An industry insider has unveiled that the next installment of Call of Duty, set for release in 2027, will be developed by Sledgehammer Games. Following the reported hurried development of Modern Warfare 3 by the studio, fans are hopeful that Sledgehammer will have sufficient time to craft its next Call of Duty.
A Bloomberg report alleged that Sledgehammer's Modern Warfare 3 was created in just 16 months, a claim that seemed plausible given the game's underwhelming single-player mode and multiplayer largely comprising recycled maps. However, these claims were refuted by a Sledgehammer executive, asserting that the studio spent years developing Modern Warfare 3. Regardless of the truth, it appears that Sledgehammer will have multiple years to work on its next Call of Duty.
Insider Gaming disclosed that during a town hall meeting, Sledgehammer employees were informed that the studio would take the lead in developing Call of Duty 2027. While no further details about the forthcoming game were provided, fans have begun speculating about Sledgehammer's potential approach. Sledgehammer was responsible for 2014's Advanced Warfare, the first Call of Duty to introduce jetpack movement to the series, a feature that has not been seen in Call of Duty since 2016's Infinite Warfare. Although the movement system sparked controversy, its potential reintroduction could be timely.
Speculations on Future Call of Duty Games
- CoD 2024: Title by Treyarch
- CoD 2025: Sequel to Black Ops 2
- CoD 2026: Title by Infinity Ward
- CoD 2027: Title by Sledgehammer
Leaks suggest that Call of Duty 2024 will be set in the early 1990s, Call of Duty 2025 will be a sequel to Black Ops 2, and Call of Duty 2026 will be developed by Infinity Ward, potentially remaining in its immensely popular Modern Warfare setting. These premises imply a return to boots-on-the-ground movement, prompting some fans to ponder whether Sledgehammer's 2027 entry could introduce a revival of jetpack movement. However, this remains mere speculation at this stage.
When Advanced Warfare was launched, approximately seven years had elapsed since Call of Duty's emergence in 2007, leading the series to rejuvenate its essence by introducing jetpacks. By 2027, about 11 years will have passed since Call of Duty reverted to featuring only boots-on-the-ground movement, assuming that preceding titles don't reintroduce it first. At that point, Call of Duty might encounter competition from other FPS franchises such as Ubisoft's XDefiant, positioning itself as a direct rival to the series.
Insider Gaming also revealed that Sledgehammer will transition to remote work for the remainder of 2024 while seeking new office space. The decision to downsize from its current office is attributed to many employees opting to work remotely. This move reportedly caused frustration among other Call of Duty employees, particularly Activision's QA workers, who were recently mandated to return to their offices five days a week. This development is the latest in a series of discontent among Activision Blizzard employees who are not permitted to work remotely.