Will Call of Duty 2026 Be a Complete Copy of Controversial MW II?

Infinity Ward may be repeating history. New rumours suggest the new entry, Call of Duty 2026, reportedly titled Modern Warfare IV, will feature a multiplayer experience nearly identical to 2022’s polarising Modern Warfare II.

Reportedly, the upcoming title’s multiplayer is currently a “complete copy” of its predecessor. For veterans who criticised the 2022 release for its sluggish pacing, this news might be discouraging.

Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer in its current state is currently a complete copy of Modern Warfare II except for no perk charging system and less ADS/slide penalties… https://t.co/XWQtp5QLLV

— Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) December 14, 2025

Call of Duty 2026 Gameplay: What’s Returning & What’s Changing

The leak indicates that Modern Warfare IV retains the core design philosophy of Modern Warfare II. This likely means the return of a shorter Time to Kill (TTK), heavy visual recoil, and a minimap that omits red dots for unsuppressed fire. These features previously drew heavy criticism for lowering the skill gap between casual and competitive players.

However, Infinity Ward is reportedly adjusting specific pain points. The leak highlights two key changes:

• No Perk Charging: Unlike MW II, perks will not require time to charge up during a match.
• Reduced Penalties: The game will feature less harsh penalties for Aim Down Sights (ADS) and sliding mechanics.

Despite these tweaks, the foundational movement remains similar to the slower, “tactical” style of the 2022 instalment.

The Retention Risk: Ignoring the Warning Signs?

Reverting to the Modern Warfare II formula carries significant risk. While the 2022 game generated over $1 billion in its first 10 days, it struggled significantly with player retention.

Data reveals that Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2 lost approximately 56% of their PC player base in just 18 days. Player counts on Steam plummeted from a peak of 488,897 in late November 2022 to just 217,328 by early December. While technical crashes contributed to this exodus, many players also cited dissatisfaction with the game’s restrictive movement and visibility issues.

With only 11 months remaining until the expected late 2026 release, a radical design pivot seems unlikely.

Platform Shifts: Dropping Old Gen & Adding Nintendo

Beyond gameplay, the leak also suggests major hardware changes. Modern Warfare IV will reportedly drop support for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This marks the end of an era, as the franchise finally moves away from consoles that are now over 12 years old.

Simultaneously, the title may debut on the Nintendo Switch 2. This aligns with Microsoft’s February 2023 commitment to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms for the next decade. Reportedly, it is kind of confirmed that the Switch 2 will be involved, though specifics remain scarce.

Activision typically reveals new entries by mid-year. Fans should expect official confirmation by mid-2026.