Activision admits Black Ops 7 missed the mark and confirms a brand-new Call of Duty sub-franchise
By TourneyTime ·
The short version
Activision has admitted that Black Ops 7 wasn’t what a lot of players wanted. It has also confirmed that a future Call of Duty will be a brand-new sub-franchise, not another Black Ops or Modern Warfare.
Both comments come from Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl in an interview with The Game Business, published on 15 October 2026.
What Activision said about Black Ops 7
Bahl didn’t sugar-coat it:
“I don’t think we were happy with every aspect of last year’s game, and we heard the feedback loud and clear.”
He didn’t list specific problems. He did single out the release pattern, though. Black Ops 7 was the second Black Ops game in a row, after Black Ops 6, just as Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 came back to back before them. On that, Bahl said:
“It was not something that our community was looking for.”
According to Dexerto’s write-up, he added that players wanted something fresh and a tonal shift, not just new settings and features. He framed Modern Warfare 4 as the answer: “getting back to a grounded military shooter”. In the same interview he called it “the epic conclusion of this recent series of Modern Warfare”.
A new sub-franchise is officially coming
This is the bigger news. Bahl confirmed:
“So, we’ve already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already laid the groundwork.”
| What’s confirmed by Activision | What isn’t |
|---|---|
| A future CoD will be a new sub-franchise | Its name |
| The groundwork is already laid | The setting or era |
| Modern Warfare 4 comes first | The developer |
| The release year |
On timing, a hedge. Dexerto reports that CharlieIntel sources say the new sub-franchise arrives in 2027, and Insider Gaming points back to a July 2025 claim tying an all-new sub-franchise to 2027. That lines up neatly, but Activision itself hasn’t put a year on it. Treat 2027 as likely, not locked in.
If it does land, it would be the first new sub-series since Vanguard in 2021.
What it means for you
- Warzone players: nothing changes yet. These comments are about the yearly premium game. Our Modern Warfare 4 carry-forward explainer covers what happens to your weapons and Operators.
- Black Ops 7 players: Season 06 support carries on as normal. Our Season 06 patch coverage has the latest balance changes.
- Everyone else: the run of back-to-back sequels looks to be over. Expect Activision to tease the new series once Modern Warfare 4 is out.
Sources we check
The quotes are taken from the original interview at The Game Business (15 Oct 2026). We cross-checked them with Dexerto and Insider Gaming, both published the same day. The 2027 date is reported, not official, so we’ll update this page when Activision confirms it.
