Latest speculation: Infinity Ward coup foiled by Activision – EA in the mix?
The Internet exploded last night after news of strife between Infinity Ward heads and Activision came to light. Apparently, two of the executives at the studio were fired by Activision with a lawsuit to follow.
According to G4TV, the site received an anonymous tip last night from a source close to the studio regarding some “bouncer-types†that showed up at Infinity Ward offices. The non-uniformed “bouncers†refused to reveal why they were there when asked by employees at Infinity Ward.
Apparently IW studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West met with Activision earlier in the day. It is speculated that the two studio heads have been fired. A recent scan of the SEC filing sent out yesterday reveals that two IW execs were under investigation into “breaches of contract and insubordination.†According to the source, relationship between Activision and IW has been “tense.â€
Activision CEO Bobby Kotick met with the IW staff to address the studio of what has happened. The outcome of the meeting is unknown at this time.
That is the extent of what is known thus far. However, that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from going into overdrive. Since I’m sure that’s what you guys are really interested in here is the most popular theory as to what happened:
(Everything below is speculation)
The rumor is that Vince Zampella and Jason West, the two senior executives at Infinity Ward was meeting with a competing publisher. This breaches the contract in place between the studio heads and Activision. It is assumed that the contract in reference to in the SEC filing is the one put in place after Activision’s buyout of Infinity Ward back in 2003. Technically IW is a subsidiary of Activision and owned by the publisher.
Infinity Ward was formed by 22 former employees from the same team that created Medal of Honor for EA back in 2002. The rumor is that the two studio execs met with EA recently breaching their contract with Activision. The discussion is speculated to be around a potential coup to extract the “talent†from IW and partner with EA.
Apparently Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick got wind of it and axed the two IW heads before they could pull their “loyal team members†out of the studio. The “bouncer†types have been speculated to be at IW offices to ensure that the coup does not happen.
The tension between the studio and Activision is said to stem from unpaid royalties from Modern Warfare 2. Its not unconceivable that IW may have tried to do a “Bungie†but Activision was not as graceful as Microsoft.
That is pretty much the extent of the speculations swirling the Web as of now. I’m curious to know how Activision found out about the secret meetings between IW heads and EA. Could it be that these guys are under constant surveillance?
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28 Responses to “Latest speculation: Infinity Ward coup foiled by Activision – EA in the mix?”
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March 3rd, 2010
I for one hope they get a loyal IW employees following and do start a new studio. I’m sure these guys are tired of constantly having to do another cod every two years.
March 3rd, 2010
they should just go and join NG
March 3rd, 2010
Slow day for stories
March 3rd, 2010
I’d find it odd if it was EA they were talking to, considering EA is the publisher they originally left.
March 3rd, 2010
“The tension between the studio and Activision is said to stem from unpaid royalties from Modern Warfare 2″
damn, Activision is a fucking greedy company! IW made them one of the most popular and best selling franchise this generation and the least Activision could do for them was to at least pay them the royalties they earn.
now they are just going to milk the shit out Call of Duty.
So Far they have Ruined the following franchises:
-Tony Hawk
-Spider-Man
-Wolfenstein
-Quake series
-Guitar Hero
March 3rd, 2010
It’s a shame that Sledgehammer games will be doing the new COD’s considering it was created by two people who left Visceral games (Dead Space). Not to take anything away from them but Activision will force them into not being creative. I expect more from the creators of Dead Space, and instead we’ll just keep getting COD [insert number].
Fuck you Activision!
March 3rd, 2010
This is exactly why I don’t buy ANY of their games. Bobby Kotick is a slimy piece of shit.
FUCK Activision!!
March 3rd, 2010
FUCK Activision, Rockstar, Valve!!
Soon I won’t have any games to buy. LOL
March 3rd, 2010
“FUCK Activision, Rockstar, Valve!!
Soon I won’t have any games to buy”
lmaoo….dont forget about Square Enix
even though im force to buy FF13 im really disappointed at S.E
March 3rd, 2010
are you going to get Neir also?
March 3rd, 2010
the game looks good and I want to see how S.E do outside of their RPG-centric games. I also read that the 360 version and the PS3 version are going to be completely different (to make multiconsole owner buy both)
March 3rd, 2010
SCE Santa Monica Studio will have to kill my parents to stop me from getting the next GOW.
March 3rd, 2010
idk about Neir. It looks ok… not great. I’m thinking it’s going to be a step down from Ninja Gaiden.
March 3rd, 2010
Also Roca,
The PS3 version (Replicant) is exclusive to Japan. The US is getting a different version that will be the same on 360 and PS3.
The sad things is that Replicant looks like the cooler version.
March 3rd, 2010
“The PS3 version (Replicant) is exclusive to Japan”
Square Enix really wants to push Microsoft out of Japan….im more excited about the upcoming “Majin: The Fallen Realm” from Namco
it looks good so far.
@BJ,
how come you dont post as often as you used to?
March 3rd, 2010
The New Halo Reach Beta Trailer is awesome. Can’t want till May 3
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/03/leaked-halo-reach-beta-trailer-shows-jet-packs-assassinations/
March 3rd, 2010
Jet packs? Halo : Tribes?
I imagine that if I was into Halo, I’d find that pretty cool.
March 3rd, 2010
Lol SW. You beat me to it.
March 3rd, 2010
@Roca,
School
That’s why I’m not on PSN as often either.
Majin does look good. Kind of like a mix between The Last Guardian and Where the Wild Things Are.
March 3rd, 2010
Looks like fun but I hate how they float instead of walking. Legs barely move in halo online games.
Looks stupid really.
March 3rd, 2010
PS3 owners have already done jetpacks
check this cool video out
http://playstation.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/warhawk-operation-fallen-star-expansion-pack-official-details/
March 4th, 2010
Red Faction online had jetpacks as well. I thought it was something original?
March 4th, 2010
So the “Infinity Ward: The Golden Egg Laying Goose Gets Killed”
So the next story will be “Call of Duty: The Golden Cow Milked to Death”
March 4th, 2010
Ousted IW studio heads file lawsuit against Activision.
They’re also trying to retain the Modern Warfare name.
I hope they win.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/04/ousted-infinity-ward-founders-file-suit-against-activision/
March 4th, 2010
I hope the lawyers involved win lots of money for themselves.
Fuck IW, and fuck Actitards.
March 4th, 2010
Lawyers always win.
@SW
Was it IW that chose to screw the PC users or did it come down from the top?
March 4th, 2010
Its usually the publisher that always fuck with the developers game. Kind of like EA fucked up the ultima franchise. Thats why I hope insomniac stays an independant dev
March 5th, 2010
Sony should needs to hired them and let them make their own Sony studio.