Activision Shuts Down Rumors of Standalone Call of Duty Zombies Game

In an unusual move, Activision has publicly dismissed speculation about a standalone Call of Duty Zombies title. The publisher, known for keeping quiet on rumors, used its official Call of Duty social media account to address claims that surfaced earlier this week.

The controversy began when Call of Duty insider TheGhostofHope suggested on social media that Activision was preparing two separate games for the launch of Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console, expected no earlier than 2027. According to the leak, these would include a traditional Call of Duty multiplayer experience and a standalone Zombies game, likely developed by Treyarch. The release strategy was compared to when Infinite Warfare and Modern Warfare Remastered launched together.

Gaming blog Dexerto picked up the story, prompting Activision to respond with a brief but clear message: "The rumor factory working overtime. This ain't it." While the denial is notable given Activision's typical silence on such matters, its vagueness leaves room for interpretation. It's unclear whether the entire claim is false or if plans have simply changed.

Activision's response specifically targeted discussions about the standalone Zombies title being a launch title for Microsoft's next console. The original rumor also hinted that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, widely anticipated as this year's entry, might no longer be a launch title for the next-gen Xbox due to shifting hardware plans. However, there's no indication that Microsoft plans to release new consoles this year.

This speculation comes amid expected changes to Call of Duty's release schedule following Activision's commitment to overhaul the franchise after Black Ops 7's underperformance. The publisher has vowed to avoid releasing consecutive games from the same sub-brand (like Modern Warfare or Black Ops), which could impact future annual releases.

As for Microsoft's hardware plans, the company has repeatedly confirmed that new consoles are in development. In 2024, former Xbox president Sarah Bond emphasized that Microsoft was "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation." A year later, Microsoft announced its partnership with AMD on the next-generation Xbox project. Recent reports suggest a 2027 launch might be a conservative estimate, with potential delays possible.

Meanwhile, Sony is reportedly considering pushing the PlayStation 6 launch to 2028 or later due to the ongoing AI-driven chip crisis, adding to the uncertainty in the console market.