The Two-Front War: Why Call of Duty Relies on Multiple Developers

The short answer to why Call of Duty has multiple developers is simple: to maintain the annual release schedule without sacrificing quality. Developing a AAA title like Call of Duty requires significant time, resources, and creative energy. Asking a single studio to produce a brand-new, high-quality installment every year is simply unsustainable. By rotating development between multiple studios, Activision can ensure a steady stream of new Call of Duty games while giving each development team ample time to create compelling and polished experiences. This strategic approach avoids the pitfalls of rushed development, such as burnout, compromised quality, and a lack of innovation.

The Strategic Division of Labor

The Call of Duty franchise has evolved from a single title to a multi-faceted behemoth, encompassing various sub-franchises, gameplay styles, and platforms. This complexity necessitates a strategic division of labor. Currently, the main studios responsible for the mainline Call of Duty games are Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games.

• Infinity Ward: Known for their grounded, realistic approach, Infinity Ward is often associated with the Modern Warfare sub-franchise. Their titles typically focus on contemporary conflicts, tactical gameplay, and cutting-edge technology.
• Treyarch: Treyarch is famous for its Black Ops series, which explores darker, more narrative-driven storylines, often delving into historical events and conspiracy theories. They are also the creators of the popular Zombies mode, a staple of the Call of Duty experience.
• Sledgehammer Games: Sledgehammer Games has tackled various settings, including World War II (Call of Duty: WWII and Call of Duty: Vanguard) and more modern conflicts (Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare). They often focus on innovative gameplay mechanics and immersive storytelling.

This rotation system allows each studio roughly three years of development time per title. This extended development cycle allows them to refine gameplay mechanics, create compelling narratives, and implement cutting-edge technology.

Beyond the Main Studios

While Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games are the primary developers of the mainline Call of Duty games, numerous other studios contribute to the franchise in various ways. These include:

• Raven Software: Raven Software has played a significant role in supporting Call of Duty development, particularly with the free-to-play Warzone experience.
• Beenox: Beenox has assisted with porting Call of Duty games to different platforms and developing supporting content.
• High Moon Studios: High Moon Studios has worked on various Call of Duty projects, including assisting with development and creating additional content.

The involvement of these support studios allows Activision to expand the Call of Duty universe, experiment with new gameplay mechanics, and ensure a consistent stream of content for players.

The Benefits of Multiple Developers

The benefits of employing multiple developers for the Call of Duty franchise are multifaceted:

• Sustained Annual Release Schedule: The rotation system ensures that a new Call of Duty game is released every year, maintaining the franchise’s visibility and popularity.
• Increased Quality: With three years of development time per title, each studio has ample opportunity to refine gameplay, polish graphics, and create compelling narratives.
• Innovation: The rotation system encourages innovation, as each studio has the freedom to experiment with new gameplay mechanics, settings, and storylines.
• Reduced Burnout: By rotating development, Activision can reduce the risk of burnout among its developers, leading to higher morale and productivity.
• Diversified Gameplay Experiences: Each studio brings its unique style and expertise to the franchise, resulting in a variety of gameplay experiences that cater to different player preferences.

Potential Challenges

While the multi-developer approach has proven successful for Call of Duty, it also presents certain challenges:

• Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring consistency across different Call of Duty games can be challenging, as each studio has its own vision and style.
• Balancing Innovation and Tradition: Striking the right balance between innovation and tradition is crucial to maintaining the franchise’s identity while keeping it fresh and engaging.
• Coordination and Communication: Effective coordination and communication between the various development studios are essential to avoid conflicts and ensure a cohesive franchise.
• Fan Expectations: Meeting the high expectations of Call of Duty fans can be challenging, as they often have strong opinions about what makes a great Call of Duty game.

The Future of Call of Duty Development

The future of Call of Duty development is likely to involve even greater collaboration and integration between the various studios. With the rise of live-service games and the increasing importance of cross-platform play, Activision will need to ensure that all Call of Duty experiences are seamlessly integrated and consistently updated. This will require even greater coordination and communication between the various development studios.

Furthermore, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft may lead to further changes in the Call of Duty development structure. Microsoft’s resources and expertise could potentially lead to even greater innovation and quality within the franchise.

The Call of Duty franchise continues to evolve, and its success relies on the ongoing collaboration and innovation of its talented development teams. Through a strategic division of labor and a commitment to quality, Activision can ensure that Call of Duty remains a dominant force in the gaming industry for years to come. To learn more about the gaming industry and its impact on learning, explore the resources at Games Learning Society, found at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many Call of Duty developers are there officially?

Officially, the main developers are Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games. However, several other studios, like Raven Software and Beenox, contribute significantly to the franchise.

2. Which Call of Duty developer makes the best games?

This is subjective! Each studio has its strengths. Infinity Ward excels at realistic modern combat, Treyarch delivers engaging narratives and Zombies, and Sledgehammer Games often introduces innovative gameplay mechanics.

3. What is the difference between Infinity Ward and Treyarch Call of Duty games?

Infinity Ward tends to focus on more realistic, contemporary military settings and tactical gameplay. Treyarch games often explore darker, more narrative-driven storylines, and they are known for their Zombies mode.

4. Is there a specific Call of Duty development cycle?

Yes, there’s a rough three-year cycle where Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games take turns developing the main Call of Duty titles.

5. Why does Call of Duty have so many different studios working on it?

Besides the main developers, having multiple studios allows Activision to support live-service elements, port games to various platforms, and create additional content. This ensures a consistent stream of updates and new experiences for players.

6. Who developed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)?

Sledgehammer Games, in partnership with Infinity Ward developed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023).

7. Who is developing the Call of Duty game for 2024?

Treyarch Studios is developing Call of Duty 2024.

8. Will Call of Duty continue to have multiple developers in the future?

It’s likely that the multi-developer approach will continue. It allows Activision to maintain its annual release schedule while fostering innovation.

9. How does Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard affect Call of Duty development?

Microsoft’s acquisition provides Activision with more resources and expertise, potentially leading to greater innovation and quality within the Call of Duty franchise.

10. Are all Call of Duty campaigns connected?

No, the Call of Duty games are not all within the same universe.

11. Which Call of Duty game has the largest install size?

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had one of the largest install sizes, reaching up to 250 GB with all high-resolution assets installed.

12. How do Call of Duty developers avoid stepping on each other’s toes?

Coordination and communication are key. Developers collaborate on game engines and core mechanics to maintain a consistent Call of Duty experience, while still allowing each studio to bring its unique vision to the franchise.

13. Who developed Call of Duty: Warzone?

Raven Software played a significant role in developing Call of Duty: Warzone.

14. How does the development of Warzone impact the development of the mainline Call of Duty games?

The development of Warzone requires significant resources and coordination, which can potentially impact the development schedule of the mainline Call of Duty games.

15. Does the multi-developer approach lead to a lack of consistency in Call of Duty games?

While each studio has its own style, Activision strives to maintain a consistent Call of Duty experience by collaborating on game engines, core mechanics, and overall franchise direction. However, some inconsistencies are inevitable due to the different visions of each studio.