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Activision and Infinity Ward have just quietly announced the next Call of Duty projects, confirming sequels to the massive hits Modern Warfare (2019) and the free-to-play Warzone. The timing is a little unusual and there"s not even a new trailer to accompany the reveal. Yearly Call of Duty announcements usually land in the summer, but the parties involved are trying something new this time around.
Powering the two games will be a new engine, and according to Infinity Ward co-studio head Pat Kelly (via ChalieIntel), the studio has been working on these new tools for years. There will also be better cohesion between the two games thanks to the shared engine, something that has become a problem in the current Warzone and crossovers with yearly released Call of Duty titles.
The new Warzone will feature a brand-new setting, a "massive evolution of Battle Royale", as well as a mysterious sandbox mode that was not further elaborated on. Meanwhile, Modern Warfare should arrive with the standard campaign and multiplayer offerings. Infinity Ward is taking the lead in developing both products.
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare sequel will be hitting PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms in fall 2022. The new Warzone experience does not have a release window attached to it yet, though it should be free-to-play just like the original. For those in the dark, Microsoft recently confirmed plans to continue the franchise in rival platforms after its Activision Blizzard acquisition.
The most recent entry in the long-running shooter series was Call of Duty Vanguard developed by Sledgehammer Games. While packed with content, it felt more like an expansion pack to Modern Warfare with no fresh features to get excited about. We will have to wait and see what Infinity Ward will deliver in their latest projects.