There are only three things in life that are a certainty, and that’s death, taxes and a new Call of Duty every year. For the last couple of years, Treyarch and Infinity Ward have taken turns releasing a Call of Duty game every two years. And now, that threesome just added another partner.
Activision Blizzard recently held their fourth quarter and calendar 2013 report (Via VG247), where it was confirmed that Sledgehammer Games would be the third studio to work on a Call of Duty title, with the franchise sticking to an annual release pattern.
With a third studio on board, this now means that each Call of Duty game will have roughly three years development time, up from the usual two year. Sledgehammer is in fact working on the 2014 Call of Duty, which Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick gushed about, saying that it will be “one of if not the best” Call of Duty games ever made.
It doesn’t even matter how good the game is at this point, because Call of Duty is still a license to print cash for Activision Blizzard. While worldwide sales may have dipped, the series still has a strong presence in its homeland of the USA, with Ghosts being the best-selling game of 2013.
Honestly, I still feel that the franchise needs a break. The problem with Call of Duty, is that it can’t change the core format too much, or the market that actually does invest in a new game every year will be sending out childish death threats once again.
A three year development cycle is a good show of faith, but as for how much polish you can add to a COD game, that remains to be seen. And out of those three studios, Treyarch is still clearly leading when it comes to creating a quality single-player and multiplayer game. And dammit, I don’t want to wait three years for their COD to arrive.
Last Updated: February 7, 2014
Umar Hyakutaro [S]
February 7, 2014 at 11:05
Oh Lucy…..oh sweet sweet Lucy…..Ahh…Ms Heartfilia…….Okay, enough now….
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 7, 2014 at 11:09
Tee hee…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 7, 2014 at 11:17
Seriously.. COD.. die already!
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:45
We need to make a plan mate. Come up with some way of burying it…
Hammersteyn
February 7, 2014 at 11:19
Nice header but it’s more like….
HvR
February 7, 2014 at 11:20
” Bobby Kotick said gushed about, saying that it will be “one of if not the best””
One of these years Bobby is going to crack and remark “who are we kidding, it is the same shit with more lighting effects, realistic squirrel simulation and an attack guinea pig partner”
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:41
” attack guinea pig partner called Fluffy” REALLY?!?!?!? !Super amped!
Unavengedavo
February 7, 2014 at 11:25
What is that idiom again? Too many chefs spoil a broth?
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 12:09
Two’s company, three’s a crowd?
Alex Hicks
February 7, 2014 at 14:39
Not in our rendezvous! Three’s company too.
*sing the theme song bitches .. sing it*
ToshZA
February 7, 2014 at 19:59
Theme song? O_o
Ryanza
February 7, 2014 at 11:35
Giving Call of Duty developers an extra year, so is that now like a six hour campaign.
3 year development cycle means shit if they do not build a new engine from the ground up. 3 years of adding more levels to that shit pile, no thank you.
RinceThis2014
February 7, 2014 at 11:40
Oh man…
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 7, 2014 at 11:51
Woot. Fairy Tale header FTW!
CAE9872
February 7, 2014 at 12:15
I actually don’t know what to say about that one…yay *said in my most enthusiastic voice….not*
I saw someone post (different site) that they should just call them COD 2014, COD 2015, and so on. They have a point!!!
I don’t mind COD but really? Does it need 3 studios.
Apparently the CEO referred to allowing them to make DLC and micro-DLC…what the f**k is micro-DLC…unless its microtransactions via an Actvision name-change!
Devourer of Small Bunnies
February 7, 2014 at 12:42
Nothing to see here folks, move along.
xANONx
February 7, 2014 at 12:45
“Treyarch is still clearly leading when it comes to creating a quality single-player and multiplayer game.” – WHAT?!?!?
Treyarch suck donkey balls! Infinity Ward have made MUCH better CoD games!
DaxterZA
February 7, 2014 at 13:43
Treyarc is definitely the best out of the 3 studios, Im quite upset that this years COD is not going to be made by them 🙁
Aussious
February 7, 2014 at 17:09
That’s impossible I am almost willing to bet my life that GTA V sold way more than Ghosts in my estimates… Just to be safe I check my sources again!
Aussious
February 7, 2014 at 17:17
According to all my sources (GOOGLE!) GTA V killed everything last year now imagine Rockstar decided to annualise the series… Scary thought.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/video-game-news/10618838/GTA-V-named-best-selling-game-of-2013.html