Call of Duty Drops Back-to-Back Modern Warfare and Black Ops Releases After Black Ops 7 Struggles

Activision just pulled the handbrake on one of gaming's most predictable patterns.

The publisher confirmed no more consecutive Modern Warfare or Black Ops games. This shift arrives after Black Ops 7 limped through its November launch with underwhelming numbers and player frustration reaching fever pitch.

The numbers tell a brutal story. European sales dropped 50% compared to Black Ops 6, whilst physical copies in the UK fell 61% from the previous year's launch. Even worse? Black Ops 7 trailed Battlefield 6 by 63% in opening week European sales.

Japan saw the worst Call of Duty launch in franchise history. Only 12,311 copies sold.

"The franchise has not met your expectations fully," Activision admitted in their blog statement. No corporate spin. No defensive posturing. They're owning this mess.

What Changed Their Minds

Black Ops 7 followed Black Ops 6 by exactly one year. Before that, Modern Warfare 3 dropped twelve months after Modern Warfare 2 in 2022. The pattern became obvious, predictable, and according to players, exhausting.

Chris Dring from The Game Business told Eurogamer that "fewer people are playing Call of Duty this year than they have been before." The competition grew fiercer too. Battlefield 6 stormed back with critical acclaim whilst extraction shooter Arc Raiders pulled massive Steam numbers, leaving Black Ops 7 gasping for air.

Critics hammered the game's campaign. The Metacritic user score sits at 1.7 out of 10. Players complained about AI-generated assets, always-online requirements for the story mode, and a general sense of been-there-done-that gameplay.

Activision stayed suspiciously quiet after launch. Usually they're shouting from rooftops about record-breaking player counts. This time? Silence spoke volumes.

The New Strategy

"We will no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games," the statement reads. "The reasons are many, but the main one is to ensure we provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year."

They're promising "meaningful, not incremental" innovation. What does this mean practically? Probably alternating between sub-series again rather than pumping out sequels annually. Modern Warfare in 2026, then Black Ops in 2027, rinse and repeat.

Annual releases aren't going anywhere. Don't get your hopes up for multi-year development cycles. Activision needs that yearly revenue stream. They're just mixing up which flavour you get.

Damage Control Mode

Next week brings a free trial period for Black Ops 7 multiplayer and Zombies. Double XP weekend included. Translation: please give this game another chance.

Season 01 launches 4 December with six new multiplayer maps, eight new modes, and free operator skins for everyone who owns the game. Activision calls it "the largest live season ever." They're throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks.

"We won't rest until Black Ops 7 earns its place as one of the best Black Ops games we've ever made," the team pledged. That's a tall order when players already moved on to Battlefield 6.

Xbox Game Pass complicates the picture. Black Ops 7 launched day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. How many players accessed the game through subscriptions versus purchasing? Activision hasn't shared those metrics, which makes the true player count murky.

Despite everything, PlayStation's November download charts still showed Black Ops 7 at number one in both US/Canada and EU regions. The franchise name carries weight. People buy Call of Duty regardless of reviews or controversy.

What's Next

Infinity Ward typically handles Modern Warfare entries. They're likely steering the 2026 release. Expectations are sky-high after this misstep.

The message from Activision carries an unusual tone, almost apologetic. "Call of Duty has enjoyed long-standing success because of all of you, a passionate community that demands excellence and deserves nothing less." They're trying to rebuild trust.

Players on forums debated whether this signals deeper problems. Some see it as a course correction. Others think the franchise is spiralling.

Industry analysts remain split. Circana reported Black Ops 7 as the most-played game on Xbox in November, second on PlayStation behind Fortnite. Sales dropped but engagement stayed relatively strong.

The truth sits somewhere in the middle. Black Ops 7 isn't a complete disaster but falls short of expectations for a flagship franchise. Activision's admission and strategy shift acknowledge this reality.

Whether meaningful innovation arrives or we get another coat of paint on familiar mechanics remains to be seen. The next Call of Duty needs to land differently. Activision knows this. Players know this. The question is whether they follow through.

For now, grab that free trial next week if curiosity strikes. Double XP sweetens the deal. Give Black Ops 7 your verdict before writing it off completely.

The franchise isn't dead. Just wounded. How deep those wounds go depends entirely on what Activision delivers in 2026.