There's some understandable confusion about what's happening to Call of Duty after the Treyarch-developed Call of Duty is released later in 2010. I've obtained an internal memo sent to Activision employees at the same time today's news release went out that better clarifies what's happening to Call of Duty. Here's how it breaks down.
Treyarch is making the Call of Duty coming in 2010. Someone else (possibly Infinity Ward) is making the Call of Duty that's due in 2011. Sledgehammer Games' project is something else entirely.
The internal memo was prepared by Activision Publishing president and CEO Mike Griffith and in addition to citing Infinity Ward as "central to Call of Duty's future," it makes clear that Sledgehammer's "action-adventure" take on Call of Duty is separate from another Call of Duty game hitting in 2011.
"2010 is expected to be another big year for Call of Duty," said Griffith, "with Treyarch developing a new title for fall release, Infinity Ward's downloadable content for Modern Warfare 2 in the works now, and a new Call of Duty title expected to be released in 2011."
Here's where the 2011 Call of Duty and Sledgehammer's game become distinctly separate.
"In addition," said Griffith, making the distinction between the two games clear, "Sledgehammer Games is in development on a Call of Duty title in the action-adventure genre. It's an exciting time and it's the right time to ensure the appropriate resources are there to support Call of Duty's growth."
It's possible the Sledgehammer Games' project is also released in 2011 but Griffith seems to make it clear there will continue to be annualized Call of Duty shooters going forward. This "action-adventure" take on Call of Duty is in addition to that. Does that make sense? My head hurts.
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