Microsoft’s new Arm-based gaming push has a major omission: Call of Duty will not be supported on NVIDIA RTX Spark PCs at launch, with compatibility planned for 2027. The delay is notable because Microsoft owns Activision, and the company is positioning its upcoming RTX Spark-powered hardware as a platform capable of running hundreds of AAA and indie games.
Speaking at Microsoft’s Windows and Surface event on October 7, Windows and Devices chief Pavan Davuluri said hundreds of games would be available on RTX Spark PCs from day one. However, he did not explain why Call of Duty would take longer to arrive or identify which entry in the franchise would receive support first.
The timing could be awkward for buyers considering Microsoft’s Surface Laptop Ultra, an RTX Spark-equipped device starting at $2,599, with shipping scheduled for October 16. Players interested in Call of Duty will have to wait for further compatibility updates before considering the system for the franchise.
Anti-cheat compatibility could be one reason for the delay, although Microsoft has not confirmed the cause. RTX Spark systems use Arm-based processors and run Windows on Arm, meaning some existing PC games and their supporting software may need adjustments to work properly. Call of Duty uses Activision’s Ricochet anti-cheat system, which relies on low-level system components that can pose compatibility challenges when moving to a different processor architecture.
Microsoft also demonstrated Gears of War: E-Day running at 60 FPS on the Surface Laptop Ultra. However, the company did not disclose the resolution, graphics settings, or upscaling technology used during the demonstration, making it difficult to judge the system’s gaming performance from the frame-rate figure alone.
NVIDIA released its RTX Spark toolkit for Windows on Arm game development in July. At Gamescom, publishers including EA, Embark Studios, and Ubisoft committed titles such as Apex Legends, ARC Raiders, and Anno 117: Pax Romana to the expanding platform.
The number of compatible games is only part of the picture. Microsoft has not clarified how many titles will run natively on Arm processors and how many will depend on emulation. Native versions can reduce translation overhead, while emulation helps bring existing x86 games to Arm-based PCs.
For now, Microsoft’s promise of hundreds of playable games is encouraging, but the missing Call of Duty support highlights a challenge for Windows on Arm gaming. Getting a game to launch is one thing; ensuring its anti-cheat software and other system components work reliably is another. Until Microsoft and Activision provide more details, players will have to wait to learn how the franchise will run on RTX Spark PCs in 2027.
