While something rotten has definitely gone down between publishers Activision and the bossmen of Call of Duty developers Infinity Ward, it seems the studio itself is still a key part of the franchise moving forward.
An internal memo distributed to members of Infinity Ward earlier today says that while the "brains" of the operation, Vince Zampella and Jason West are out, "Infinity Ward remains central to Call of Duty's future and we rely on the combined talent, expertise and leadership of the team there for its success."
That'll sound good to investors today, but really, how much is it going to mean going forward? Decapitate one of the most successful development studios in the world and you eliminate a lot of its worth. You also run the risk of a mass exodus of talent, as other key personnel involved in the Call of Duty series leave Infinity Ward and follow Zampella and West, just like they did eight years ago when they split from 2015.
Leaving Activision with, well...look, how many times have you heard from 2015 since the big Medal of Honor split?
Exactly.
Internal Activision Memo Says Infinity Ward "Central To Call Of Duty's Future" [G4]