Call of Duty Dev Explains Why Black Ops 7 Is Still Releasing on PS4 and Xbox One

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 developer Treyarch Studios has addressed concerns about the shooter’s release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, despite the two consoles being over a decade old. While many fans are questioning why Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is still being released on aging hardware, it isn’t the only series or AAA title to continue supporting last-generation consoles, and there seems to be a very simple reason for it.

Rumors that Call of Duty would continue to support the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One into 2026 began circulating long before the reveal of Black Ops 7, and those rumors were then made official with the game’s first trailer earlier this year. Almost instantly, comments began rolling in from fans questioning why developers Treyarch Studios would hold the series back from its full potential by still releasing on 12-year-old hardware. While the shooter’s biggest competitor, Battlefield 6, will only release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, Treyarch has now explained why it’s still supporting last-gen consoles after all these years.

Here's Why Black Ops 7 Is Releasing on Last-Gen Consoles

Twelve years later, the PlayStation 4 continues to receive new updates. But it’s fair to say that very few still expected the console, along with the Xbox One, to continue receiving new titles when we are now in the latter half of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S’ life cycles. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will be just one of the many new games still supporting last-gen consoles, and developer Treyarch Studios has now revealed why it’s choosing to do so. In a new interview with CharlieIntel, the studio said that a “shocking number of people play it,” referring to the PS4 and Xbox One. “We still feel like we can make an experience where the gameplay experience is largely there. Obviously, the visual experience is nowhere near where it needs to be,” Treyarch admitted.

The exact number of Call of Duty players still playing on last-gen consoles is unknown, but it must be a remarkably high number for Treyarch and other Call of Duty studios to continue supporting them. However, it’s not the only series doing so. Rumors continue to circulate about a possible PlayStation 4 version of Resident Evil Requiem, which is currently set to release for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch on February 27, 2026. There’s also Marvel Rivals, the latest live-service title to take the world by storm, which was also released on PS4 earlier this month.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is continuing its support for last-gen consoles, but many are still patiently waiting for news on a Nintendo Switch 2 version. During Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, the company announced a 10-year partnership with Nintendo that would see new Call of Duty titles released on its platforms, i.e, the Nintendo Switch. However, two years later, fans are still waiting for this partnership to materialize. A recent report from a credible insider claimed that the shooter wouldn’t be available on the Switch 2 at launch, which means it could be another year without Call of Duty on Nintendo.