away. Some feel like games are being held back by last-gen consoles, but Activision appears to be moving on from them.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The official <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CallofDuty\/status\/2051391506699678107?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Call of Duty X account has confirmed<\/a> that the next Call of Duty is not in development for PlayStation 4, which presumably means it&#8217;s also not in development for Xbox One. This will be the first Call of Duty game since 2013&#8217;s Call of Duty: Ghosts to not release on the Xbox One\/PS4 generation of hardware. It&#8217;s unclear if this will empower Infinity Ward and the other Call of Duty studios to make a bigger technological leap with this year&#8217;s game, but that is certainly the hope among fans.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The Best Call of Duty Campaigns<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Following its debut in 2003, Call of Duty quickly ascended to become the best-selling first-person shooter series ever, a title it continues to hold to this day. That\u2019s almost entirely down to its ever-popular multiplayer, which keeps fans playing day in, day out. But there are, of course, two sides to Call of Duty. Standing side-by-side the PvP are the single-player campaigns, which, for those of us a little unwilling to huck ourselves into the online hellhole and compete in the Call of Duty combat cauldron, tell cinematic stories straight from the front line. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nBut which Call of Duty games have the greatest campaigns? IGN\u2019s keenest and most experienced Call of Duty fans have combined to carve out a list of our favourite single-player stories, plucked from all throughout the series\u2019 two-decade-and-change history. We\u2019re looking for campaigns that champion Call of Duty\u2019s greatest strengths: those with great mission variety, ambitious set-pieces, and novel mechanics, as well as the more traditional \u201cgreat FPS\u201d staples like strong level design and memorable storytelling. Only the campaigns that have it all can truly rise to the top of this list, which means this year\u2019s somewhat muddled Black Ops 7 didn\u2019t quite make the cut. But which ones did?  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nHere are our top 10 Call of Duty campaigns.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;10. Call of Duty: WW2&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAfter nearly a decade break from the setting that launched the series (and a few rocky entries that tarnished its reputation), Call of Duty\u2019s return to form in 2017 was such a coming home party for the franchise, they straight up named the game WW2. But this return to roots, led by Sledgehammer Games, isn\u2019t exactly the \u201cGreatest Hits of World War 2\u201d experience you would imagine. Instead, you\u2019re met with a much more intimate story about Private \u201cRed\u201d Daniels and his squad living through some of the most pivotal moments of the US 1st Infantry Division\u2019s fight from the Normandy invasion to the Rhine. Clearly inspired by Band of Brothers (right down to its cutscene direction and squad system that makes each team member feel more than a background actor) it successfully evokes the camaraderie and sacrifice of the era.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nBut while it strives to be a personal story, it never lets you forget it\u2019s supposed to be a loud, exciting Call of Duty game. To this day, WW2 features some of the most over-the-top sequences ever seen in the series, from the bell tower collapse, to the train crash. If you\u2019re looking for thrills, they\u2019re sure to be found. And while those wild moments often make you forget about the war going on around you, WW2 still has plenty of well-worn heart to give, especially when it ends with one of the most gut-wrenching walks you\u2019ll ever make in a video game.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 11 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;9. Call of Duty: Black Ops&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\n&quot;THE NUMBERS, MASON!&quot; Call of Duty: Black Ops brought the powerhouse first-person shooter series to the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, and beyond for a (very trigger-happy) espionage-filled trip through the sixties, bringing one of the series\u2019 best-ever soundtracks along with it. Black Ops took you on a dizzying ride that culminated in one of the coolest unexpected twists in any major game around that time \u2013 and certainly the biggest Call of Duty story surprise we'd seen prior to that or since.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe genius of that twist does disguise some of Black Ops\u2019 shortcomings \u2013 it\u2019s nowhere near as varied as the Modern Warfare games that preceded it, and its straight-up shooting galleries feel less ambitious than the sniper sequences and AC-130 bombardments that sister studio Infinity Ward was putting out. However, it\u2019s undeniable that Treyarch absolutely leveled up on this one, turning its work on the impressive World at War into a stealth prologue to a brand new sub-franchise that would become one of the biggest brands in the world. BLOPS started right here. \n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAfter messing around in both the near and not-so-near future, Black Ops finally returned to good old-fashioned MKUltra-flavoured conspiracies with Cold War\u2019s brisk trip back to 1981. While it resurrects some familiar faces with Mason and Woods, the story\u2019s primary focus is on series newcomers Bell and Russell Adler and their time in the CIA during one of the most critical moments in US intelligence history.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nDespite suffering a troubled development, Cold War is an ambitious re-mix of the standard series formula, with mystery puzzles to crack, secret side quests, branching pathways, and a couple of missions where you trade your guns in favor of some good old-fashioned retro spycraft. Even when it\u2019s playing the classic hold-down-the-trigger hits, though, it does so in excellent fashion (a gunfight through a USSR replica of an American town is a romp), and its own take on Black Ops\u2019 mind-melting finale is arguably better than the original. It may be one of Call of Duty\u2019s shortest campaigns, but this entry into the Black Ops series offers plenty of memorable moments that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;7. Call of Duty 2&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe original, PC-exclusive Call of Duty was an excellent first-person shooter with a neat campaign formula: it depicted the Second World War from three perspectives (American, British, and Russian,) essentially creating three mini campaigns, each with their own characters, storylines, locations, and weapons. Call of Duty 2 did all that again on a bigger budget. Naturally that meant much more advanced graphics, including volumetric smoke effects so gorgeously rendered that smoke grenades became both a gameplay mechanic and a new next-gen tech toy to play with. Call of Duty 2's success helped kickstart Microsoft's incredibly successful Xbox 360 era, and ushered in a glorious new HD era of gaming as well \u2013 and at 60fps, no less.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nBut this sequel also brought with it increased cinematic ambition when it came to level design \u2013 something you can clearly see in its D-Day landing sequence, which genuinely felt like a playable manifestation of Saving Private Ryan. And in its wider, more freeform, choose-your-objective levels, you can see the start of Call of Duty\u2019s long-term fight to include non-linear elements in its otherwise tightly-controlled rollercoaster ride campaigns. \n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIt's a risky move to reboot one of the most beloved and essential games in a mega-popular franchise like Call of Duty, but 2019\u2019s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare pulled it off in a way that few reboots have before. Built on a foundation of fresh-feeling gunplay, even the campaign\u2019s least interesting missions feel exceptional to play. And while its time-worn setting during a middle eastern conflict isn\u2019t groundbreaking, exceptional attention to detail when it comes to presentation makes this perhaps the slickest, most cinematic Call of Duty ever made.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe real winning factor, though, is its superb approach to level design. Modern Warfare trades the series\u2019 traditional, relentless shootouts for smaller, more \u201crealistic\u201d encounters \u2013 a shift that resulted in Clean House, one of the most memorable depictions of a slow-paced building infiltration we\u2019ve seen in the series thus far. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is not only one of the best examples of how to reboot a series correctly, but also an excellent entry in a series full of memorable campaigns.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was released last year on last-gen and current-gen hardware. Call of Duty is historically the first or second best-selling game of the year, but <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2025-us-video-game-chart-rubber-stamps-call-of-duty-black-ops-7-sales-struggle\">Black Ops 7 came in at number five on the United States&#8217; yearly sales charts<\/a>, the lowest placement since 2008&#8217;s Call of Duty: World at War. It was toppled by Battlefield 6, Call of Duty&#8217;s longtime rival.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It&#8217;s unclear what Activision&#8217;s reasons are for dropping last-gen. CharlieIntel co-founder <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KeshavBhat\/status\/2051394587831173540\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keshav Bhat stated<\/a> that he heard Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was in development for last-gen hardware up until late last year before it was canceled. Call of Duty has been one of the last major franchises holding out on last-gen, so it&#8217;ll be interesting to see if any other stragglers follow Call of Duty&#8217;s lead and fully commit to current-gen hardware.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Interestingly, Microsoft committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms when it acquired Activision in 2021 and signed a 10-year legal agreement with Nintendo to make that happen. So far, that has yet to come to fruition, but <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/activision-says-its-working-with-nintendo-to-get-call-of-duty-on-switch-but-will-black-ops-7-be-on-switch-2\">Activision stated last year that they&#8217;re working on it<\/a>. Will Modern Warfare 4 come to Nintendo Switch 2 instead of PS4 and Xbox One? That seems hard to imagine, but we&#8217;ll just have to wait and see.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN&#8217;s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/call-of-duty\">Call of Duty<\/a> fans can breathe a sigh of relief as this year&#8217;s entry will not release on last-gen consoles, so developers don&#8217;t have to hold back.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Earlier this week, a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/HeyImAlaix\/status\/2050956019124072943\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">rumor began to spread<\/a> that the next Call of Duty game, rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, was being playtested on PlayStation 4. This caused some panic among fans, as the PS4 will be turning 13 around the time of the next Call of Duty game&#8217;s release, and rumors indicate the PS6 is only a year or two away. Some feel like games are being held back by last-gen consoles, but Activision appears to be moving on from them.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The official <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/CallofDuty\/status\/2051391506699678107?s=20\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Call of Duty X account has confirmed<\/a> that the next Call of Duty is not in development for PlayStation 4, which presumably means it&#8217;s also not in development for Xbox One. This will be the first Call of Duty game since 2013&#8217;s Call of Duty: Ghosts to not release on the Xbox One\/PS4 generation of hardware. It&#8217;s unclear if this will empower Infinity Ward and the other Call of Duty studios to make a bigger technological leap with this year&#8217;s game, but that is certainly the hope among fans.<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The Best Call of Duty Campaigns<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Following its debut in 2003, Call of Duty quickly ascended to become the best-selling first-person shooter series ever, a title it continues to hold to this day. That\u2019s almost entirely down to its ever-popular multiplayer, which keeps fans playing day in, day out. But there are, of course, two sides to Call of Duty. Standing side-by-side the PvP are the single-player campaigns, which, for those of us a little unwilling to huck ourselves into the online hellhole and compete in the Call of Duty combat cauldron, tell cinematic stories straight from the front line. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nBut which Call of Duty games have the greatest campaigns? IGN\u2019s keenest and most experienced Call of Duty fans have combined to carve out a list of our favourite single-player stories, plucked from all throughout the series\u2019 two-decade-and-change history. We\u2019re looking for campaigns that champion Call of Duty\u2019s greatest strengths: those with great mission variety, ambitious set-pieces, and novel mechanics, as well as the more traditional \u201cgreat FPS\u201d staples like strong level design and memorable storytelling. Only the campaigns that have it all can truly rise to the top of this list, which means this year\u2019s somewhat muddled Black Ops 7 didn\u2019t quite make the cut. But which ones did?  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\nHere are our top 10 Call of Duty campaigns.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;10. Call of Duty: WW2&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAfter nearly a decade break from the setting that launched the series (and a few rocky entries that tarnished its reputation), Call of Duty\u2019s return to form in 2017 was such a coming home party for the franchise, they straight up named the game WW2. But this return to roots, led by Sledgehammer Games, isn\u2019t exactly the \u201cGreatest Hits of World War 2\u201d experience you would imagine. Instead, you\u2019re met with a much more intimate story about Private \u201cRed\u201d Daniels and his squad living through some of the most pivotal moments of the US 1st Infantry Division\u2019s fight from the Normandy invasion to the Rhine. Clearly inspired by Band of Brothers (right down to its cutscene direction and squad system that makes each team member feel more than a background actor) it successfully evokes the camaraderie and sacrifice of the era.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nBut while it strives to be a personal story, it never lets you forget it\u2019s supposed to be a loud, exciting Call of Duty game. To this day, WW2 features some of the most over-the-top sequences ever seen in the series, from the bell tower collapse, to the train crash. If you\u2019re looking for thrills, they\u2019re sure to be found. And while those wild moments often make you forget about the war going on around you, WW2 still has plenty of well-worn heart to give, especially when it ends with one of the most gut-wrenching walks you\u2019ll ever make in a video game.\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 11 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;9. Call of Duty: Black Ops&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\n&quot;THE NUMBERS, MASON!&quot; Call of Duty: Black Ops brought the powerhouse first-person shooter series to the Bay of Pigs, Vietnam, and beyond for a (very trigger-happy) espionage-filled trip through the sixties, bringing one of the series\u2019 best-ever soundtracks along with it. Black Ops took you on a dizzying ride that culminated in one of the coolest unexpected twists in any major game around that time \u2013 and certainly the biggest Call of Duty story surprise we'd seen prior to that or since.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe genius of that twist does disguise some of Black Ops\u2019 shortcomings \u2013 it\u2019s nowhere near as varied as the Modern Warfare games that preceded it, and its straight-up shooting galleries feel less ambitious than the sniper sequences and AC-130 bombardments that sister studio Infinity Ward was putting out. However, it\u2019s undeniable that Treyarch absolutely leveled up on this one, turning its work on the impressive World at War into a stealth prologue to a brand new sub-franchise that would become one of the biggest brands in the world. BLOPS started right here. \n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nAfter messing around in both the near and not-so-near future, Black Ops finally returned to good old-fashioned MKUltra-flavoured conspiracies with Cold War\u2019s brisk trip back to 1981. While it resurrects some familiar faces with Mason and Woods, the story\u2019s primary focus is on series newcomers Bell and Russell Adler and their time in the CIA during one of the most critical moments in US intelligence history.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nDespite suffering a troubled development, Cold War is an ambitious re-mix of the standard series formula, with mystery puzzles to crack, secret side quests, branching pathways, and a couple of missions where you trade your guns in favor of some good old-fashioned retro spycraft. Even when it\u2019s playing the classic hold-down-the-trigger hits, though, it does so in excellent fashion (a gunfight through a USSR replica of an American town is a romp), and its own take on Black Ops\u2019 mind-melting finale is arguably better than the original. It may be one of Call of Duty\u2019s shortest campaigns, but this entry into the Black Ops series offers plenty of memorable moments that will keep you guessing until the credits roll.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;7. Call of Duty 2&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe original, PC-exclusive Call of Duty was an excellent first-person shooter with a neat campaign formula: it depicted the Second World War from three perspectives (American, British, and Russian,) essentially creating three mini campaigns, each with their own characters, storylines, locations, and weapons. Call of Duty 2 did all that again on a bigger budget. Naturally that meant much more advanced graphics, including volumetric smoke effects so gorgeously rendered that smoke grenades became both a gameplay mechanic and a new next-gen tech toy to play with. Call of Duty 2's success helped kickstart Microsoft's incredibly successful Xbox 360 era, and ushered in a glorious new HD era of gaming as well \u2013 and at 60fps, no less.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nBut this sequel also brought with it increased cinematic ambition when it came to level design \u2013 something you can clearly see in its D-Day landing sequence, which genuinely felt like a playable manifestation of Saving Private Ryan. And in its wider, more freeform, choose-your-objective levels, you can see the start of Call of Duty\u2019s long-term fight to include non-linear elements in its otherwise tightly-controlled rollercoaster ride campaigns. \n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"&lt;b&gt;6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare&lt;\/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nIt's a risky move to reboot one of the most beloved and essential games in a mega-popular franchise like Call of Duty, but 2019\u2019s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare pulled it off in a way that few reboots have before. Built on a foundation of fresh-feeling gunplay, even the campaign\u2019s least interesting missions feel exceptional to play. And while its time-worn setting during a middle eastern conflict isn\u2019t groundbreaking, exceptional attention to detail when it comes to presentation makes this perhaps the slickest, most cinematic Call of Duty ever made.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;\n\nThe real winning factor, though, is its superb approach to level design. Modern Warfare trades the series\u2019 traditional, relentless shootouts for smaller, more \u201crealistic\u201d encounters \u2013 a shift that resulted in Clean House, one of the most memorable depictions of a slow-paced building infiltration we\u2019ve seen in the series thus far. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is not only one of the best examples of how to reboot a series correctly, but also an excellent entry in a series full of memorable campaigns.\n\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was released last year on last-gen and current-gen hardware. Call of Duty is historically the first or second best-selling game of the year, but <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/2025-us-video-game-chart-rubber-stamps-call-of-duty-black-ops-7-sales-struggle\">Black Ops 7 came in at number five on the United States&#8217; yearly sales charts<\/a>, the lowest placement since 2008&#8217;s Call of Duty: World at War. It was toppled by Battlefield 6, Call of Duty&#8217;s longtime rival.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It&#8217;s unclear what Activision&#8217;s reasons are for dropping last-gen. CharlieIntel co-founder <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/KeshavBhat\/status\/2051394587831173540\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Keshav Bhat stated<\/a> that he heard Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was in development for last-gen hardware up until late last year before it was canceled. Call of Duty has been one of the last major franchises holding out on last-gen, so it&#8217;ll be interesting to see if any other stragglers follow Call of Duty&#8217;s lead and fully commit to current-gen hardware.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Interestingly, Microsoft committed to bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms when it acquired Activision in 2021 and signed a 10-year legal agreement with Nintendo to make that happen. So far, that has yet to come to fruition, but <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/activision-says-its-working-with-nintendo-to-get-call-of-duty-on-switch-but-will-black-ops-7-be-on-switch-2\">Activision stated last year that they&#8217;re working on it<\/a>. Will Modern Warfare 4 come to Nintendo Switch 2 instead of PS4 and Xbox One? That seems hard to imagine, but we&#8217;ll just have to wait and see.<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN&#8217;s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Call of Duty fans can breathe a sigh of relief as this year&#8217;s entry will not release on last-gen consoles, so developers don&#8217;t have to hold back. Earlier this week, a rumor began to spread that the next Call of Duty game, rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, was being playtested on PlayStation 4. This [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1917857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1917857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1917857\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1917857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1917857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1917857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}