Speaking during a conference call yesterday, Activision Publishing CEO and president Mike Griffith dropped a few tantalizing details about the next Call of Duty game.

The unnamed sequel will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS later this year, and it looks like it won't be set in World War II, the series' go-to setting.

ShackNews: Next Call of Duty Due This Year on PC, Consoles; Takes Place in 'New Military Theater'

Analyst Michael Pachter believes that Activision's stock will climb coming off of an 88% retail sales increase and the pending merger with Vivendi.

The merger should finish within the next few weeks and Activision Blizzard will be official. Stockholders will have to approve the move, but it is expected for them to do so as they like money.

Pachter believes, however, that their sales will decrease over 2008, but the company will be able to grow anyway.

Also, Activision still plans to crank out Guitar Hero, Call of Duty, and Tony Hawk games.

GameDaily BIZ: Pachter: 'Huge Upside' Expected for Activision, Sales Up 88%