Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 allegedly referenced in DMCA strikes

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)

'Call of Duty 2023' has allegedly been referenced in new DMCA strikes on Twitter.

As reported by VGC, over the past few days, several Twitter users have been posting what they claim to be details of the unannounced Call of Duty game set to launch later this year – Modern Warfare 3. Activision has allegedly sent DMCA strikes blocking their Twitter accounts, reportedly referencing 'Call of Duty 2023' while doing so.

This is as good as confirmation that the information posted online about the unannounced game is accurate, if Activision is going to such lengths. Users have been posting details like weapons and loadout systems from 2023's Call of Duty, which VGC hypothesizes originates from an internal test for the game.

What's more, the Call of Duty Twitter account suddenly tweeted the below yesterday on July 17 out of nowhere. There's been zero mention of 2023's Call of Duty from Activision channels up until now, and this is the first time a public-facing channel from the publisher has ever even acknowledged a new Call of Duty game is coming this year.

The wording of the tweet is also a really good indicator that 2023's Call of Duty will be a continuation of 2022's Modern Warfare 2, the first game referenced above. If gear is actually going to carry over into the 2023 game, it'd make sense for it to be Modern Warfare 3, in other words a direct continuation of the story and setting established in last year's game.

Activision first began commenting on Call of Duty 2023 last year in November, calling it a "full premium release." The publisher doubled down on that comment in February earlier this year, and a Federal judge accidentally leaked Call of Duty 2023's release month earlier this month in July, revealing it'd be launching later this year in November. 

The entire thing has been quite messy and incredibly drawn out, considering it started nearly nine months ago at this point. One good point to note about Activision's franchise is that Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation consoles until 2033, as Microsoft and Sony finally struck an agreement on the hotly debated franchise exclusivity. 

Take a look at our new games 2023 guide for a list of titles coming this year that have actually been revealed. 

Hirun Cryer

Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.

Read more
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 rumors have just been upgraded from podcast mentions and Call of Duty map teasers to a full countdown on the official Activision website
Killing Floor 3 screenshot showing a new ZED with a terrifying body augmentation
Killing Floor 3: Everything we know so far
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War reportedly surpasses Red Dead Redemption 2's huge development costs, with a massive $700 million budget
Mass Effect 5: What appears to be Liara appearing in the first teaser for the Next Mass Effect game
Mass Effect 5: Everything we know so far about the new BioWare adventure
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
136,000 Call of Duty accounts have gotten banned since ranked launched for Black Ops 6: "We’re not slowing down in our mission to shut down cheaters"
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
As Activision stays quiet, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 actor casually reveals there's another remaster "that's about to come out"
Latest in FPS
Former Valve exec recounts the meeting where Half-Life's publisher almost killed the iconic FPS: "Half-Life would quietly die. I was stunned"
FBC Firebreak screenshot for GamesRadar Big Preview showing a character throwing an electric shock grenade in a crowded room
FBC: Firebreak may be Remedy's first live-service game but the Control creators are going about it the right way, confirming that all playable post-launch content "will always be free"
"Valve would never ship another game": Former exec forced Half-Life publisher's hand by saying Gabe Newell and the team would pivot away from game dev
Gordon Freeman
Valve literally gives Half-Life away now, but 27 years ago it was carefully crushing its angry pirates: "None of them had actually bought the game"
FBC: Firebreak gameplay trailer reveal in Future Games Show: Spring Showcase
With an impressive new FBC: Firebreak trailer at the Future Games Show, Remedy confirms a Summer 2025 release window for its co-op shooter set in the Control universe
GoldenEye 007
After 28 years, competitive GoldenEye players have documented what happens when you tie in the N64 FPS: "We experienced something that was only theorised"
Latest in News
A screenshot from MindsEye showing a character leaning out of a car, shooting another car with a gun.
GTA veteran says the games industry needs to "get smarter" about what people actually want: "There are so many games, and I think we're starting to feel the effects"
Posing with a rifle in the Fallout 76 Ghoul update
Fallout 76's art director "had to fight really hard" so Bethesda would make the MMO's map bigger than Skyrim's
Minecraft movie image of Jack Black as steve
Don't expect Minecraft to go free-to-play anytime soon, as Mojang says "It doesn't really work with the way we built it"
Yasuke looking over the water to a shrine during sunset in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows has an entire island stuffed with adorable kittens you need to check out, and it's based on an actual Japanese cat paradise
phase zero key art showing zombies in a hallway
Former Witcher 3 and Dying Light devs reveal their Resident Evil homage, complete with PS1-style fixed cameras
Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis System was only created because WB Games wanted something to combat Batman Arkham Asylum's second-hand sales, exec says