Glen Schofield, widely recognized for his pivotal role in developing the original Dead Space, also boasts a significant background at Activision. He served as co-director and producer on several Call of Duty installments, including the original Modern Warfare 3, Advanced Warfare, and WW2. Even though he has since distanced himself from the franchise, he expresses considerable concern regarding its future under Microsoft’s stewardship.
“Well, I mean, first of all if they go to not every year, they lose a billion dollars every year, so that’s why Call of Duty never did that,” Schofield remarked in an interview with VGC, reflecting on his apprehensions about the franchise’s direction as it transitions to Xbox ownership.
“I worry about it immensely, I really do,” he added. “Because what’s happening to Gears of War, where’s Halo… you know what I mean? And you look at EA, you look at these big companies, and I’m like where’s the Strike games? Where’s this game? And there are so many that just fall by the wayside.”
The Strike series, which doesn’t often get revisited in today’s discussions, consists of overhead shooting games featuring military helicopters and spans platforms from the Genesis to the PS1. This title serves as a poignant example of franchises that have faded away within EA’s archives. While it may be difficult to envisage Call of Duty facing a similar fate, Schofield underscores the reality that franchises like Halo and Gears of War have undeniably lost their former glory in the current landscape of Xbox.
“Unfortunately, once you’re assimilated by one of these companies,” Schofield observes, “I think you take on some of their traits.” He further asserts that Call of Duty is already experiencing a decline, claiming that “since I left Sledgehammer, none of the games have been very good.”
In just a few weeks, we’ll witness the initial phase of Xbox’s Call of Duty evolution with the release of Black Ops 7. For those preparing for the launch, be sure to check our comprehensive guide covering all the maps in Black Ops 7 for an advantage on release day.