Activision has finally confirmed something many players were expecting for a while. The next Call of Duty game, expected in 2026, will not release on PlayStation 4. This effectively marks the end of support for last-generation consoles after more than a decade.
The confirmation came directly from the official Call of Duty social media account, which responded to rumors claiming the upcoming game would still support older hardware. The company clearly denied it, saying the next title is not being developed for PS4.
Even though there was no direct mention of Xbox One, it is safe to assume that it will also be dropped.
The Call of Duty franchise has been releasing games on PS4 and Xbox One since Call of Duty: Ghosts. That means these consoles have been supported for around 13 years, which is a very long lifecycle for any gaming hardware.
Even in recent years, Activision continued to release new titles on older consoles. For example, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was still available on both PS4 and Xbox One alongside newer platforms like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S.
Also See: Call of Duty Games in Order
This made many people believe that the 2026 game would follow the same pattern. But that is clearly not happening anymore.
At some point, developers need to move on from old hardware. The PS4 and Xbox One are now over a decade old, and they limit what developers can do in terms of graphics, performance, and overall game design.
By focusing only on newer consoles and PC, Activision can build bigger maps, improve AI, and deliver better visuals without worrying about older hardware constraints.
Activision has not yet revealed which sub-series the 2026 Call of Duty will belong to. The last two entries were part of the Black Ops storyline, so there is a strong chance that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare could return this time.
There is also a possibility of something completely new, especially since the company is expanding the franchise beyond games. A Call of Duty movie is already in production, which shows that Activision is thinking bigger about the brand.
Another interesting possibility is support for a new Nintendo platform. There are growing expectations around a potential Nintendo Switch 2, and this could be the moment Call of Duty returns to Nintendo systems after a long gap.
Nothing is confirmed yet, but with Microsoft now owning Activision, the chances of broader platform support have definitely increased.
