And that studio is? None other than Sledgehammer Games. Activision announced today that it now has a three-year development cycle for all future Call of Duty games – beginning with 2014’s release. According to Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg during an earnings call today:
“This will give our designers more time to envision and innovate for each title. Simultaneously, it will give our content creators more focus on DLC and micro-DLC which, as you know, have become large and high-margin opportunities and significant engagement drivers. Finally, we’ll give our teams more time to polish, helping ensure we deliver the best possible experience to our fans – each and every time.”
Hirshberg also stated Activision, “needed a third studio capable of delivering the level of excellence required for the West’s biggest interactive entertainment franchise. [Sledgehammer Games] demonstrated their skill on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and on their past highly-rated games.”
2014’s Call of Duty game has yet to be announced, but expect the theme of ‘war’ to be used in some capacity.