Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, 2026, on current-generation platforms and Nintendo Switch 2, with a Korean Peninsula setting and a DMZ extraction mode overhaul. Treyarch has a new co-leadership structure after Mark Gordon stepped down, and the studio is porting the original Black Ops and Black Ops II to PlayStation in July 2026.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the franchise's next major release, announced in late May 2026 with an October 23 launch date on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Infinity Ward is developing the title, which is set on the Korean Peninsula and follows two storylines: a North Korean invasion seen through a young South Korean soldier named Park, and Captain Price's pursuit of Makarov's backer. The multiplayer mode removes hip-fire bloom and introduces the Ballistic Authority system for more realistic weapon handling, along with a dynamic map mode called Kill Block that features over 500 layout patterns. Infinity Ward has stated the game will not feature clowny skins at launch or in subsequent seasons, a policy that responds to community criticism about cosmetic items breaking the game's world.
The DMZ extraction mode returns in Modern Warfare 4 as a fully supported third pillar. Set in a radioactive quarantine zone called Hajin on the Korean Peninsula, the mode introduces three play styles-Story Missions, Dynamic Operations, and Free Roam-along with a persistent inventory and player progression system. A Forward Operating Base lets players craft equipment and upgrade operators. A Living World system causes weather to worsen and enemy reinforcements to intensify as players defeat more foes, and a bounty system tracks aggressive PvP players. A playtest is scheduled for July 16 to 19.
At Treyarch, studio head Mark Gordon stepped down after 22 years, having led the studio since May 2005 and overseen the entire Black Ops series. The studio's new leadership is co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both longtime Treyarch veterans. Treyarch also announced that the original Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II will be ported to current PlayStation hardware in July 2026, handled in partnership with Iron Galaxy, with all three modes-Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies-intact. In Black Ops 7, Nicolas Cage joined as a playable operator in the Season 04 Reloaded update launching June 26, obtained through a premium event pass track. Separately, at a California Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act, ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons stated that community servers for Call of Duty and Minecraft are illegal and constitute piracy, a position the ESA later clarified in an email to Kotaku.
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At a California Senate hearing on the 'Protect Our Games Act,' ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons interrupted a lawmaker to state that community servers for 'Minecraft' and 'Call of Duty' are 'illegal' and constitute piracy. The bill, which aimed to keep games playable after service termination, passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. The ESA later clarified its position on private servers in an email to Kotaku.
Activision announced on June 23 that Nicolas Cage will appear in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as a new operator in the Season 04 Reloaded update launching June 26. He is the face of the Summer of Action event and is obtained through a premium event pass track that includes an exclusive skin, emote, and finishing move. The update also adds a Japanese-style zombie map, a new multiplayer map, and a remastered map.
Treyarch announced on June 18 that the first two games in the Black Ops series, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, will be ported to current PlayStation hardware in July 2026. The ports are being handled in partnership with Iron Galaxy. Both titles will include all three modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. The original Black Ops, released in 2010, is set during the Cold War and follows CIA operatives including Alex Mason. It introduced the iconic map Nuketown, which became a series staple. The sequel, Black Ops II, released in 2012, spans two time periods, the 1980s and 2025, and features the series' first multiple-ending campaign based on player choices. Specific details about which PlayStation hardware (such as PS5 or PS4) will be supported and pricing have not been disclosed.
Mark Gordon, the head of Call of Duty: Black Ops developer Treyarch, has stepped down after 22 years at the studio. The announcement was made via official social media channels. Gordon had led the studio since May 2005, overseeing the development of numerous Call of Duty titles including Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: World at War, and the entire Black Ops series. Under his leadership, Treyarch introduced technical innovations such as the Super Terrain system in 2018's Black Ops 4, which supported up to 100 players on a single map, and the OmniMovement system in 2024's Black Ops 6, which enabled smooth movement in all directions. The studio's new leadership will be co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both longtime Treyarch veterans with over a decade of experience as Chief Operating Officer and Production Director, respectively. The studio's message thanked Gordon for his leadership and friendship. As of the time of reporting, Gordon's LinkedIn profile still lists him as Treyarch studio head, and his next role has not been disclosed.
Activision and Infinity Ward have revealed full details on the new DMZ mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, scheduled for release on October 23, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. The mode, set after the campaign on the Korean Peninsula, takes place in a radioactive quarantine zone called Hajin. It introduces three play styles: Story Missions with set objectives, Dynamic Operations with randomized goals, and Free Roam for unrestricted exploration. A persistent inventory and player progression system are new additions, with a Forward Operating Base (FOB) or Hub where players craft equipment and upgrade operators. A Living World system causes weather to worsen and enemy reinforcements to intensify as players defeat more foes. A bounty system tracks aggressive PvP players, placing bounties that others can claim. A tourniquet system acts as an extra life, and players who die can pay in-game currency to rescue their operator. A playtest is scheduled for July 16 to 19.
Infinity Ward has stated that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not feature clowny skins at launch or in subsequent seasons. The policy responds to criticism about cosmetic items breaking the game's world. The title launches October 23 on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was announced, set on the modern-day Korean Peninsula with a campaign following two storylines: a North Korean invasion of the South and Captain Price's pursuit of Makarov's backer. The game is developed by Infinity Ward and launches October 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Activision and Infinity Ward announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on May 29, 2026, with a release date of October 23, 2026. The game is set on the Korean Peninsula, where a full-scale North Korean invasion triggers a global crisis. The campaign follows a young South Korean soldier named Park and his unit as they fight for survival, while a parallel story follows Captain John Price, now a fugitive operating outside Task Force 141. The multiplayer mode removes hip-fire bloom, a system where bullets randomly scatter during hip-fire, and introduces the Ballistic Authority system for more realistic weapon handling. A new dynamic map mode called Kill Block features over 500 layout patterns that change during matches. The game will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with no previous-generation console versions. The extraction mode DMZ returns, with details to be revealed on June 7. Pre-orders are open, with a Vault Edition available at a discount for returning players.