Call of Duty storms Fanatics Fest with Modern Warfare 4 playable push
Activision is bringing Modern Warfare 4 to Fanatics Fest in New York, with Inde Navarrette joining a panel tied to the game’s sports and pop culture play.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is taking a headlining slot at Fanatics Fest 2026, putting Activision’s next shooter beside Formula One, FIFA and the NBA at New York City’s Javits Center.
Variety reports that the Xbox-produced game from Infinity Ward is the first video game to receive a headlining presence at the sports fan convention. The event runs from Thursday through Sunday and is expected to draw 150,000 attendees.
Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl told Variety the move is built on a clear overlap: many Call of Duty buyers also purchase sports games, and athletes have often talked publicly about playing the franchise. Bahl cited examples involving Kansas City Chiefs and New York Knicks players discussing how playing together helped communication.
The company is using the weekend to put Modern Warfare 4 in front of fans months before its Oct. 23 release. According to Bahl, Activision wanted to return to event-based demos after two consecutive Black Ops releases and give players a chance to try the new Modern Warfare entry ahead of launch.
A sports fest gets a full Call of Duty buildout
Activision’s Fanatics Fest footprint includes activations with Aston Martin and Polaris, giveaways, celebrity matches involving Knicks, Yankees and WWE figures, and a live panel built around the franchise’s pop culture pull.
The panel lineup includes Bahl, NBA star and Call of Duty: Mobile actor Kevin Durant, Infinity Ward director Mark Grigsby and actor Inde Navarrette, who recently appeared in Obsession.
Navarrette is not being brought in as a casual celebrity guest. Bahl told Variety that Activision has followed her gameplay streams and sees her as a competitive Call of Duty player with a real history in the community.
He said the weekend is meant to reconnect Navarrette with the game’s fan base, while leaving open the possibility of a future project or formal partnership.
In an email interview with Variety, Navarrette said her older brother introduced her to Call of Duty when she was about 7 or 8, starting with Modern Warfare 2. She remembered playing Local Party, favoring the Rust map, using the SCAR and THUMPER, and usually losing to him.
Navarrette also described the series as a nostalgic part of her childhood and said its fast pace demands constant attention.
New York is part of the mission
Activision is also leaning into the convention’s New York setting because Modern Warfare 4 includes the city in its story.
Bahl told Variety the game carries two major threads: a conflict involving North and South Korea, and the return of Task Force 141. Previously released footage shows Captain John Price beginning the story in a New York nightclub while on the run and pursuing villain Vladimir Makarov.
The marketing push also highlights New York culture, including music from Wu-Tang Clan. Bahl pointed to a packed city sports and entertainment moment, citing the World Cup final, the Knicks’ championship, Yankees-Dodgers baseball, Jay-Z at Yankee Stadium and Price’s role in the game’s New York sequence.
The franchise is also tied to a Paramount Pictures Call of Duty film from Taylor Sheridan, with Peter Berg directing. Bahl told Variety that a film-related announcement or association may come Saturday, though he did not provide details.
Asked whether she would want to be involved in the movie, Navarrette told Variety she was excited to see its direction and would love to join as a computer voice.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.