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Infinity Ward Exodus Continues -- Three More Leave Studio, Two Join Respawn

pklepek
24 Comments

Posted April 26, 2010 - By pklepek




Infinity Ward Exodus Continues -- Three More Leave Studio, Two Join Respawn

Lead character artist Joel Emslie and artists Ryan Lastimosa and Brad Allen are the latest employees at Infinity Ward to hang up their hats and leave the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare developer.

All three now-former employees have updated their Facebook profiles to reflect the recent decision, a source close to Infinity Ward has told me. None have announced their future development plans.

Two others, however, have made a future with their former bosses at Respawn Entertainment official.

Emslie, Lastimosa and Allen's departures arrive just days after a total of eight other Infinity Ward developers turned in letters of resignation. In just a few days, the headcount at the Activision-owned studio has decreased by 11. So far, as predicted by Activision, the pace does not seem to be slowing.

Several employees have made the decision to join up with their former Infinity Ward leadership at Respawn Entertainment, an Electronic Arts-backed new startup. Unlike Infinity Ward, however, Respawn Entertainment controls their intellectual property; EA is only providing the funding.

I reported last week that seven ex-Infinity Ward developers had officially joined Respawn Entertainment, making their decisions public on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter and other places online. That number has since increased by two. Both designer Brent McLeod and senior software engineer Chris Lambert have made their conversion official on Linkedin. The change happened very quickly, too; McLeod and Lambert's decision to leave Infinity Ward was revealed only Friday.

Infinity Ward recently launched the "Stimulus Pack" downloadable expansion for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox Live. It's coming to both PlayStation Network and PC on May 4.

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Infinity Ward Exodus Continues -- Three More Leave Studio, Two Join Respawn
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  • InHumanMarine

    Well, MW2 sucked and the DLC was sad since they couldn't come up with no more than 3 maps and had to recycle 2 old ones. I'd be embarrassed and leave too.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 7:53 PM | Reply | Report
    InHumanMarine
  • NocturnalX

    BTW, this makes 8 former IW employees at Respawn, in case anyone was interested.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 5:42 PM | Reply | Report
    NocturnalX
  • NocturnalX

    I wonder who is going to take the reigns at IW? I'm sure Activision would love to stick one of their own in the head position to try and secure the studio. I would guess that would make a lot of the IW team leave though....

    Hmmm...Maybe that's why people are leaving....

    Posted: April 26, 2010 4:58 PM | Reply | Report
    NocturnalX
  • scottyrob82

    So this makes 20 total.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 4:44 PM | Reply | Report
    scottyrob82
  • SinnerDelGore

    I guess the carrot "% of royalties" offered by the Bobbiness wasn't worth it, huh?

    Posted: April 26, 2010 4:35 PM | Reply | Report
    SinnerDelGore
  • JAECE

    i guess irony can be pretty ironic

    Posted: April 26, 2010 4:11 PM | Reply | Report
  • A-Bittersweet-Life

    Hurry up to all those left at IW and go to Respawn already.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 3:39 PM | Reply | Report
    A-Bittersweet-Life
  • demonlord2007

    This isn't looking good at all for Infinity Ward.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 3:24 PM | Reply | Report
    demonlord2007
  • RockieOllie

    Infinity Ward is bleeding and Boby Kotick is the knife that caused it

    Posted: April 26, 2010 2:35 PM | Reply | Report
    RockieOllie
  • Canid117

    i would like to thank the Boss man for writing Atlantic city so that I could butcher it in the way I am about to

    Well, they blew up the Kotick man in LA last night
    Now, they blew up his house, too
    Down on the boardwalk they're gettin ready for a fight
    Gonna see what them respawn boys can do

    Now, there's trouble bustin in from outta state
    And the press can't get no relief
    Gonna be a rumble out on the promenade
    And Infinity Ward is hangin on by the skin of his teeth

    Well now, everything dies, baby, that's a fact
    But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
    Put your gameface on, fix your resume up pretty
    And meet me tonight in respawn city

    Well, I got a job and tried to put my money away
    But I got debts that no honest man can pay
    So I drew what I had from the central trust
    And I bought us two tickets on that coast city bus

    Well now, everything dies, baby, that's a fact
    But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
    Put your gameface on, fix your resume up pretty
    And meet me tonight in respawn city

    Now our idea's may have died and COD may be cold
    But with them forever I'll stay
    Were goin out where the sands turnin to gold
    Put on your coat guys, `cause the nights getting cold
    And maybe everything dies, baby, that's a fact
    But maybe everything that dies someday comes back

    Now, I been lookin for a job, but it's hard to find
    Down here it's just winners and losers and don't
    Get caught on the wrong side of that line
    Well, Im tired of comin out on the losin end
    So, honey, last night I met this guy and Im gonna
    Do a little favor for him

    Well now, everything dies, baby, that's a fact
    But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
    Put your gameface on, fix your resume up pretty
    And meet me tonight in respawn city


    Once again thanks to Bruce Springsteen for writing "Atlantic City" (please don't sue me) and thanks to the two people who are willing to read this long a comment

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:49 PM | Reply | Report
    Canid117
  • JDarkley

    Does anybody have a total count of how many have left so far? It's gotta be near twenty.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:38 PM | Reply | Report
    JDarkley
  • The White Shaft

    And Moses said, "Let my people go!"

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:38 PM | Reply | Report
    The+White+Shaft
  • KoV HK6

    It would appear that Activision killed IW and they are all now Respawning.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:27 PM | Reply | Report
    KoV+HK6
  • Lloyd12

    Activision is probably better off folding IW completely, giving those who are left a raise and starting a new company that won't have IW's public stigma.

    Then again, Kotick is probably egotistical enough to think he's still got everything under control.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:10 PM | Reply | Report
    Lloyd12
  • n00body

    Somebody check my numbers if I'm wrong, but I believe this means ~24 people, or ~1/4 of IW's staff have left. Also, Respawn is up to 11 or 12, can't remember which.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 1:01 PM | Reply | Report
    n00body
  • BONERJAM

    Sounds about right

    Posted: April 26, 2010 12:54 PM | Reply | Report
    BONERJAM
  • Quixotic_Noble

    WIth so many leaving IW, I was waiting for a respawning joke.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 12:47 PM | Reply | Report
    Quixotic_Noble
  • DreamingDarklyRobin

    All this stuff happening with Infinity Ward has encouraged me to quit my crappy job, which probably wasn't a good idea considering I need the money for college and my boss was actually pretty cool.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 12:43 PM | Reply | Report
    DreamingDarklyRobin
  • enslavednumber

    infinity ward had only about 100 people. that's a small group and having been working together for several years, they must be really close, super close to each other like brother. So the head fired, everyone will follow. Activision just did not get it.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 12:43 PM | Reply | Report
    enslavednumber
  • smitske

    nI hope 402 stays with IW, his incompetence is one of the many things that pissed me off at IW.

    Posted: April 26, 2010 12:34 PM | Reply | Report
    smitske

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