'Call of Duty' 2016 news: Game either set in space or sequel to 'Modern Warfare'

Call of Duty: Ghosts, the previous game developed by Infinity WardActivision

It was previously reported that the next "Call of Duty" game is being rumored to be set in space and will be developed by the development team that created the series, Infinity Ward. According to a report from Gaming Bolt, there are now possibilities that this new game, if not set in space, will be "Modern Warfare 4."

According to the report, analyst Michael Pachter points out that the only direction Infinity Ward is likely to take is with an entirely new IP or to make a sequel to their highly successful "Modern Warfare" titles. This is reportedly due to the fact that the last game Infinity Ward worked on was "Call of Duty Ghosts," a title that was not received well.

"Ghosts" was praised for its graphics engine and multiplayer aspects but it received more flak than positive reviews due to its lack of innovation and a poorly received single-player campaign. Activision later blamed the low sales on the fact that the game launched when the PS4 and Xbox One were relatively new to the market, without a strong, established consumer base at the time.

The report points out that this makes it very unlikely for Infinity Ward to work on a sequel to "Ghosts," ensuring that the only game the company can work on is another "Modern Warfare" game or the new IP that is being rumored to be set in space.

Pachter continues to explain that it is very unlikely for Infinity Ward's new IP to be set in World War I but it may be set in World War II if a futuristic setting is not on the table. However, just like "Black Ops III," there is a chance that the World War II setting may only appear as a novelty in a DLC pack or for a specific multiplayer map and game mode.