The Call of Duty franchise’s major 2026 release may see a full launch on PlayStation 4 according to recent leaks claiming early versions of the game rumored to be titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 are being playtested on the legacy console hardware.
Known Call of Duty leaker HeyImAlaix who has a positive track record datamining content such as skins and upcoming updates stated on social media platform X that the title is currently undergoing testing on PlayStation 4, suggesting Activision and developer Infinity Ward intend to bring the 2026 entry to older consoles despite the availability of current-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X hardware.
The claim stands in contrast to previous reports from insider TheGhostOfHope who stated the game would not release on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. However the possibility of a PlayStation 4 release would continue Activision’s cross-generation strategy as Call of Duty Black Ops 7 released in 2025 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 and PC platforms.
Call of Duty insider charlieINTEL separately responded to questions on social media claiming that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is expected to launch in October 2026, which would fit with previous franchise releases and avoid clashing with Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto VI scheduled for release on November 19, 2026.
Community reaction to the possibility of PlayStation 4 support has been predominantly negative according to social media responses, with many users expressing concern that developing for hardware from 2013 could limit the graphical and technical potential of what should be a current-generation experience for the Modern Warfare series.
A reddit user tried to coax the complainers of the “why” it is a plausibility:
Comment
by
u/Loose_Society9485 from discussion
in
GamingLeaksAndRumours
The decision to support legacy hardware reflects ongoing market realities where millions of active PlayStation 4 units remain in homes globally, ensuring a larger player pool for matchmaking but requiring optimized assets and reduced graphical settings.
However, on the other hand, it might just be a rumor. As HeyImAlaix puts it:
Never said it was releasing there tho, just heard that and thought it was funny af https://t.co/98daeTJnEF
— Alaix (@HeyImAlaix) May 3, 2026
