A significant shift in the gaming landscape may be on the horizon as reports suggest that the highly popular Call of Duty franchise is finally making its way to Nintendo consoles. Following years of absence, a new title is rumored to be in development for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, with a potential release targeted for 2026. This development aligns with Microsoft’s previous commitments to bring the series to Nintendo platforms.
Key Takeaways
- A Call of Duty game is reportedly nearing completion for a Nintendo release.
- The anticipated launch window is set for 2026, potentially early in the year.
- The game is expected to be developed for the Nintendo Switch 2.
- This move follows a 10-year legal agreement between Microsoft and Nintendo.
A Long-Awaited Arrival
For over a decade, Call of Duty has been absent from Nintendo platforms, with the last release being a port of Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Wii U in 2013. However, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a commitment was made to bring the franchise to Nintendo players. This commitment was further solidified by a 10-year legal agreement signed in 2023, promising day-one releases with full feature parity on Nintendo platforms.
Development and Release Speculation
Recent reports, citing sources like Windows Central’s Jez Corden, indicate that the “first CoD Switch version is nearly done” and is “on the way.” While an exact release date is unconfirmed, the target appears to be 2026. Corden has suggested the game is “hitting milestones,” a positive sign for its development progress. It remains unclear whether this will be a port of an existing Call of Duty title, such as Warzone or a mainline entry like Black Ops 7, or a new, bespoke game for the Nintendo hardware.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Factor
The emergence of the more powerful Nintendo Switch 2 is seen as a crucial enabler for bringing a demanding franchise like Call of Duty to Nintendo’s ecosystem. Previous hardware limitations of the original Switch were cited as a barrier to entry. The exact nature of the game’s release—whether it will be optimized for the Switch 2 or potentially available on both generations—is still a subject of speculation. Some reports suggest that development might have been influenced by restricted access to Switch 2 development kits.
What to Expect
While official confirmation from Nintendo or Activision is still pending, the consistent rumors and Corden’s insights suggest that Call of Duty’s arrival on Nintendo hardware is a strong possibility. Fans are eager to see how the franchise will perform on the new console and whether it will live up to the expectations set by its counterparts on other platforms. Potential announcement venues could include future Nintendo Direct presentations or Xbox Developer Direct events.
Via Jez Cordon on X
