With the success of games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite, there is no denying the runaway success of the battle royale genre. Many upcoming games seem ready to take advantage of the genre's popularity, and it's possible that we could add Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, or another future Call of Duty game, to that list.

While nothing official has been announced about Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 having a battle royale mode, Activision Blizzard recently made it known to investment firm Oppenheimer that it is "keenly aware" of the success of the battle royale genre. Activision Blizzard executives also pointed out how the company is a "faster follower," which could be an indication that there are already plans to add battle royale modes to its biggest games.

Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 or a future Call of Duty game will have a battle royale mode. It's also possible that Activision Blizzard will attempt to capitalize on the genre's popularity by creating a brand new IP. Alternatively, it may look to one of its other existing franchises to convert to the battle royale genre, like Overwatch.

If Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 does have a battle royale mode, it wouldn't be all that surprising. After all, the battle royale genre first became popular last year, which offers Treyarch plenty of time to incorporate the mode into the game. Furthermore, Treyarch has asked fans to forget everything they know about the series in regards to Black Ops 4, which could be an indication that a major change is in store for the franchise.

The question of whether or not Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will have a battle royale mode could be answered as early as May 17, which is when Treyarch and Activision plan on properly revealing the game to the public. However, if E3 comes around in June and there is still no mention of a battle royale mode for Black Ops 4, then fans shouldn't expect the mode to make its way to the franchise so soon.

Whatever the case may be, it's clear that the overwhelming popularity of the battle royale genre is going to have an impact on video games moving forward. It will be interesting to see which titles are able to deliver compelling battle royale experiences that stand out from the pack, and which will feel like they're just trying to follow the latest trend. In the meantime, fans can expect more details on Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 on May 17, which could reveal if the game will be on Battle.net and if it will have a battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will be available on October 12 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.