Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 marks a major turning point for Activision's blockbuster shooter franchise. When the game launches on October 26, it will become the first mainline Call of Duty title in years to skip the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, leaving millions of players on last-generation hardware unable to jump into the newest entry.

Developed by Infinity Ward, Modern Warfare 4 continues the rebooted storyline that began with 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, bringing Captain Price and Task Force 141 back for another installment. This time, however, the game is launching exclusively on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Modern Warfare 4 Drops Last-Generation Consoles
Although the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S launched in 2020, Activision continued supporting the PS4 and Xbox One throughout the early years of the current console generation. That support officially ends with Modern Warfare 4.

While Sony has sold more than 93 million PS5 consoles, the PlayStation 4 remains one of the best-selling consoles ever, with lifetime sales exceeding 117 million units. That means millions of players still game on PS4 and will miss out on this year's Call of Duty unless they upgrade.

For the series itself, though, the move makes sense. By leaving aging hardware behind, Infinity Ward can fully focus on current-generation systems, allowing for larger-scale experiences and more advanced technology without being limited by decade-old consoles. Nearly six years into the current console generation, many fans have been waiting for Call of Duty to make this transition.

Upgrading Is More Expensive Than Ever

The downside is that the timing couldn't be much worse for players who haven't upgraded yet.

Ongoing hardware shortages, rising component costs, and broader global economic pressures have pushed the prices of gaming hardware higher than many expected. PlayStation 5 consoles remain expensive, Xbox hardware has also seen price increases, PC upgrades continue to cost more, and Nintendo is raising the price of the Switch 2 as well.

As a result, longtime Call of Duty fans still playing on last-generation consoles now face a much steeper cost of entry if they want to continue with the franchise.

Warzone Is Also Ending Support for PS4 and Xbox One

Modern Warfare 4 isn't the only reason Call of Duty players on older consoles will be left behind this year.

Activision has also confirmed that Call of Duty: Warzone will end support for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One shortly after Modern Warfare 4 launches. The transition is expected to happen alongside Warzone's first season tied to Modern Warfare 4, which is likely to begin in November.

Once that update arrives, the battle royale will no longer be playable on PS4 or Xbox One, effectively bringing Call of Duty's support for last-generation consoles to an end.

While the decision should allow Activision to better support the game's future with improved performance and new features, it also means millions of players will need newer hardware if they want to continue playing Call of Duty beyond 2026.