Microsoft’s secret ‘gameplay deep-dive’ stream is for Call of Duty

Yesterday, Microsoft officially confirmed its plans for the next Xbox summer showcase. Like last year, this year's big stream will be a two-parter, with a second stream offering a lengthy deep-dive into a new game “in a beloved franchise”. At the time, we noted that the teaser image resembled Call of Duty's usual style. Now, sources claim this deep-dive stream will indeed be for Call of Duty and not one of Microsoft's other upcoming games like Gears 6 or Avowed. 

Sources familiar with the plan told The Verge that the “REDACTED” deep-dive stream after the main showcase will focus on Call of Duty. Previous rumours have suggested that a new Black Ops game is due out this year. Reports had also claimed that unlike previous announcements, this year's COD game will not be announced in a Warzone event. That lines up well with Microsoft's stream plans.

Microsoft largely dominated the Xbox 360 generation thanks to the popularity of Call of Duty, mixed with Microsoft's exclusive marketing deal at the time. Microsoft lost that deal during the PS4 generation, when Call of Duty switched to PS4 for its console marketing partnership. With Microsoft spending over $70 billion on acquiring Activision Blizzard last year, we can be sure that they plan to leverage their ownership of Call of Duty in some form, albeit not through any form of exclusive in-game content.

Aside from a new Call of Duty game, this year's Xbox Showcase should also feature news on Starfield's Shattered Space DLC, which is due out around the game's one-year anniversary, and a new Gears of War title is also expected to be announced. Additionally, we are expecting to see updates on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, as well as Obsidian's upcoming fantasy RPG, Avowed.

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