Activision could be looking into implementing a major change for its future Call of Duty titles, starting with a possible free-to-play ‘revenue model’ for Modern Warfare 4.

The next installment’s release for the legendary Modern Warfare series has basically been a poorly kept secret in the games industry, but a surprising development suggests that it could take on a vastly different revenue model from titles past.

A Kotaku report on the internal workings at Activision has revealed that a free-to-play model of some kind might be adopted by the publisher, as early discussions about the release are starting to take place.

Modern Warfare would be taking a new leap where previous Call of Duty’s have yet to go, but questions loom if a free-to-play model could work with the popular shooter.

The report suggests that while Black Ops 4 sold well during its initial launch window, follow up sources of revenue for the title weren’t exactly what the publisher was hoping for. Not looking to repeat that trend, Activision could pull the trigger in changing how the next game brings in cash during its life cycle.

• Read more: Treyarch to release Call of Duty: Black Ops 5 in 2020 as Sledgehammer game dropped

“Activision executives have started to talk about embracing free-to-play as a revenue model – once anathema to the publisher – and, three sources say, are looking into offering a free-to-play component for this year’s new Modern Warfare, although the specifics may not be finalized yet,” the report said.

Furthermore, it seems like there are those inside Activision who “[remain] resistant” to using any kind of free-to-play model for Call of Duty, according to Kotaku’s sources.

Fans of the Modern Warfare franchise might soon get a free-to-play model somewhere within the game.

How would free-to-play work in Call of Duty?

This could vastly change how Call of Duty players interact with the 2019 title as it would see a model more closely tied with other popular titles like Fortnite Battle Royale and Apex Legends.

• Read more: Infinity Ward dev responds to impatient fans waiting for Modern Warfare 4 reveal

While those games are completely free-to-play, if Activision decide to go that route it doesn’t mean the next Modern Warfare 4 will be identical in design based on those models.

Call of Duty games are known for giving players multiple ways of diving into that battlefields be it through a story mode, Multiplayer, Zombies and, since Black Ops 4, a battle royale.

Games like Apex Legends live off their free-to-play structure, and it would be interesting to see how Activision would implement something similar to a CoD title.

Depending on what Infinity Ward has in store for Modern Warfare 4, any one of those modes could follow a free-to-play model while the rest of the title’s offerings retail at a normal price.

Alternitavely, the publisher could be considering making DLC content ‘free’, potentially scrapping the Season Pass, or ‘Black Ops Pass’ which cause so much controversy leading up to Black Ops 4’s release.

The recent reports suggest a lot of things are happening over at Activision and it will be interesting to see where the company decides to go with their next major title.