Console Cutover Crunch: Call of Duty Drops PS4/Xbox One Support

Bad news for fans of the popular action game franchise Call of Duty. New titles in the series will no longer be released on older-generation gaming consoles such as PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. The brand recently confirmed on social media that its next game is not being developed for PS4.

Shift to the new generation
For a long time, developer Activision Blizzard produced games for both older and newer console generations. Even last year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was playable across all platforms. However, to maintain technological advancement and avoid limitations in graphics and features, the company is now focusing exclusively on modern consoles such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Rising prices amid economic strain
Due to the global economic slowdown and an ongoing RAM market crisis influenced by artificial intelligence, gaming console prices have surged sharply. The PS5, launched in 2020, is now priced at $650—around $150 higher than its launch price. As a result, many average gamers are unable to afford new consoles. Sony reported that PS5 sales dropped by 16 percent during the 2025 holiday season compared to 2024.

Another setback for Game Pass users
In another blow for gamers, Call of Duty titles will no longer be available on day one via Xbox Game Pass. This means players will now need to purchase new releases separately at a significant cost.

Speculation around the next release
Although no official announcement has been made yet, rumors suggest that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 may be released this year. A teaser for Black Ops 7 was revealed in June last year, so gamers are expecting a first glimpse of the next installment as early as next month.

According to analysts, while the decision to drop older consoles is technologically justified, it is likely to impose a significant financial burden on ordinary gamers in the current global economic climate.

DBTech/BMT/OR