Activision Worldwide Studios boss Dave Stohl says that publisher is going to let Infinity Ward rebuild in its own way, without any outside meddling.
Earlier this year, Infinity Ward was the center of controversy as studio heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, were fired on charges of insubordination. In the following weeks, dozens of staff left the developer, with many finding a new home at West and Zampella’s new EA backed studio, Respawn.
Some sources suggested that Infinity Ward was for all intents and purposes dead, but Stohl says that he is confident the developer will “rise from the ashes.” He says that the Activision plans to take a hands-off approach with the studio as it gets back to strength, offering support, but not interfering. “We want Infinity Ward to be Infinity Ward,” he said. “It’s a very specific culture.” Stohl adds that he won’t pretend that the studio didn’t lose good people, but says that there is still a lot of very talented staff still there – some of whom have been promoted to more senior positions – and that there is a lot of very skilled new blood joining as well.
This isn’t the first time that Stohl has expressed his belief that Infinity Ward will bounce back, but until the studio releases an actual game, it’s impossible to know for sure one way or the other. Infinity Ward has certainly been hit hard, but that doesn’t meant it can’t recover.
Source: Develop
