Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

An unannounced FPS discussed as the next Call of Duty following Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare reboot trilogy.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Overview

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a title discussed as the next entry in the "Modern Warfare" reboot line developed by Infinity Ward, part of Activision Blizzard's (now under Microsoft Gaming) flagship FPS franchise Call of Duty. As of 2025, it has not been officially announced, and its possible existence is only indirectly suggested through job postings, data mining, and industry leaks. Accordingly, this document distinguishes between officially confirmed information and unverified rumors.

Series lineage and position

The Modern Warfare reboot line began with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in 2019 and continued with Modern Warfare II in 2022 and Modern Warfare III in 2023. However, the third entry was led by Sledgehammer Games instead of Infinity Ward and was reportedly made with extensive reuse of existing assets, drawing mixed reception; as a result, fandom expectations formed around a "true fourth entry" developed directly by Infinity Ward. Narratively, the reboot universe centered on Task Force 141 and Captain Price, Soap, Gaz, and Ghost is highly likely to continue.

Development structure and release cycle

Call of Duty has maintained an annual development system rotating among three studios: Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games. With Modern Warfare III in 2023, Black Ops 6 in 2024, and Black Ops 7 in 2025 placing the Treyarch line in consecutive slots, the prevailing view is that Infinity Ward's next premium title has been pushed to after 2026. Infinity Ward has been expanding its Polish studio and hiring new staff, which is interpreted as signs of preparation for its next major project.

Leaks and rumors

Since late 2023, prominent overseas leakers have repeatedly claimed that "Infinity Ward is preparing a new Modern Warfare title for 2026." Evidence often cited includes unused codenames found in game file data mining, remarks from developer interviews, and job postings containing the phrase "next-generation premium FPS." However, neither Activision nor Microsoft has provided any official confirmation, and many leaked details have later turned out to concern other titles or content updates, so credibility requires caution.

Gameplay and technical outlook

If the next entry materializes, key topics include advancement of the IW engine, experimentation with large-scale battlefields or open-world-style mission structures, continuation of DMZ-style extraction modes, and cross-platform integration with Warzone. In particular, as controversies over campaign length and reused assets have been significant since 2023, restoring the quality of the single-player campaign is cited as the biggest challenge.

Warzone and live-service integration

Call of Duty has been reorganized around a live-service system centered on Warzone, and the practice of linking new titles at launch with major Warzone seasonal updates has become established. Modern Warfare 4 is highly likely to follow the same integrated model, and how the battle pass and skin economy combine with the Game Pass subscription model will be a major point of interest.

Latest trends

In 2024, Black Ops 6 launched day one on Game Pass, accelerating the distribution strategy after Microsoft's acquisition, and in 2025 Black Ops 7 continued the lineup. Accordingly, a new Modern Warfare title is expected after 2026 following a gap for the time being, while Modern Warfare III and Warzone continued to be supported through seasonal updates in the interim. Meanwhile, within the community, along with demands for a remaster of the 2009 original Modern Warfare 2, discussion has also arisen that the reboot line should be concluded with a fourth entry and transition to a new period setting. As of 2024–2025, it should be noted that this title is not a "confirmed sequel" but an "object of observation and speculation."