The upcoming Call of Duty installment will challenge the loyalty (and finances) of PS4 gamers.

      Activision has officially announced that the upcoming Call of Duty is not being developed for the PS4, dispelling recent rumors that the 2026 installment would still support Sony's previous console.

      Is Call of Duty finally moving on from the PS4?

      The clarification came through the official Call of Duty account on X, which addressed the rumor by stating, “Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.” The post did not mention Xbox One, leaving that detail unconfirmed. However, if support for the PS4 is being discontinued, it's likely that Xbox One support will also end.

      The rumor suggested that the next Call of Duty, thought to be Modern Warfare 4, was being tested for the PS4. This sparked renewed discussions on how long the franchise should continue to support older consoles.

      Throughout the PS5 era, Call of Duty has remained cross-generation. Since Sony released the PS5 in 2020, titles like Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, and Black Ops 7 have all been available on PS4. Recent releases have also continued to support Xbox One, including Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, and Black Ops 7.

      Could this prompt more PS4 users to upgrade?

      There is still a substantial PS4 player base. Sony's 2024 corporate report indicated around 49 million monthly active PS4 consoles compared to 49 million for PS5, meaning PS4 still accounts for approximately half of active PlayStation usage at that time. An update from Sony in 2025 showed that the PS5 had finally surpassed the PS4, but the older console still comprised a significant portion of the player demographic.

      The decision by Call of Duty could serve as a major motivator for PS4 players to upgrade. The franchise is among the few major series that have continued to support older hardware well into the lifecycle of the PS5. Once this support ceases, those wanting to play the next installment may have no choice but to upgrade to newer consoles.

      The situation is particularly challenging given the uncertain timeline for the PS6. While previous speculation suggested a possible 2027 launch for Sony’s next console, reports concerning ongoing memory and NAND shortages indicate that this timeline might extend to 2028 or beyond. This leaves PS4 players in a difficult position. Some might have been planning to bypass the PS5 entirely, but if the next Call of Duty releases without PS4 support before the PS6 launches, they may need to decide whether to purchase a PS5 now or wait longer without access to the latest title in the series.