It appears that upcoming installments in the Call of Duty series will no longer be available for previous-generation systems such as the PS4 and Xbox One, meaning devoted players must invest in costly next-gen hardware. The franchise’s official account recently shared on social platforms that the “upcoming Call of Duty title is not being built for PS4.” While the Xbox One wasn’t explicitly named, it’s reasonable to assume the same applies, given that developers are unlikely to dedicate effort to the less favored of the two older consoles.
Call of Duty was among the final major franchises to support the aging console generation. The latest release, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, was accessible across a wide range of platforms, including PS4 and Xbox One.
In one sense, this aligns with the natural progression of the console industry. The PS5 and Xbox X/S are nearly six years old, and maintaining backward compatibility with older hardware can restrict certain features across all versions. It’s a difficult balance to strike.
Conversely, the economic climate is challenging, and many gamers simply cannot afford the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. This issue is worsened by the AI-driven RAM shortage, which has triggered multiple price increases. A standard disc-based PS5 now retails for $650, a $150 jump from its initial launch price. This console debuted in 2020. Xbox Series X/S units have also seen significant price hikes since their release.
Not surprisingly, weak economic conditions and rising console prices have impacted sales. Sony recently disclosed that PS5 sales fell by 16 percent during the 2025 holiday season compared to 2024. While industry norms suggest it’s time to phase out last-gen consoles, we aren’t operating under normal circumstances.
Regardless, a new Call of Duty title is anticipated this year, though official specifics remain undisclosed. Speculation suggests it may be titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Activision Blizzard released a teaser for Black Ops 7 last June.
Additionally, Call of Duty will no longer launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one. This marks another way that staying current with new releases has become more costly.