In the last ten years, the Call of Duty franchise has been on a juggling act. They have tried to release games that run on current and older gen consoles to ensure that no soldier is left behind. But that season is closing.
Activision has made it clear that the Call of Duty PS4 support is not going to be extended to the next Call of Duty 2026 game. It is the first new Call of Duty release that will not be available on the PS4 since 2013.
Activision Shuts Down the PS4 Support Rumors
Rumors have been circulating that the next title was still being play-tested on the PS4. Activision put an end to the rumors in a simple but heartbreaking statement. It reads, “The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.”
Official Activision Statement. Image Credit: Call of Duty
The statement specifically was referring to the PlayStation 4. However, industry analysts assume it will affect the Xbox One too. This is because both consoles have similar constraints. It is unlikely that Activision would develop on one of the last-gen systems and not on the other.
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Why Call of Duty is Ditching Old Consoles Now
PlayStation 4 was originally released in 2013. The PS4 has run every Call of Duty game since then. Its age is beginning to show. The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was able to run on the PS4 and Xbox One, although the technical strain was becoming more apparent.
PS4 v PS5 Visual Fidelity Comparison. Image Credit: MichaelXBox
Players complain about huge graphical regressions, more time to load, and reduced frame rates. These issues aren’t on current-gen consoles. By leaving the almost 12-year-old console, developers will be able to achieve:
- Advanced Engine Functionality: Real-world global illumination, high-fidelity textures, and detailed physics. The PS4 cannot execute as well as the PS5.
- Map Design and Scale: The size of the map or the scale of the map was often limited by the RAM of older consoles, which compelled developers to limit map size or density. Developing on current consoles will allow them to create the most expansive maps they can achieve.
Black Ops 7 Onsen Map Reveal. Image Credit: GameSpot
- Artificial Intelligence: The current AI processing will need more compute power, which is necessary in the next version of Call of Duty.
Other games like Battlefield 6 stop supporting older consoles. They did this because those devices can’t run the newer games smoothly. Activision can now max out the full potential of the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and high-end PCs in the new CoD.
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What This Means for the Future of Call of Duty
We don’t know the official title of the 2026 Call of Duty. But some leaked internal data and industry speculations suggest that the title of the 2026 release will be Modern Warfare 4.
Speculated Call of Duty 2026 Branding. Image Credit: KITGURU
With this move, Activision can leverage the SSD speeds of the PS5 and Xbox Series X fully. Doing this will eliminate loading screens and provide a more seamless cinematic experience.
This will also affect the future of Warzone. The standalone battle royale already supports last-gen consoles. Moving to only current-gen consoles may eventually lead to a split in the player base.
Also, although Microsoft has acquired Activision Blizzard, it has been confirmed that the new Call of Duty will not be released into Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on the first day. Rather, the title is set to be released on the subscription service about one year after its initial release.
Conclusion: An Essential Leap Forward
This news may be disappointing for the 45-50 million active PS4 players. But it is a needed move in the FPS genre. It will allow the new Call of Duty to offer the best possible experience fans have been waiting for. As we approach the fall of 2026, the message is clear, now it is time to upgrade.
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