Activision doubles down on plans for “premium” CoD release in 2023
Activision have reiterated their plans to release a “full annual premium” Call of Duty title in 2023, despite rumors that this year’s CoD will be a Modern Warfare 2 expansion.
Historically, a brand-new Call of Duty game has been released every year, usually delivering a fresh single-player campaign, new multiplayer content, and a third mode like Zombies or Spec Ops.
This all looked set to change in 2022, when a Bloomberg report said that CoD 2023 had been delayed and a free-to-play game would arrive to fill the gap. However, Activision’s Q2 report claimed the publisher would be “continuing development of new premium content planned for 2023 and beyond.”
The phrase “premium” content led many, including Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, to believe that the publisher was referring to paid DLC for Modern Warfare 2. But the company’s latest announcement seems to have suggested that a fully-fledged CoD release is coming in 2023.
In a February 6 financial report, the publisher said: “Across the Call of Duty franchise, our teams are working to amplify the success of the fourth quarter, with 2023 plans including even more engaging live services across platforms and the next full annual premium release in the blockbuster series.”
After the report was published, Jason Schreier responded to CharlieIntel to reaffirm his stance that CoD 2023 will be an extension of Modern Warfare 2, even if it is being billed as a full annual release.
“Not unfeasible to add content to something that started off as an expansion and sell it for $60-70,” said the Bloomberg journalist. “Either way the point is that it’s a continuation of MW2.”
While it’s unclear exactly what form CoD 2023 will take, multiple reports have suggested that it is being developed by Sledgehammer Games, who previously worked on Vanguard and WWII, with CoD 2024 supposedly coming from Treyarch.
Based on the usual release schedule, Treyarch’s next offering should have been set to drop later this year. However, following its delay, it appears that whatever Sledgehammer is cooking up will be the main CoD release for 2023.
Of course, this is all just speculation until Activision officially reveal the next project, so we’ll be sure to keep you updated with all the latest developments.
For more on what’s coming in the CoD franchise, take a look at everything we know about Warzone 2 Season 2 and Modern Warfare 2 Season 2.
Image credit: Activision