The next entry to the Call of Duty series will be developed by Sledgehammer Games, while Infinity Ward have their noses to the grindstone on a different, "individual" title.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War exceeded expectations when it comes to Call of Duty, generating nearly $700 million in its first six weeks on the shelves (though I still think it's a ridiculous title). Upon launch, it overtook Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on digital downloads by approximately 40%, and it was the best-selling game in the UK in November 2020. Phil thought that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War breathed new life into the series, with Treyarch learning from the earlier titles yet incorporating surprises and excitement for new and veteran players alike.
In short, Treyarch, Raven Software and Activision are on a roll, and with the continued success and popularity of Call of Duty Warzone, the companies could rest on their laurels. They've earned it, after all. However, a flurry of claims from an established Call of Duty leaker state that Activision has handed the reins of Call of Duty 2021 to a studio that hasn't helmed a Call of Duty title since 2017. Furthermore, it's not Infinity Ward, as this team is busy on a project that is "individual" to them.
Sometimes, due to the cut-and-dry development of a Call of Duty title, it's actually difficult to ascertain what the next one will be like. We've got one mainstay: it'll be made by either Raven Software, Treyarch, Infinity Ward, or Sledgehammer Games. Strike Raven Software off that list, because that studio is supporting Warzone for the foreseeable future.
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We'll also get rid of Infinity Ward, because well-known Call of Duty leaker Tom Henderson says that it is focused on a different undertaking. That leaves Treyarch and Sledgehammer Games left. Treyarch only recently stepped into the spotlight to drive the development of Black Ops Cold War, so Henderson says it's Sledgehammer Games in charge of Call of Duty 2021.
Call of Duty: WWII was the last Call of Duty entry that Sledgehammer Games made by itself, and it's been a support studio for the other titles that followed. Whether we'll be looking at a remake is uncertain, but this approach has been working pretty well for Activision thus far. Also, what is Infinity Ward preoccupied with, if it isn't related to Call of Duty? We aren't able to say for now, but seeing as Henderson has a good track record, we should consider these claims to hold water. We'll keep you in the loop when we know more.
Last week, Activision felt the heat for refusing to adopt diverse recruitment strategies for its teams, calling the initiatives "unworkable." It then transpired that this report had "mischaracterised" the company, and Activision asserted that it hires people from a diverse pool "aggressively and successfully."
Featured Image Credit: ActivisionTopics: News, Call of Duty