A potential delay to Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox console could prompt a major shift in the release strategy for Call of Duty, including the potential launch of a standalone Zombies title, according to new claims from industry insider TheGhostOfHope.
In a Feb. 22 post on X (formerly Twitter), the reliable CoD leaker said sources indicated the delay has “hurt” several of Activision’s marketing plans. Among them was the reported intention for Modern Warfare 4 to serve as a flagship launch title for the new Xbox, making it as a key release to compete for consumer attention alongside Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled to launch on Nov. 19.
According to the leak, the shift in the console’s timeline has led Microsoft and Activision to reconsider their approach. One proposal reportedly under discussion is to release two separate Call of Duty titles in tandem with the next Xbox: a traditional Multiplayer-focused installment and a standalone Zombies game, presumably developed by Treyarch.
If accurate, the move would mark a notable break from the franchise’s long-running annualized model, in which Zombies has typically been included as part of a premium CoD package. A standalone Zombies experience could allow the mode to evolve independently with its own progression systems, live-service roadmap, and monetization model.
The reported approach has drawn comparisons to Activision’s 2016 rollout, when special editions of Infinite Warfare were bundled with Modern Warfare Remastered, effectively offering two experiences alongside one another.
Separate reports have suggested the next-generation Xbox may face a multi-year delay, with a possible launch window in 2027 or 2028, though Microsoft has not confirmed those claims.
Beyond release timing changes, the leak also points to bigger strategic adjustments under Microsoft’s ownership of Activision. According to TheGhostOfHope, Microsoft wants Activision to become more agile and less dependent on rigid annual release cycles.
The goal is to establish a faster, more streamlined development pipeline that can quickly respond to gaming trends. The insider suggested that a more flexible pipeline might have enabled Activision to better capitalize on the recent rise of extraction shooters, potentially through a more robust update to DMZ, the extraction-based mode introduced in Warzone 2.0.
Microsoft has not publicly addressed the rumored console delay or the reported changes to Call of Duty’s release roadmap. Activision has also yet to confirm the existence of Modern Warfare 4 or a standalone CoD Zombies project.
The reports about Activision eyeing a different release strategy for CoD surfaced a few days after a major leadership shake-up at Xbox. Phil Spencer, long regarded as the public face of Xbox, retired from Microsoft. His departure coincided with the resignation of erstwhile Xbox president Sarah Bond, while Asha Sharma, previously head of Microsoft’s AI Platform, was appointed CEO of Microsoft Gaming.
