Guitar Hero IV, Call of Duty 5 in the pipe

Activision Blizzard confirms recently announced merger will not disrupt plans for new iterations in popular franchises.

In a conference call with investors earlier today, Vivendi CEO Jean-Bernard Levy fleshed out more specifics on the $19 billion deal that will join Activision and Blizzard into one of the largest third-party publishers in the world. While analysts reacted favorably to the nitty-gritty financial details, what most gamers are primarily interested in is the future of the two publisher's popular franchises.

For Activision's stable of franchises, at least, the future looks pretty much as expected. In an industry note parsing out the benefits of the merger, Activision Blizzard unsurprisingly revealed the Guitar Hero and Call of Duty franchises would each receive new installments. Aside from being confirmed as Guitar Hero IV and Call of Duty 5, no other details on the games emerged.

The two franchises have been a boon in recent months for Activision. After tallying $115 million in first week sales, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock went on to be the best-selling cross-platform game for the month of October. Likewise, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has enjoyed both critical and commercial success, contributing to Activision's premerger upward revision of its 2008 fiscal outlook.

Activision Blizzard also reaffirmed that a game featuring the James Bond license was in development, Bizarre Creations was still at work on a racing title, and new Tony Hawk, Marvel, and DreamWorks titles were on the horizon.

378 Comments

  • Kriz48

    Posted Sep 5, 2008 11:02 am PT

    I'm Totally Agree with you LegendaryGamer0. Actually I love World War 2 Games, but of course I'm glad I never experent it. But the point is that it's another feel with the weapons and language, so it a bit better then the hi-tech games.

  • LegendaryGamer0

    Posted Aug 10, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    Oh my god...WHY IS EVERYONE MAD THAT CALL OF DUTY IS GOING BACK TO WWII?!?!

    I love call of duty.I don't care if they go to back to the civil war!
    I am still going to buy the game.

    And I don't know if anyone realized this but we will be able to use the JAPANESE weapons!!!

  • megamaster32

    Posted Jul 28, 2008 8:26 am PT

    Go activision call of duty world at war lookkng forward to.

  • connor52

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 3:38 pm PT

    i hope you can be the chineese and the australians!!!!!!!!!!

  • NoseWeed619

    Posted Jul 12, 2008 2:27 pm PT

    Seems like Activision is in good condition with the Call of Duty series, the Guitar Hero series, the Tony Hawk series, AND the Marvel series.

    I bet they make some serious cash....

  • F-unit2008

    Posted Jul 4, 2008 8:54 am PT

    11/11/08

  • AsianDynasty

    Posted Jul 3, 2008 12:40 am PT

    So its gonna be 4 player coop online and 2 local.So can 2 people on the same 360 go online?Is online still gonna be like 12-16 multiplayer?

  • videogames5000

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 10:46 am PT

    i really like the way its going to be hope its like the live in c0d 4 but dont u think that it ill turn out like rainbow six vegas 2?

  • Khizer23

    Posted Jun 23, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    yes it will
    "Competitive multiplayer, meanwhile, looks to be a bit more familiar. The system of persistent leveling and character perks used in Modern Warfare has been borrowed and enhanced with a number of new upgrades,"
    gamespot review

  • CurbWax

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 3:36 pm PT

    it looks sick! but will the Live be as good as COD4?

  • Diehardgames2

    Posted Jun 22, 2008 3:10 pm PT

    Hopefully this CoD will be as good as CoD 4.

  • batmanboy11

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 12:50 pm PT

    If they do COD right (aka not sucking) hoorah! The Bond lisence seems interesting....

  • chadwick2806

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 2:40 am PT

    Oh, and if they planned on making Game Awarads again this year, and holding the title of "Game of the Year", there is no way a WWII game will do that against Epic bringin out Gears 2 in November, and who knows what else is planned

  • chadwick2806

    Posted Jun 21, 2008 2:32 am PT

    S**T man, Activision made a great choice going with Infinity Ward and making CoD 4, our fantastic Modern Warfare. But everybody who is anybody knows that CoD 3 tanked. I think the absolute worst thing they could do right now is make 5 another WWII game. We've had enough MoH (Medal of Honor) games, as it alone had a good 12 sequels. And why go with Treyarch?? Infinity, although low on employees if you all have been watching your CoD4 message board, kicked a$$. But truly, not much will be able to out-do an M-4 red tiger with an ACog scope. Seriously, think this one thru Activision.

  • LPoPPin15

    Posted Jun 20, 2008 6:39 am PT

    WTFF???? HOW THEY GONNA GO FROM MODERN WAR BACK TO THE OLD S*** THE GUNS ARE GONNA SUCK A** I HOPE THEY CHANGE THIS!!!!

  • Sameo45

    Posted Jun 17, 2008 8:53 pm PT

    4 player co-op is a very nice add on to the series but the ww2 again. You can't be serious. Call of duty is one of the few to do it well but modern warfare is just much better. Customizing guns is one of the best things CoD4 had. How will you do that with the lame tommy guns and kar98's. I hope theycome to their senses. what will this be, the fifth time. make something NEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • CyberCurse

    Posted Jun 15, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    I know that WWII has been almost played-out, but I think that Call of Duty has done it better than others. I haven't played a lot of WWII games, but I think that there are some big battles that haven't yet been in video games, such as Kohima.

  • RockaWuzHur

    Posted Jun 11, 2008 9:23 pm PT

    WWII again? Christ..... Haven't we had enough?

  • blairstheman

    Posted Jun 11, 2008 2:18 pm PT

    I can never say no to a WWII fps, especially a next gen one, but I'm sorta looking forward to having another great modern fps. PS- Wolfie600, i agree, but thats even if the series goes that far.

  • kee101

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 4:37 pm PT

    Cant wait for COD5 i wish it would be here tommorow. im looking for Call of Duty: Advenced Warfare. That would be cool!! Although it would get pretty retarded if they had laser guns or something. CANT WAIT!

  • RedCoat99

    Posted Jun 7, 2008 3:29 am PT

    We need a decent vietnam game, COD would really put all the others to shame.
    I dont think it will be ww2 after taking COD "in a new direction"

  • elmstterror

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    I want Call of Duty 5: Civil Warfare...I want muskets

  • Lemonsquare

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:01 am PT

    Adihalo, MoH: Rising Sun wasn't the only WW II game set in the pacific, so was MoH: Pacific Assault... The reason CoD 3 was so bad, was because it was for last generation consoles as well as next, so unless they made two completely different games it wouldn't change, just the graphics.

    I wouldn't mind another WW II CoD game, I don't want one though. =\

  • Lemonsquare

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 8:56 am PT

    Vietnam war maybe? Really looking forward to CoD 5.

  • juliecms

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 1:14 pm PT

    I wont care if its in WWII if they set in the Pacific Theater, there are only a few games set over there.

  • Derek1177

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 8:07 am PT

    I would like 1 more modern setting and then maybe a call of duty 6 set in the future. Guitar hero 4 which is guitar hero world tour is also gonna be real cool. supposed to have drums and microphone added into it.

  • nf1994

    Posted May 30, 2008 5:50 am PT

    im not too botherd where its set but ww2 is abit overused.

  • H_U_R_D

    Posted May 27, 2008 3:44 pm PT

    how bout a modern civil war...instead of a ww2 game for the nine billionth time

  • Smokeybeta

    Posted May 27, 2008 2:07 pm PT

    I already heard talk waay back in January about COD 5 being based on WWII if the Germans/Axis won the war! We're all speaking german!

  • Fable_fan88

    Posted May 26, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    maybe a koran conflict war... or a future war against china or something... or to make it more dramatic make the war here at home in America, like in the streets fo big cities like, NYC... or LA, DC, Atlanta, Miami ... i mean if they can do a china town map on Cod4 they could do a war at home... idk just a thought... but GH4 is going to be **** awesome.

  • caedmon04

    Posted May 26, 2008 9:54 am PT

    No More WWII...damn enough already. I think it should be modern warfare but it different parts of the world...like have a map where it's snowing or in the middle of a rain forest...that would be cool...and what about artillery...when can we call in arty...

  • Wolfie600

    Posted May 25, 2008 8:18 pm PT

    Anyonelse think they should stop putting the numbers to the Call of duty name, it looks stupid in a few years its gonna be like Call Of duty 9-Future Warfare

  • Champ721

    Posted May 22, 2008 9:00 pm PT

    Call of Duty 5 better be made by Infinity Ward and not stupid Treyarch, otherwise I won't even bother with it.

  • Sk8rlink

    Posted May 22, 2008 7:40 pm PT

    Man if they really drop the great setting of modern warfare for COD 5 and return to WWII they should at least in the last mission let you kill Hitler or maybe halo 2 style story where you play allies or nazi but do not repeat COD2

  • faToe

    Posted May 22, 2008 7:18 pm PT

    hopefully they don't go back into old school war. I agree that they should make another modern warfare on the series....

  • imtubbs

    Posted May 22, 2008 9:49 am PT

    PLEASE PLEASE!!!! don't go back to WWII either stick to the whole modern warfare deal or go FUTURE SHOOTIN' . My next plea to the makers of COD5 is to try as hard as they can to do a great experience in COD5 that makes you say "WOW!" like in COD4 with the helicopter scene . My Final plea is to try to make a AMAZING gameing experience even for last-gen console gamers (such as the ps2). Thanks, Tubbs (no its not my real name)

  • JMAN320

    Posted May 20, 2008 7:50 pm PT

    WWII was great in the first call of dutys but now im sick of it! Keep with modern warfare

  • chaucerT

    Posted May 20, 2008 3:24 pm PT

    No more WWII it has been played out. If they need to go back into time why not go for Vietnam or is that still too much of a touchy subject?

  • CylonAndrew

    Posted May 17, 2008 7:53 am PT

    I hope that we FINALY get a World War ONE shoter, though, it would be like kill the rat befor it eats your roting feet or don't go into the mud or you will eat a machine gun sanwitch. Humm, it would be kinda cool.

  • threedown

    Posted May 16, 2008 7:04 pm PT

    if they take their time and do the research, theyd see that "the majority" of fans dont want another COD WW2 shooter... but hey, if it happens to be in WW2 and its awesome!! ill atleast rent it to check it out.... but id prefer another modern setting, in different parts of the world.... well just have to wait and see

  • adihalo

    Posted May 13, 2008 7:42 pm PT

    To MrGoldenBullet: The thing with Call of Duty is you're not an officer that commands soldiers, you're a soldier in part of a squad, which is cool. That's why it hasn't been tactical. And ya, they shouldn't go back to WWII UNLESS it is in a theater of war that isn't particularly made in video games, like the Pacific. Only Pacific WWII game is Medal of Honor: Rising Sun. So ya, go modern, slightly futuristic, or Pacific war. And put in a local multiplayer mode, thats why some games do better.

  • cluelesspug

    Posted May 12, 2008 7:17 pm PT

    No no no no no no no no no no!!!!!!

    Please, ANYTHING but WWII

    COD3 sucked compared to COD4, and I don't want COD5 to be ruined because it of the time it takes place.

    Either
    1.Make up a new war.
    2. Do another COD game set in the middle east.
    3. Make it Sci-Fi with futuristic weapons.

    Just please, no WWII crap.
    But if they do decide to do WWII, make the graphics and gameplay a lot better, fix the stupid CPU's and make them smarter, and please for God's sakes, put in a dang multiplayer mode, unlike in COD3

  • commander1122

    Posted May 11, 2008 8:54 am PT

    woooo t COD 5!!!best game at all time!!!

  • kevinsyel

    Posted May 10, 2008 6:25 pm PT

    Awesome!! Treyarch is gonna break ANOTHER Call of Duty Game. can't wait to not buy this one. It looks like Activision is gonna break another Guitar Hero too... not that 3 was all bad, redesigning lovable characters (which couldn't be helped.) and applying a superfluous use of hammers and pulls... everywhere

  • SpclOprtv15

    Posted May 9, 2008 3:49 am PT

    WWII would be great, if its differnt... like in the PACIFIC!!!!!

  • KingBahamut

    Posted May 9, 2008 12:04 am PT

    nononononononnono WW2 we have had enough besides the modern weapônry was one of COD4 best elements they were so lethal

  • kenshinhimura16

    Posted May 8, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    No MORE WWII

  • weddlecm

    Posted May 4, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    Hey on COD5 I think WWII will be cool to see. They can actually put some effort into the game unlike 1, 2, and 3. You defenetly see more details, great graphics, and other weapons, I think it will be cool.

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