Xbox Delay Smashes Call of Duty's 2026 Plans—Microsoft's Chaos Forces Franchise Overhaul
Call of Duty's 2026 roadmap has been upended by Microsoft’s delayed next-gen Xbox console, according to leaker The Ghost of Hope.
The console’s original 2026 launch window—intended to coincide with Modern Warfare 4 and compete with Grand Theft Auto 6—has been pushed to 2027 due to global RAM/SSD shortages. This shift has “hurt” the franchise’s marketing plans, forcing Activision to pivot toward “more agile” releases.
EXCLUSIVE: Sources indicate to me that the delay on the next Xbox has "hurt" a lot of CODs marketing plans as they wanted Modern Warfare 4 to be a launch title and draw a lot of hype to compete with peoples attention alongside GTA VI.
— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) February 22, 2026
Because of this delay, the idea of two Call… pic.twitter.com/e7Ce6vOaBO
The Ghost of Hope claims Call of Duty: Zombies could emerge as a standalone title with multi-year support in 2026, bypassing the annual Call of Duty cycle.
Microsoft’s leadership reportedly wants the studio to decouple from yearly releases, a move that could reshape the franchise’s long-term strategy.
The next-gen Xbox, powered by a custom AMD APU, remains unnamed and faces production hurdles. Its delay has created a void in Microsoft’s console roadmap, leaving Call of Duty to recalibrate its timing and marketing approach for the 2027 window.
