UPDATE 6:05 PM: Ding. Another ex-Infinity Ward developer has landed at Respawn Entertainment. This time, it's former lead designer Mackey McCandlish, who I'm informed announced his news over Facebook.
UPDATE 5:25 PM: One more. Programmer Jon Shiring has confirmed he's joined the studio over Twitter. "I have accepted a job with Respawn Entertainment," said Shiring. "I can't wait for May 1st!"
UPDATE 4:13 PM: And then there were five. Former Infinity Ward software engineer Rayme C. Vinson has also joined Respawn Entertainment, according to a Facebook status update. Vinson's update says he starts work at Respawn Entertainment on May 1 and will perform the same development role at the new startup from West and Zampella.
UPDATE 4:04 PM: Todd Alderman is not alone; we have three more Respawn Entertainment recruits to add to the list. Former Infinity Ward lead animator Mark Grigsby, lead environmental artist Chris Cherubini and lead animator John Paul Messerly have all joined Respawn Entertainment under the same roles, according to updated Linkedin profiles.
ORIGINAL STORY: After Activision fired former Infinity Ward leadership Jason West and Vince Zampella, a steady stream of senior designers, programmers, artists and other employees have turned in letters of resignation. All of them have been quiet about their future plans. It's been widely speculated that some would follow their former studio heads to their new company, Respawn Entertainment.
Now, it's official.
Former Infinity Ward lead designer Todd Alderman has joined Respawn Entertainment as a lead game designer, according to his Linkedin profile.
Respawn Enertainment was only announced earlier this month by West and Zampella. The studio has already inked a publishing deal with Electronic Arts, but unlike Call of Duty with Activision, West and Zampella maintain complete creative control over the new game. EA said it would fund the new game, however, and it's expected the deal would cover multiple games. But Respawn controls their destiny.
The new developer has not announced a new project because it doesn't actually have one yet.
"It's all about focusing and making sure our premiere title is huge and something that the fans and the gaming community really are gonna love," said West in an interview with G4 following the announcement of Respawn Entertainment. "That's what we're all about right now."
When I spoke with West and Zampella, their company didn't even have an office yet.
With the addition of Alderman to their lineup, however, it's starting to come together.
Thanks to reader Jow for the tip!
Have something to share? Sitting on a news tip? E-mail me. You can also follow me on Twitter.
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NocturnalX
Hahaha That's what you get when you mess with developers.
Gargamel360
Rarely have I ever seen such negative publicity regarding a game company........Interesting to see if they take this kick to the stones seriously and learn from it but probably not until they see a serious affect in sales.........nothing wakes up wealthy fools like a kick in the wallet.
drangel_jam
I really like their thinking. Taking the time to make genius.
Ian528
Having read that the bonuses are being upsized for anyone who stays, the question becomes when are they getting them. This is part of the financial package that helps these people live. They created a brand and made it phenomenally successful. So all the pleading that activision is going to give those who stay the shares of everyone who left is BS. Frankly, the entire company should just leave activision at this point for breach of contract. I am sure that the contract had time stipulations and Activision is pleading that with the lawsuit they money is wrapped up in the litigation but this is bull. More then 6 months to issue people part of the profits of the most profitable entertainment title ever seems egregious. Pay them you evil trolls. And you should pay anyone who helped to develop the title except for West and Zampella. Activision is making an excellent argument with this behavior for no one to ever work with them again because your employees won't be able to feed their kids cause activision won't let loose the money.
Notafanboythatiknow
These are great news for gamers. I hope Activision cleans up their act. I only fear that if Craptivision keeps the Call of Duty brand name, they will milk that franchise just like Guitar Hero. I wish all people who buy Call of Duty games are aware that the creators of this game formed a new company.
ionic_photard11
This whole ordeal reminds me when artist left Marvel because of creative rights to create their own comic company. Its great to see good talent strike out on there own and create something to share with everyone. With that said I eagerly await Respawn's first title.
dsa0224x
this is what happens when people are just greedy..... Kotick per se. im done with anything that has the name : call of duty
CRIMSONZOMBIE
ha!halo reach!
CRIMSONZOMBIE
ha!halo reach!
Aerindel_Prime
The King is dead!, Long live the King!
enslavednumber
Too bad they said their game might be in the next 2-3 years...
warioware
Niice a new company for them can't wait to see wat ther gonna bring to the gamein floor
DrowNoble
Gee Activision merges with Vivendi, owners of Blizzard and in 2 years WoW subs have stagnated. Now Activision "flexes its corporate muscles" at IW and sacks the top 2 guys and now the rest are bailing.
If someone on the board at Activision hasn't figured out by now that Kotick running the show is A Bad Idea, then they deserve whatever misfortune comes to them in the future.
miningguy
I want to see a Kart racer from these guys.
backerman
I bet they'll making a new war game for Medal of Honor series.
Purplehasiso
You know what sucks? Treyarch making a Vietnam game AFTER all of this. PLEASE Treyarch join EA!
SpigotBlister
Victory, anyone?
torchwood243
no lie, i bought mw2 and kinda liked it, but i hate how activision has been doing anything. i don't think IW is gonna be as powerful as before because of this and activision trying to pump out an annual games. best of luck to all the guys at respawn, im rooting for you!
Severnik
The department leads from IW are all headin to respawn. That means we can expect the same quality games that IW used to be known for.
redsoxfan67
I can't wait to see what new game the IW janitors could release. Activision got screwed. I hope the rest of the IW team go to Respawn.
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