Activision has insisted that despite the controversy surrounding the once great Infinity Ward, the studio will have no problem bouncing back. David Stohl, executive vice president of studios at Activision, believes that the exodus of talent has affected the rebuilding process for Infinity Ward but the publisher remains firm in its support.
“I use the term ‘support’ because as much as possible we don’t want to tamper with that group of people," he said. "We want Infinity Ward to be Infinity Ward. It’s a very specific culture.”
It is believed that a third of Infinity Ward’s staff has departed from the developer following the dismissal of former studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella. Several analysts saw the exodus of staff as the death throes for the studio, but Stohl says that Infinity Ward is well on the way to recovery.
With recent news from Activision regarding total applications for positions at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer reaching over 5,000, the developer shows signs of swift revival.
“I’m one hundred percent confident that the studio will come back to what it was, especially considering all the talent we’re seeing rising through and also being recruited. There’s a development philosophy that remains intact, and the studio is attracting amazing new talent. Ultimately, Infinity Ward will rise from the ashes,” Stohl said.
There has been no word on what Infinity Ward is currently working on at this time, but strong rumors suggest that Modern Warfare 3 is well on the way. Stohl has previously stated that Infinity Ward could eventually look to develop an entirely new franchise sometime in the near future.
[Thanks Develop]
3 Comments
August 10, 2010
I have no ill will towards those that have been hired on to IW or those who have elected to stay. However, as a believer that individuals make a difference in the development process, I'd feel ambivalent if a Modern Warfare 3 came out and did better than its predecessor. With this new IW (and any studio that's gone through what they have will be different) I hope they are allowed to try something new, rather than following in the path laid by others. Doing so might prove that the studio is "back" better than any promise made by an Activision executive.
August 10, 2010
I really don't think showing the desperate condition of the employment market does anything to prove the future success of a new Infinity Ward studio.
August 11, 2010
Well said. I can certainly understand how for a lot of designers out there, the thought of "taking a stand" was brushed aside by concerns like "getting a job."