During Activision’s financial call today, company CEO Bobby Kotick has revealed that thirty-five Infinity Ward developers have resigned from their positions at Activision.
“Since we terminated the two executives at Infinity Ward, approximately 35 others have resigned, and it is likely a few more people will leave as well,” he said. “Many of these people have been recruited by other studios because of how talented they are.”
“We are obviously disappointed about this, and we wish we could have convinced some of these talented people to stay,” Kotick added.
Last month, Call of Duty creators Jason West and Vince Zampella formed Respawn Studios after being the first to leave Infinity Ward. As many as fifteen of the employees who’ve left Infinity Ward afterward have joined up in West and Zampella’s new operation.
“I personally consider the two of them friends, and their conduct was a compromise of our friendship, which was equally disappointing,” Kotick said. “Once we began to understand what had occurred, there was no grey area. There was nothing to allow us to retain their services as talented as they might have been.”
Kotick added that Activision has been re-energizing Infinity Ward lately by hiring talented new staffers to beef up the team.
Thanks, IGN.
Hmm, whom to believe, the Devil or the 35 people who left? Crafty, manipulative words from Kotick; “friends” + “once we began to understand what had occured, there was no grey area”. Trying to cause doubt without revealing any information. If it had been anyone else with a better record of public media statements, it might have worked on more people. As far as I see it, everything Kotick has said makes him bad for this industry.