Despite being over five years into the current console generation, it appears that Call of Duty 2025 may still launch on last-gen consoles, extending support for the PS4 and Xbox One well beyond expectations.
A Legacy of Extended Console Support
Call of Duty has a history of supporting older hardware long after newer consoles hit the market. A prime example is Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, which launched on PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2015, two years after the PS4 and Xbox One debuted. Now, a new report suggests that Activision is following a similar approach, potentially bringing the 2025 installment of the franchise to last-gen hardware—despite the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S being the main focus for modern gaming.
According to CharlieIntel, a reputable Call of Duty news source, development for PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game is already underway. The report states:
"Call of Duty 2025 could still release on PS4 and Xbox One, per sources. Supporting last-gen in 2025 is a wild decision, but from what we've heard, the game is in development for the old consoles."
Why Keep Supporting Last-Gen?
For some, this decision might seem unexpected—after all, most major publishers have shifted their focus to current-gen hardware. However, the massive PS4 player base provides a strong incentive for Activision to keep supporting it. In 2023, Sony revealed that over 49 million players were still actively using a PS4, making it one of the largest gaming communities worldwide.
While PS5 sales are closely tracking the PS4’s success (75 million vs. 76.5 million at the same point in their lifecycles), Xbox Series X/S sales have reportedly struggled, trailing behind Xbox One. This could be another reason Activision is considering a cross-generation release, ensuring they maximize their potential player base across all platforms.
Call of Duty’s Ecosystem & Warzone Concerns
One of the biggest factors influencing this decision may be Call of Duty’s unified launcher. Currently, all Call of Duty games are integrated into a single launcher across all platforms, making it seamless for players to transition between different titles. If Call of Duty 2025 were to skip last-gen, it could create complications within the ecosystem, potentially disrupting Warzone compatibility.
Warzone, the franchise’s hugely popular battle royale mode, remains cross-platform and is typically tied into that year’s main Call of Duty release. If 2025’s game is not available on PS4 and Xbox One, it could fragment the player base, forcing Activision to make tough decisions regarding support for older consoles.
Final Thoughts
If the rumors hold true, Call of Duty 2025 could be one of the last major AAA releases to support PS4 and Xbox One—five years after the release of current-gen consoles. While some may see this as holding the franchise back, others will welcome the opportunity to continue playing without upgrading hardware.
As of now, Activision has yet to confirm the report, but if Call of Duty 2025 does arrive on last-gen, it will continue the franchise’s legacy of keeping players engaged on older hardware for as long as possible.
Source: videogameschronicle.com
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