According to a leaker, Microsoft is setting up a committee to determine future Call of Duty changes and improvements after Black Ops 6.

From the looks of it, Call of Duty’s development has been largely driven by the creative leadership of individual production teams working together. Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer games have all taken turns leading the development of CoD games in a given year.

The process of alternating studios has allowed each year’s entry to remain fresh, with each team choosing what to innovate on and how to try to move CoD forward.

However, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has raised many questions about how the series will be handled in the foreseeable future, and it appears that the company is trying to find paths that result in a more consistent product.

Microsoft is still mum on the matter, but leaked details suggest that Black Ops 6 could mark the end of an era, or perhaps the beginning of a new one.

Activision

A Twitter/X post from the Call of Duty leaker TheGhostofHope claims that a “committee” formed by Microsoft will decide on future franchise changes, including which features and systems debut and stay.

Individual teams such as Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer and Treyarch will have the floor to make suggestions.

Still, TheGhostofHope reports that Microsoft’s committee will get the final call on whether, say, new Omni-Movement add-on left in the game after Black Ops 6.

Additionally, it is claimed that senior executives have instructed developers “not to innovate in areas such as UI, Prestige and (and) certain game features.”

Instead, their focus on innovation is directed toward “maps, modes, (and) storytelling because that’s where (Microsoft) wants the creativity to come from.”

Activision

TheGhostofHope’s reporting is still unsubstantiated, so it’s worth taking the news with a grain of salt. However, if there is any truth to the leak, Call of Duty’s post-Black Ops 6 days could prove interesting as decisions by a committee could result in a more unified vision.

Who would sit on the committee and how these people would manage the brand is not yet known. Additionally, Microsoft may choose to keep such information close to its chest.

Regardless, fans have mixed opinions about what this could mean. TacticalBrit’s response to the leaker’s post reads: “This is best for the franchise. Should have happened years ago.” Meanwhile, another fan said they “can see this being good and bad.”