Call of Duty 2027 bets on a brand-new sub-series: neither Black Ops nor Modern Warfare

Call of Duty is getting ready to break one of its best-known habits. According to Dexerto, the 2027 instalment will belong neither to Black Ops nor to Modern Warfare, the two brands that have dominated the franchise for years, but will instead kick off an entirely new sub-series. The most striking part isn't just the change itself, but the reason behind it: Activision acknowledges that a large part of the community is tired of seeing the same series return season after season.

For those of us who experience the shooter from the competitive side, this news matters twice over. A new sub-series could mean a different identity, new mechanics and, potentially, a meta reset that affects everything from amateur tournaments to the way content creators plan their schedules. It's also an unusual admission from a company that has long preferred to play it safe.

What you need to know

• The 2027 Call of Duty will launch a new sub-franchise, according to Dexerto.
• It won't be a new Black Ops or a new Modern Warfare.
• Activision acknowledges that fans have grown tired of seeing the same series repeat year after year.
• The source doesn't yet reveal the project's name, setting or lead studio.

Why this shift matters

For a long time, Call of Duty has worked like a wheel turning on familiar brands. Black Ops and Modern Warfare became synonymous with the franchise itself, with sequels, reboots and follow-ups that guaranteed sales but, over the years, also created the feeling of playing variations of the same thing. That fatigue is exactly what Activision now seems to accept, according to Dexerto's report.

A new sub-series opens the door to reinventing elements the community has been asking for: a different gameplay pace, a fresh narrative approach or a progression system that doesn't feel recycled. That said, it's worth staying cautious. The available information confirms the change of brand, but doesn't explain how deep it will go. A new name doesn't guarantee a new game, and the industry's history is full of releases that changed the cover without changing what's underneath.

Who it affects

The impact reaches several groups within the community:

• Competitive players: a change of sub-series usually brings tweaks to movement, weapons and maps, forcing players to relearn routines and strategies.
• Teams and organisations: roster building and practice will depend on what's revealed about the new gameplay system.
• Content creators: new things spark curiosity, and curiosity draws an audience. Being among the first to break it down can make all the difference.
• Casual players: those who drifted away because of the repetition could have a reason to come back.

Our take

Here in the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we see this as good news with an asterisk. Activision admitting fan fatigue is a valuable step in itself: acknowledging the problem is the first requirement for solving it. For years, the general feeling has been that the franchise was living off the nostalgia of its biggest names, and that ends up dampening the excitement you feel waiting for each release.

The asterisk lies in the execution. As competitive players, we care less about what the game is called than about what happens once we load into a match: solid netcode, weapon balance that doesn't rely on emergency patches, and an experience that rewards skill. If the new sub-series only changes the look and keeps the same bad habits, the initial hype will last only as long as it takes the community to figure that out. And trust us, in competitive play that gets figured out fast.

For content creators, on the other hand, the opportunity is clear. A new brand means uncharted territory: guides from scratch, first impressions, theories and debates about where it's headed. Whoever shows up prepared will be able to build an audience around something nobody owns yet. Our advice is to keep a close eye on every official announcement and not take anything for granted until we see the game in action.

What do you think?

A new sub-series could be the breath of fresh air Call of Duty needed, or simply a change of label. The team is already split on this, so we want to hear from you. Do you think Activision will really dare to innovate, or will it fall back on the same old formula? Let us know in the team chat or on our Discord.