Rumor: Another Call of Duty Game Might Be Removed From the Controversial HQ App

New data-mined files suggest Black Ops 6 may soon be removed from the controversial Call of Duty HQ app, which currently consists of the 2024 release, last year’s Black Ops 7, and the free-to-play Battle Royale title, Warzone. Publisher Activision has yet to confirm if it intends to remove Black Ops 6 from the Call of Duty HQ app, which would presumably be in preparation for the next entry in the series, but it wouldn’t be the first time a title has been removed from the central launcher.

Over the years, the Call of Duty franchise has evolved massively. Whether it’s gameplay, narrative, or visuals, there are some stark differences in recent entries when compared to those released in the early 2000s. Some changes have been welcomed with open arms, others have left the community divided, and some have just been heavily criticized by the majority of players. One feature in particular that sparked backlash was the introduction of the controversial Call of Duty HQ app, a centralized launcher/hub that aimed to act as a unified starting point for modern titles, combining multiple games under one singular app.

DOOM Is FPS: Why The Most Important Franchise Isn’t Call of Duty

While Call of Duty is a cornerstone of FPS games, these reasons prove DOOM has had a slightly greater influence on shooters in the long term.

Black Ops 6 May Soon Be Removed From Call of Duty HQ

When it was first released in 2024, Black Ops 6 became the latest entry in the franchise to be tied to the Call of Duty HQ app. However, nearly two years after launch, that may be about to change. According to Call of Duty dataminer cs_buh, in-game files suggest the shooter may soon be about to become its own standalone title. Specifically, the leaker claims that they have discovered a new standalone version of Call of Duty‘s Ricochet anti-cheat that is specifically for Black Ops 6. “This is also supported by cod24-cod.exe being included in the configuration for the dev build(s) now,” the user said in a recent Twitter post, as they say the developer builds of Black Ops 6 are allegedly being updated daily.

It’s also worth noting that the discovery of a standalone Ricochet version for Black Ops 6 is exactly what happened with both Modern Warfare 2 and 3 before they left the Call of Duty HQ app in July 2025. It only took a few weeks from the initial rumor to an actual announcement of their removal, but there’s no way to know for sure if Activision will do the same with Black Ops 6. Presumably, if the 2024 shooter is removed, it will be to prepare the launcher for the addition of this year’s entry, which has yet to be officially revealed. Should Black Ops 6 be removed from Call of Duty HQ, those who are still playing the title will need to redownload the entire game once again as a standalone title.

Rumors surrounding the next entry in the Call of Duty franchise have been swirling for months now, and although unconfirmed, it seems increasingly likely that developer Infinity Ward is planning to continue the Modern Warfare saga with a fourth installment. Last year, a trusted leaker claimed that Modern Warfare 4 will continue the story of Captain Price and Task Force 141, this time as they embark on a mission to both North and South Korea to continue the hunt for Makarov. It’s also claimed that the 2026 release will stay mostly modern while also featuring “some” futuristic technology and weapons.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who’s That Character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)

With the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 set for November (presuming there are no further delays), Call of Duty fans have been eager to see if Activision intends to shift the release date of the next entry to avoid clashing with gaming’s most anticipated release of all time. While it’s not uncommon for new Call of Duty games to release in October, it has become somewhat of a series tradition to launch in November. But with publishers seemingly doing anything to avoid Grand Theft Auto 6, a trusted leaker has claimed that Modern Warfare 4 is planned to release in October 2026.