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Call Of Duty Might Never Have Existed, And It's Because Of James Bond
The Call of Duty franchise might not exist if not for a missed opportunity involving James Bond. In the early 2000s, Electronic Arts was developing 007: Nightfire and considered 2015, Inc. (founded by Vince Zampella and Jason West) for its PC port. After EA chose Gearbox Software instead, Zampella and West partnered with Activision to form Infinity Ward, leading to the creation of Call of Duty.
Revisiting the last truly great Call of Duty
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is revisited as the last truly great entry in the series, praised for its atmosphere, sound design, and grounded realism. The article highlights its superior gunplay and attachment customization compared to later titles, lamenting the shift towards cosmetic collaborations and the integration with Warzone.
The Call of Duty schism: Why fans are trapped in a forever war with each other
The Call of Duty series is experiencing a significant schism among its player base, driven by creative differences between its primary development studios, Infinity Ward and Treyarch. This divide manifests in player preferences for distinct gameplay styles, such as Infinity Ward's grounded realism versus Treyarch's faster-paced, more experimental approach. The article examines how this long-standing conflict, exacerbated by Activision's demanding release schedule and studio roles, impacts the franchise's direction and player loyalty.
Artificial Detective: Breaking Down the Gameplay Behind This Incredible Xbox Partner Preview Reveal
Artificial Detective, the debut title from indie studio Vivix, was revealed during the Xbox Partner Preview with a new trailer. The studio's team includes artists who have previously worked on games such as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Control, and Dead Space, as well as the Netflix series "Love, Death & Robots." The game is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Artificial Detective is a robot-filled debut game from Vivix
Artificial Detective, the debut title from Vivix, was revealed during the Xbox Partner Preview. This 'decopunk' action-adventure game features a robotic detective protagonist, AD 2846, accompanied by a human tech prodigy and a robotic guard dog. The game is set to launch in 2027 and emphasizes companionship, curiosity, and survival with a blend of combat, stealth, and detective work.
2019's Call Of Duty Has More Players Than Black Ops 7 And Warzone Combined Right Now On Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is currently experiencing a surge in player numbers on Steam, surpassing the combined player counts of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Call of Duty: Warzone. This increase is attributed to a significant discount on the game and a recent double XP event hosted by developer Infinity Ward.
This mobile game has been made using AI for a year now – and no one noticed
InnoGames has been using AI to generate all content for its mobile game Sunrise Village for the past year without players noticing. This shift, driven by financial underperformance, reduced the development team from 25 to 2-4 people, allowing the game to remain profitable. While employees like senior lead artist Lémuel Wuibout express admiration for the tools and see efficiency gains, concerns about job security and the future of creative roles persist across the industry.
Call of Duty 4 Nostalgia Hits Different: Simple Tweet Goes Viral
A simple tweet about Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare went viral, highlighting the enduring nostalgia and impact of the 2007 first-person shooter. The article discusses how the game's tight campaign, addictive multiplayer, and balanced mechanics set a standard that many modern games have failed to replicate, emphasizing a desire for the authenticity and core gameplay focus of older titles.
Biting the silver bullet: AI in the games industry in 2026 and beyond | Opinion
Dr. Tommy Thompson argues that while AI has potential in game development, the current focus on generative AI is misguided and driven by corporate greed, overlooking genuine breakthroughs and ethical concerns. He emphasizes the need for a more nuanced industry discussion on responsible AI adoption, distinguishing between hype and practical application.
'It was supposed to be the greatest time ever': Jeff Kaplan only got 6 weeks to come up with and pitch Overwatch: 'We were probably the most demoralised we'd ever been'
Former Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan revealed that the team had only six weeks to develop and pitch the game after the cancellation of the MMO Titan. Despite the immense pressure and demoralization, the team was tasked with creating a game that could ship in two years and achieve World of Warcraft-like revenue. Ultimately, Overwatch was chosen as the most realistic pitch, with elements inspired by old Titan concepts and even Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Jeff Kaplan Drops Bombshell About ‘Contentious’ Activision Exit
Overwatch co-creator Jeff Kaplan described his 2021 departure from Activision Blizzard as the biggest "f**k you moment" of his career, suggesting a deeply contentious exit. This revelation sheds light on potential issues within Blizzard during the development of Overwatch 2 and contributes to a broader discussion about how major game studios treat their creative talent.
Call of Duty: Ghosts Gets Its Overdue Respect from Gaming Community
Call of Duty: Ghosts, initially criticized in 2013, is now receiving renewed appreciation from the gaming community and content creators. Aspects like its dynamic maps, Extinction mode, and darker campaign are being highlighted as innovative. The game's deliberate pacing and weapon handling, once seen as flaws, are now viewed as intentional design choices that have aged well with shifts in the gaming landscape.
Activision Launches New Way To Talk With Call Of Duty Fans
Activision has launched a new communication channel, the Call of Duty CM account, to directly engage with fans about the popular First-Person Shooter franchise. This initiative aims to foster better communication regarding game updates, announcements, and community discussions, especially following recent discussions about game leaks and the reception of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Co-founder claims Activision put ″pressure″ on Infinity Ward to make game about Iran invading Israel
A co-founder of Infinity Ward has claimed that Activision pressured the studio to develop a game centered around Iran invading Israel. Separately, MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy, founded by Leslie Benzies, announced its second round of layoffs in eight months, alleging corporate sabotage.
Unsurprisingly, The Pokémon Company isn't a fan of the White House's use of a Pokopia meme for political means
The Pokémon Company has issued a statement objecting to the Trump administration's use of a Pokémon Pokopia meme for political purposes. The company clarified that it did not grant permission for its intellectual property to be used in this manner and emphasized that its mission to bring the world together is not affiliated with any political agenda. Footage from Call of Duty was also recently used in a White House video, drawing criticism from a co-founder of Infinity Ward.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 Is Free This Weekend
A free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is currently available across all platforms, allowing players to experience the latest installment without purchase. The trial includes access to a significant portion of the game's multiplayer and Zombies content until March 9.
Quoteworthy
The extreme horror game Hellraiser has received its ESRB rating, with developers stating that no content was removed. Separately, a co-founder of Call of Duty alleged that Activision pressured Infinity Ward to develop a game about Iran invading.
Activision pressured Call of Duty studio Infinity Ward to make a game about Iran invading Israel, claims former developer
Former Infinity Ward animator Chance Glasco claims Activision pressured developers to create a Call of Duty game centered on Iran invading Israel, a concept most developers found abhorrent. Glasco, who worked at the studio between 2002 and 2014, stated that the idea was ultimately rejected. He also contrasted this with earlier Call of Duty titles that aimed to depict the grim realities of war.
Call of Duty co-founder claims Activision put "very awkward pressure" on Infinity Ward to make a game about Iran invading Israel
Chance Glasco, a co-founder of Infinity Ward, claims Activision pressured the studio to create a Call of Duty game centered on Iran invading Israel. Glasco stated that many developers were against the idea, viewing it as political propaganda. He also contrasted this with earlier Call of Duty titles, which aimed to depict the horrors of war.
Former Infinity Ward dev recalls "awkward pressure" for Call of Duty to make a game "about Iran attacking Israel"
A former Infinity Ward developer recalled pressure to create a Call of Duty game centered on Iran attacking Israel. This statement follows a video from The White House that juxtaposed footage of the Iran conflict with Call of Duty references, sparking discussion about the intersection of real-world geopolitics and video game content.