Call of Duty 2026 Skips PS4 as Activision Confirms Current-Gen Only Release

Image via Actrivision

Recent rumors that this year's Call of Duty title would still be released on PS4 have been definitively dismissed. Publisher Activision has officially confirmed that the next installment in the long-running shooter franchise will not be developed for last-generation consoles, indicating a clear shift toward modern hardware.

Speculation started earlier this week when a known leaker on X (formerly Twitter) claimed that the next Call of Duty, widely assumed to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was being playtested on PS4. The claim quickly gained traction raising concerns among players who feared that continued support for older consoles would limit the game's technical capabilities.

However, the official Call of Duty social media account quickly responded shutting down the rumor with a direct statement: "I'm not sure where this one started, but it's false. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for the PS4".

Call of Duty Leaving Last Generation Behind

Many are not surprised by the move. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was released last year for both current and previous-generation systems, including the PS4 and Xbox One. While this ensured a larger player base, older versions suffered from performance issues such as lower resolution and unstable frame rates limitations caused by aging hardware.

Fans have increasingly called on Activision to discontinue last-gen support entirely claiming that development constraints have limited the full capabilities of newer platforms such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

What about the warzone and player base?

Despite this shift a significant percentage of the Call of Duty community still uses older consoles. Call of Duty: Warzone, a popular free-to-play game continues to support last-generation systems, but many players have advocated for an eventual upgrade to current-gen exclusivity for improved performance and stability.

Game Pass Strategy is Also Changing

Parallel to platform changes Microsoft has adjusted its franchise release strategy. New Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one, including the Ultimate and PC tiers. Instead, games are expected to be available on the service about a year after their release a move aimed at balancing costs and long-term viability.

While the 2026 Call of Duty has yet to be officially revealed, strong rumors suggest a continuation of the Modern Warfare storyline. If true, the decision to skip the PS4 and other last-gen platforms marks an important event for the franchise, allowing developers to fully leverage modern hardware without sacrificing quality.

For the time being, one thing is certain: Call of Duty is ready to move forward, and last-generation consoles may finally be planned out.