Activision releases Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 ahead of GTA launch

Publisher Activision released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 23, 2026, as the company seeks to rebuild its fan base following a disappointing response to the previous installment. BBC News reported that the new title arrives amid stiff competition for player attention, with rival release Grand Theft Auto 6 expected weeks away. [1][5][6][11]

The latest title features missions that include parkour across Manhattan rooftops, vehicle chases in Paris, and a final battle at a North Korean air base, according to the Guardian. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox. [5]

BBC News reported that Call of Duty has consistently placed at or near the top of United States video game sales charts every year since 2009. However, poor reviews for the single-player campaign mode in the 2025 entry led some multiplayer fans to shift to competing titles. [1][6]

Call of Duty is a long-running first-person shooter franchise published by Activision that first debuted in 2003. GamesIndustry.biz and Mezha.net both reported that franchises such as Call of Duty and EA Sports FC face the highest risk of losing active players when Grand Theft Auto 6 launches. [9][10][11]