Former Call of Duty developer and Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling has said what the series’ fans have been saying for a number of years now: Call of Duty needs “revitalization” rather than annual releases.
Unfortunately, these words mean nothing to Activision Blizzard because the annual titles are precisely the gift that keeps on giving. Profits continue to mount and sales records continue to be broken despite heaps of criticism about questionable design choices and lackluster execution.
In response to a tweet criticizing the state of Call of Duty: Vanguard, Bowling wrote:
It’s time to build from the studs up. We need more than iteration, we need revitalization. A focus back on core gameplay and not content gateways. We used to treat our players like community and not consumers. We brought them in to the fold for map feedback not market feedback.
Bobby Kotick and Activision Blizzard shareholders probably disagree.
It’s time to build from the studs up.
We need more than iteration, we need revitalization.
A focus back on core gameplay and not content gateways.
We used to treat our players like community and not consumers. We brought them in to the fold for map feedback not market feedback
— Robert Bowling (@fourzerotwo) December 31, 2021
Bowling spent six years at Infinity Ward and worked on Call of Duty 2, Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2, and Modern Warfare 3. He held various roles following his departure from Activision Blizzard, and is currently the studio head of Midnight Society – a development company founded by popular streamer Dr Disrespect. Bowling has been joined by former Gears of War and Halo developer Quinn DelHoyo.
Midnight Society claims that it has assembled a team of veteran AAA developers who “live, breathe, and sleep in the realm of PvP multiplayer.” The team has promised to involve the gaming community in its development process.
[Source: Twitter via GameSpot]