Update 3: Action-adventure Call of Duty next year, Activision establishes dedicated business unit for the franchise
Update 2: Infinity Ward CEO no longer with the studio
Update: “The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward,” Activision states in a recent SEC filing (cheers, G4). “This matter is expected to involve the departure of key personnel and litigation. At present, the Company does not expect this matter to have a material impact on the Company.”
One of those senior members appears to be West, then. No word yet if Zampella is the other.
Original story: Something strange is happening at Modern Warfare 2 developer Infinity Ward. G4 reports via a source that a “bunch of bouncer”-types appeared at the developer’s offices unannounced a few hours ago. When asked by employees why they were there, no answer was given.
“Everyone is on edge,” said the source at the studio.
At the same time, studio bosses Vince Zampella and Jason West reportedly met with Activision in the morning and mysteriously haven’t been seen since. According to his LinkedIn profile however, West, IW’s president, is no longer employed; the profile states that he was with Infinity Ward up until “March 2010”.
West’s Facebook page also states he is “no longer employed”.
The G4 source describes the relationship between the Call of Duty developer and mothership Activision as “tense” of late. “Freaked out” and “confused” was how the current mood at the studio was described. “We just wanna make our games,” the source said.
Yeah, we’ll stay on this.
