Big Change for COD: No More Back-to-Back Releases of the Same Sub-Franchise

 

In a significant shift for one of gaming’s most enduring franchises, Activision has confirmed that future Call of Duty titles will no longer follow the pattern of releasing consecutive entries from the same sub-franchise. The move aims to diversify yearly installments, maintain creative freshness, and prevent brand fatigue among players.

For years, Call of Duty has cycled between multiple sub-series—including Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and Vanguard—but recent releases saw back-to-back entries within the same branch. This raised concerns among fans and analysts about oversaturation and diminishing identity across each line.

According to internal planning updates, Activision now intends to rotate sub-franchises more evenly, allowing each studio—Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and others—to refine their respective entries with longer development gaps. This shift is expected to improve overall quality across campaigns, multiplayer modes, and post-launch live service support.

Industry analysts believe this decision aligns with the publisher’s broader strategy following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. With Call of Duty embracing a more unified ecosystem across Warzone, premium titles, and mobile platforms, offering variety each year may help sustain long-term engagement while giving individual series room to stand out.

Fans have responded positively to the news, with many hoping the longer gaps between sub-franchise releases will result in more innovation and fewer repeated design elements. Others see this as an opportunity for underutilized settings or fan-favorite eras—such as Advanced Warfare or Ghosts—to potentially return in the future.

As Activision restructures its release approach, the Call of Duty franchise appears to be entering a new phase—one focused on balance, quality, and a more thoughtful rollout of its iconic sub-series. More details on the next installment are expected as development studios continue adapting to the refreshed annual schedule.