For the first time in more than a decade, the next Call of Duty will require current-generation hardware, ending an era of cross-platform compromise.
- Activision has officially confirmed that the next Call of Duty (2026) will skip PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to focus exclusively on current-generation hardware and PC.
- By ditching 13-year-old hardware, developers can harness the full power of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S for faster load times, superior graphics, and more complex environments.
- Exclusivity on modern consoles means that the game will follow the standard premium retail price of $70, eliminating the cheaper base edition previously available for last-gen systems.
Activision has officially confirmed that the Call of Duty franchise will move exclusively to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC as it launches only on current-gen hardware.
Shutting down recent rumors about last-gen trials underway, the official Call of Duty account has clarified, stating: “The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.”
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Why is Call of Duty leaving PS4 and Xbox One?
Call of Duty left the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to finally overcome the severe technical limitations of the decade-old hardware.
By focusing solely on current-generation consoles and PC, developers at Activision were able to implement faster load times, superior graphics, denser map layouts, and much better artificial intelligence without sacrificing the core experience.
This hardware transition marks a necessary evolution for the series. Previous entries required significant downscaling to work on legacy systems.
Freed from these old constraints, the underlying engine can now process much more complex environmental data and better physics.
Not sure where this started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026
How will the exclusivity of the current generation impact the store’s standard costs?
The exclusivity of the current generation ensures that standard store costs will align with modern premium retail prices.
While cross-generation games sometimes offer tiered purchasing options, this strict hardware focus means players should expect official prices consistent with top-of-the-line PS5 and Xbox Series X|S releases, which typically hover around $70.
This shift eliminates the last generation’s cheaper base edition, meaning consumers upgrading to the new version will have to prepare a higher financial base.
What does this mean for the future of the franchise?
This definitive hardware shift signals the end of a cross-generational era that sustained the player base for more than a decade.
As launch approaches, monitoring pre-order trends and securing the best store cost standards will be important. Setting early warnings will ensure you avoid volatile price spikes.
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