Sunday, 12 July 2026
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Call of Duty

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, 2026, on current-generation platforms and Nintendo Switch 2, with a Korean Peninsula setting and a DMZ extraction mode overhaul. Treyarch has a new co-leadership structure after Mark Gordon stepped down, and the studio is porting the original Black Ops and Black Ops II to PlayStation in July 2026.

Synthesized from 8 Yomimono stories · updated Jul 1

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the franchise's next major release, announced in late May 2026 with an October 23 launch date on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Infinity Ward is developing the title, which is set on the Korean Peninsula and follows two storylines: a North Korean invasion seen through a young South Korean soldier named Park, and Captain Price's pursuit of Makarov's backer. The multiplayer mode removes hip-fire bloom and introduces the Ballistic Authority system for more realistic weapon handling, along with a dynamic map mode called Kill Block that features over 500 layout patterns. Infinity Ward has stated the game will not feature clowny skins at launch or in subsequent seasons, a policy that responds to community criticism about cosmetic items breaking the game's world.

The DMZ extraction mode returns in Modern Warfare 4 as a fully supported third pillar. Set in a radioactive quarantine zone called Hajin on the Korean Peninsula, the mode introduces three play styles-Story Missions, Dynamic Operations, and Free Roam-along with a persistent inventory and player progression system. A Forward Operating Base lets players craft equipment and upgrade operators. A Living World system causes weather to worsen and enemy reinforcements to intensify as players defeat more foes, and a bounty system tracks aggressive PvP players. A playtest is scheduled for July 16 to 19.

At Treyarch, studio head Mark Gordon stepped down after 22 years, having led the studio since May 2005 and overseen the entire Black Ops series. The studio's new leadership is co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both longtime Treyarch veterans. Treyarch also announced that the original Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II will be ported to current PlayStation hardware in July 2026, handled in partnership with Iron Galaxy, with all three modes-Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies-intact. In Black Ops 7, Nicolas Cage joined as a playable operator in the Season 04 Reloaded update launching June 26, obtained through a premium event pass track. Separately, at a California Senate hearing on the Protect Our Games Act, ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons stated that community servers for Call of Duty and Minecraft are illegal and constitute piracy, a position the ESA later clarified in an email to Kotaku.

Key facts

Next mainline title
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. ↗
Setting
The campaign is set on the modern-day Korean Peninsula, following a young South Korean soldier named Park and a parallel story with Captain Price. ↗
DMZ mode details
The DMZ extraction mode returns as a fully supported mode with three play styles, a persistent inventory, a Living World system, and a bounty system for PvP players. ↗
Cosmetic policy
Infinity Ward stated that Modern Warfare 4 will not feature clowny skins at launch or in subsequent seasons. ↗
Treyarch leadership change
Mark Gordon stepped down as Treyarch studio head after 22 years; Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller are the new co-studio heads. ↗
Black Ops and Black Ops II ports
The original Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II will be ported to current PlayStation hardware in July 2026 by Treyarch in partnership with Iron Galaxy, with all three modes included. ↗
Celebrity operator
Nicolas Cage appears as a playable operator in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 04 Reloaded, obtained through a premium event pass track. ↗
ESA stance on community servers
ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons stated at a California Senate hearing that community servers for Call of Duty and Minecraft are illegal and constitute piracy. ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

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2d ago

Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II Get Quiet PS5/PS4 Ports at 5,900 Yen Each

Activision released PS5 and PS4 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II on July 10, 2026, without prior fanfare. Each game is priced at 5,900 yen including tax, and PlayStation Plus subscribers can purchase them at 50 percent off until August 7, bringing the price to 2,950 yen. The ports include the single-player campaign, competitive multiplayer, and the Zombies horde mode. They are straight ports, not remasters, and were handled by Iron Galaxy, the studio known for Switch ports of Skyrim and Overwatch and work on The Last of Us Part II Remastered. The original games launched in 2010 and 2012, respectively. According to reviews cited by Game Spark, the ports run well with fast loading and matchmaking, but the standard $40 price drew criticism, with some suggesting the discounted PS Plus price should have been the baseline. The PS5/PS4 versions do not support cross-play and require a PlayStation Plus subscription for multiplayer. Certain features from the originals, such as Wager Match and Theater Mode in Black Ops, have been removed. The games are also available on PC and Xbox platforms.

Jul 2

PS Plus July Free Games Include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the July 2026 free game lineup for PlayStation Plus subscribers on July 2. The three titles available from July 7 to August 3 are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III - Cross-Gen Bundle, For the King II, and CrossCode. All three are playable on PS5 and PS4. The lineup is for the overseas version of the service; the Japanese free game lineup may differ. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is the third game in the rebooted Modern Warfare series, featuring a campaign that continues the story of Task Force 141 against Vladimir Makarov, multiplayer with returning maps, and a cooperative Zombies mode. For the King II is a turn-based roguelite RPG sequel set in the kingdom of Fahrul, supporting solo or four-player online co-op. CrossCode is a 2D action RPG with pixel art graphics, set inside a fictional MMO called CrossWorlds, where players control the amnesiac protagonist Lea. The June free games remain available until July 6.

Jul 1

Esa Lobbyist Calls Community Servers 'Illegal' at Stop Killing Games Hearing

At a California Senate hearing on the 'Protect Our Games Act,' ESA Vice President Jennifer Gibbons interrupted a lawmaker to state that community servers for 'Minecraft' and 'Call of Duty' are 'illegal' and constitute piracy. The bill, which aimed to keep games playable after service termination, passed the Assembly but failed in the Senate. The ESA later clarified its position on private servers in an email to Kotaku.

Jun 22

Nicolas Cage Joins Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as a Playable Operator

Activision announced on June 23 that Nicolas Cage will appear in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as a new operator in the Season 04 Reloaded update launching June 26. He is the face of the Summer of Action event and is obtained through a premium event pass track that includes an exclusive skin, emote, and finishing move. The update also adds a Japanese-style zombie map, a new multiplayer map, and a remastered map.

Jun 18

Original Call of Duty Black Ops and Black Ops 2 Coming to PlayStation in July 2026

Treyarch announced on June 18 that the first two games in the Black Ops series, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, will be ported to current PlayStation hardware in July 2026. The ports are being handled in partnership with Iron Galaxy. Both titles will include all three modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. The original Black Ops, released in 2010, is set during the Cold War and follows CIA operatives including Alex Mason. It introduced the iconic map Nuketown, which became a series staple. The sequel, Black Ops II, released in 2012, spans two time periods, the 1980s and 2025, and features the series' first multiple-ending campaign based on player choices. Specific details about which PlayStation hardware (such as PS5 or PS4) will be supported and pricing have not been disclosed.

Jun 16

Treyarch Studio Head Mark Gordon Steps Down After 22 Years

Mark Gordon, the head of Call of Duty: Black Ops developer Treyarch, has stepped down after 22 years at the studio. The announcement was made via official social media channels. Gordon had led the studio since May 2005, overseeing the development of numerous Call of Duty titles including Call of Duty 2: Big Red One, Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: World at War, and the entire Black Ops series. Under his leadership, Treyarch introduced technical innovations such as the Super Terrain system in 2018's Black Ops 4, which supported up to 100 players on a single map, and the OmniMovement system in 2024's Black Ops 6, which enabled smooth movement in all directions. The studio's new leadership will be co-studio heads Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both longtime Treyarch veterans with over a decade of experience as Chief Operating Officer and Production Director, respectively. The studio's message thanked Gordon for his leadership and friendship. As of the time of reporting, Gordon's LinkedIn profile still lists him as Treyarch studio head, and his next role has not been disclosed.

Jun 6

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Mode Details Reveal Full Extraction Shooter Overhaul

Activision and Infinity Ward have revealed full details on the new DMZ mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, scheduled for release on October 23, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. The mode, set after the campaign on the Korean Peninsula, takes place in a radioactive quarantine zone called Hajin. It introduces three play styles: Story Missions with set objectives, Dynamic Operations with randomized goals, and Free Roam for unrestricted exploration. A persistent inventory and player progression system are new additions, with a Forward Operating Base (FOB) or Hub where players craft equipment and upgrade operators. A Living World system causes weather to worsen and enemy reinforcements to intensify as players defeat more foes. A bounty system tracks aggressive PvP players, placing bounties that others can claim. A tourniquet system acts as an extra life, and players who die can pay in-game currency to rescue their operator. A playtest is scheduled for July 16 to 19.

Jun 1

Infinity Ward States No Clowny Skins for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Infinity Ward has stated that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not feature clowny skins at launch or in subsequent seasons. The policy responds to criticism about cosmetic items breaking the game's world. The title launches October 23 on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch 2.

May 28

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Announced, Set on Korean Peninsula

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was announced, set on the modern-day Korean Peninsula with a campaign following two storylines: a North Korean invasion of the South and Captain Price's pursuit of Makarov's backer. The game is developed by Infinity Ward and launches October 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

May 28

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Announced, Set on Korean Peninsula

Activision and Infinity Ward announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on May 29, 2026, with a release date of October 23, 2026. The game is set on the Korean Peninsula, where a full-scale North Korean invasion triggers a global crisis. The campaign follows a young South Korean soldier named Park and his unit as they fight for survival, while a parallel story follows Captain John Price, now a fugitive operating outside Task Force 141. The multiplayer mode removes hip-fire bloom, a system where bullets randomly scatter during hip-fire, and introduces the Ballistic Authority system for more realistic weapon handling. A new dynamic map mode called Kill Block features over 500 layout patterns that change during matches. The game will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with no previous-generation console versions. The extraction mode DMZ returns, with details to be revealed on June 7. Pre-orders are open, with a Vault Edition available at a discount for returning players.