Glen Schofield, the celebrated co-founder of Sledgehammer Games, voices profound concerns that the blockbuster franchise may lose its identity and creative drive following the seismic Activision Blizzard acquisition.
The gaming world was forever changed when Microsoft finally closed its historic $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. For fans of Call of Duty, the promise was greater access via Game Pass and cloud streaming. But behind the corporate optimism, a veteran voice from the franchise's heyday is sounding a clear alarm.
Glen Schofield, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games and the director behind classics like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), has expressed deep-seated fears that the very identity of Call of Duty is at risk under its new corporate ownership.
In a candid interview at Gamescom Asia, Schofield didn't mince words, pointing directly to Microsoft's handling of other flagship franchises as a cautionary tale.
"I worry about it immensely, I really do," Schofield confessed. His concern stems from a perceived pattern with Microsoft's first-party studios. "Because what’s happening to Gears of War, where’s Halo… you know what I mean? And look at EA, you look at these big companies, and I’m like, where are the Strike games? Where’s this game? And there are so many that just fall by the wayside."
The Threat of Corporate Assimilation
Schofield's apprehension goes beyond simple studio comparisons. He delves into the subtle yet powerful force of cultural assimilation—the idea that when a fiercely independent studio is absorbed into a vast corporate entity, it begins to adopt its parent company's traits, often at the cost of its unique creative spark.
"Unfortunately, once you’re assimilated by one of these companies, I think you take on some of their traits," he stated.
A key part of his worry revolves around incentive structures. At Activision, a lucrative bonus system was directly tied to the commercial performance of each Call of Duty release, serving as a powerful motivator for developers. Schofield fears this high-octane environment could be diluted by Microsoft's more standardized corporate compensation model.
"The other thing is, I don’t know, but I would imagine that the Call of Duty bonus system is out, and now you have theirs, and people are going to go ‘that isn’t that’," he speculated. This shift, he implies, could lead to a decrease in the relentless drive that has powered the annual release schedule for nearly two decades.
A "Creative Downturn" and an Exodus of Talent
Schofield's concerns are not merely theoretical. He backs them up by pointing to a tangible "creative downturn" and a significant exodus of veteran talent from the franchise's key studios. This includes his own departure from Sledgehammer, as well as the exit of co-founder Michael Condrey and David Vonderhaar, a legendary design director at Treyarch who left in 2023 after nearly two decades.
He also didn't shy away from critiquing the recent output of his former franchise. “I hate doing this, but since I left Sledgehammer, none of the games have been very good," Schofield admitted. "I mean, the last one (Modern Warfare 3, 2023) was a 50. They still sell well. You know, that happens.”
His assessment is echoed by critical and user reception. *2023's Modern Warfare 3* was met with a lukewarm Metacritic score of 56 and a brutal user score of 2.3, with many players criticizing its short campaign and feeling it was more of an expanded DLC than a full-priced sequel. Despite this, it was a commercial juggernaut, ending the year as the second best-selling game in the U.S., proving that the Call of Duty brand power remains immense, even if the critical acclaim has faded.
In a wider conversation about the state of the industry, Schofield elaborated on his philosophy and concerns in this insightful interview with VGC.
While Microsoft maintains that the acquisition has been a net positive, expanding Call of Duty's reach through Game Pass and cloud gaming, Schofield fears this corporate success may come at the cost of creative innovation. He reflects on his own career timing with a sense of poignancy, having been at the helm during what many consider the franchise's golden era.
"I feel like I got lucky. I feel like I was at the heyday of EA during my time there. I mean, it was a who’s who working there. And then I got to Activision, where I made Modern Warfare 3 (2011)."
As a matter of fact, that 2011 installment was the last Call of Duty title to win the coveted Action Game of the Year award at The Game Awards—a milestone that highlights how the franchise's standing among critics has shifted.
Whether Schofield’s fears materialize into a long-term reality for Call of Duty remains to be seen. But his powerful critique underscores a growing unease among veteran developers—a concern that in the quest for broader market access and corporate synergy, the soul of a beloved franchise could be the ultimate casualty.
For those interested in experiencing the titles that defined Glen Schofield's legacy, you can find the classic Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011) and other entries in the series here on Amazon.
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