Call of Duty Moves On from PS4 and Xbox One Amid Rising Console Prices

Call of Duty enthusiasts have been eager for the franchise to move on from last-gen consoles for quite a while. The versions available on PS4 and Xbox One have struggled to perform, leading to a common sentiment that outdated hardware is holding back this blockbuster shooter series. Now, that wish has been granted. Activision has dismissed recent speculation that this year’s installment, rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, would be available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

“Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true,” the series’ social media account stated on X. “The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.” This rumor originated from a leaker who claimed over the weekend that MW4 was undergoing playtesting on PS4.

It’s been 12 years since the franchise first launched on PS4 and Xbox One, and six years since it made its debut on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This marks the longest period Activision has continued to support an old console generation while transitioning to a new one. The downside is that millions of players still use PS4, and they will miss out on the latest multiplayer mode unless they invest in a new system.

Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t be worse, as both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are priced over $100 more than their launch costs. Gaming PC prices have also surged due to RAM and GPU shortages. On a brighter note, Xbox Game Pass recently saw a price reduction, but it will no longer feature new Call of Duty titles on launch day.

As fans await Activision’s official announcement regarding the next Call of Duty this summer, a significant question remains: will it finally make its way to the Switch 2? Microsoft had previously committed to bringing the franchise back to Nintendo’s platform, but that process has taken longer than anticipated.