Activision Blizzard Loses Key COD Dev

Summary

• Greg Reisdorf, Call of Duty multiplayer creative director, departed Sledgehammer Games after a 15-year tenure.
• His contributions spanned numerous Call of Duty titles, beginning with Modern Warfare 3 (2011).
• He spearheaded the multiplayer development for 2023's Modern Warfare 3, including its live seasonal content.

Greg Reisdorf, Call of Duty multiplayer creative director, announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after 15 years with the studio. His involvement extended across all Sledgehammer-developed Call of Duty titles, starting with the original Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.

Sledgehammer Games, founded July 21, 2009, in Foster City, California, launched its first Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare 3, just two years later. The studio collaborated with Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software on various Call of Duty releases, most recently 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone.

On January 13th, Reisdorf confirmed his January 10th departure via Twitter, sharing a thread detailing his accomplishments and experiences. His journey began with contributions to Modern Warfare 3, including the Scorched Earth campaign mission. He highlighted the "Blood Brothers" campaign sequence featuring Soap on a gurney as a particularly memorable and chaotic experience.

Call of Duty Multiplayer Creative Director Greg Reisdorf Leaves Sledgehammer Games After 15 Years

Reisdorf played a key role in the early "boots on the ground" era of Call of Duty, contributing to Advanced Warfare's gameplay mechanics, including boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads. His work also encompassed unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer map design for Advanced Warfare. He expressed reservations about the "Pick 13" system, believing that killstreaks should be rewards separate from essential equipment like primary and secondary weapons.

Reisdorf also reflected on his work on Call of Duty: WW2, acknowledging initial concerns about the game's launch state. He noted the initial restrictions imposed by the "Divisions" system in WW2, which limited weapon choices based on class, a decision later reversed. His contributions to Call of Duty: Vanguard included the design of its discovery and traditional three-lane maps, a style he prefers for its focus on fun gameplay over strict military realism.

Finally, Reisdorf discussed his involvement in developing multiplayer maps for 2023's Modern Warfare 3. He enjoyed revisiting and updating classic Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps, adding subtle details like Shepherd's skull in Rust. As multiplayer creative director, he oversaw the development of Modern Warfare 3's live seasonal modes, including Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. He worked on over 20 modes throughout Modern Warfare 3's post-launch support, and expressed excitement for his future endeavors within the gaming industry.