New Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in the Works for Next-Gen Xbox

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 might just find itself debuting on the next Xbox console, if a recent leak holds true. Although Xbox has kept mum about their upcoming system, the reality is that the lifespan of the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 is gradually winding down as they both reach their five-year milestones. When Microsoft finally unveils its new console, the legendary Call of Duty franchise could serve as a major draw for gamers eager to adopt the latest in gaming technology.

Call of Duty’s enduring success story has been a golden ticket for Microsoft since its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The franchise, especially with the smash hit Black Ops 6, played a pivotal role in catapulting Microsoft to the top spot as the world’s leading game publisher by late 2024. Interestingly, much of this triumph was fuelled by the sales of CoD titles on platforms beyond just Microsoft’s own devices. Banking on such overwhelming success, it’s a smart move for Microsoft to potentially leverage Call of Duty as a flagship title for its forthcoming hardware launch.

The talk of the town comes from a familiar source in the gaming leak scene, TheGhostOfHope, who took to Twitter with details about the anticipated release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Allegedly, we’ll see the game by 2026, with development already underway on kits for Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox console. If this rumor pans out, Modern Warfare 4 could eschew older hardware, focusing its release on the systems that will follow the Series X and S. However, TheGhostOfHope hasn’t clarified whether this new installment will launch alongside the next-gen Xbox or arrive first for the Series X, later transitioning to the newer system—a strategic move for Microsoft, nonetheless.

That said, this juicy leak does seem at odds with some previous chatter in the industry. Another insider hints that Microsoft’s next-gen console just got the green light, meaning that they could only be beginning to roll out the initial dev kits now. Sure, as the creators of Call of Duty, they might snag an early spot in line for new hardware or work from earlier versions, but these contradicting gossip bits paint slightly different timelines. If the next Modern Warfare merely sits in the planning stage, syncing a 2026 debut with the nascent console development might be ambitious.

We need to take these unconfirmed reports with a grain of salt as neither scenario is verified. Whatever Microsoft’s new console might bring to the table for Call of Duty is anyone’s guess, but speculation about a handheld component could diversify how players enjoy Modern Warfare 4. Imagine taking the console experience on the road without being tethered to a mobile version. Until official word drops from Activision or Microsoft, we’re all just left to ponder these enticing possibilities.