Activision has announced that Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on PS4 and Xbox One. It's the first time a core Call of Duty series game will not launch on an older console platform in more than a decade. It clearly shows Activision’s plan to focus on the new generation of consoles.
The game is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. This will help the studio deliver better visuals, shorter loading times, and larger multiplayer maps. Additionally, there will be room for more complex AI systems and improved gameplay. The move comes as part of a larger industry trend towards abandoning outdated consoles.
According to a report by Video Games Chronicle, Activision explained in a livestream, “It's the first Modern Warfare entry to skip PS4 and Xbox One entirely, marking a decisive shift to current-generation hardware. The announcement also confirms Call of Duty is coming to Nintendo's unannounced Switch 2 console.”
In addition to the above updates, Modern Warfare 4 is set to be the franchise's revival on Nintendo consoles, a first in the last 10 years. The game is currently under development for Switch 2, which shows the trust in the future console's performance. It allows opening up new gaming grounds for players.
The new game is all set to launch on October 23, 2026. This version will introduce a new story mode, new multiplayer games, and improvements in extraction mode. There are rumors that the upcoming version will be darker and feature big political conflicts to mark a new beginning instead of just a continuation of the old one.
The omission of PS4 is consistent with a strategic shift we have seen in the most popular titles. Developers want to take advantage of new technology by sticking only to current-gen consoles, and Call of Duty’s decision will have consequences in future years.
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