Activision has confirmed plans for a new Call of Duty sub-franchise, potentially introducing a fresh direction beyond the established Modern Warfare and Black Ops series.

The Call of Duty franchise could be preparing for a significant change, with Activision revealing that a future installment will introduce a new sub-franchise.

Speaking with The Game Business, Activision Chief Marketing Officer Tyler Bahl discussed the reception of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and acknowledged that the game failed to meet community expectations.

Activision Plans a New Direction for Call of Duty

Bahl admitted that Black Ops 7 was not what the community wanted, suggesting that Activision recognizes the need for a different approach.

He then revealed that plans for a new branch of the franchise are already underway.

“And so we’ve already kind of stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise and we’ve already kind of laid the groundwork there,” Bahl explained.

Although Activision has not revealed the project’s name, setting or development studio, the statement suggests that the company intends to expand Call of Duty beyond its existing major series.

Could Call of Duty Zombies Become a Standalone Game?

One possibility is a dedicated Call of Duty Zombies game, a concept fans have discussed for years.

Other potential directions include a standalone DMZ experience or an entirely new storyline separate from Modern Warfare and Black Ops.

However, Activision has not confirmed that Zombies, DMZ or any specific game mode will become its own franchise.

For now, the only confirmed detail is that a future Call of Duty title will establish a new sub-franchise, with more information expected at a later date.