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[Draugoth]

​

Call of Duty Leaker TheGhostofHope says that current plan of Microsoft with layoffs is to have outsourced contractors for the future games like they had with Halo Infinite:

Wanna know what Microsoft’s plan with Call of Duty is? It’s the same as it was for Halo Infinite… They’re gonna hire outside contractors then once that contract hits a limit where they have to actually make them a part of MSFT, they will end the contract & hire a new contractor. You basically work on the games but you’re not actually an employee of said game studio you work under. It led to a lot of problems for Halo Infinite. It’s even worse for COD than something like Halo too cause COD has a yearly release lol. So fucking fun.

In response, he says that this is very bad for Call of Duty games moving foward

---

Some of TheGhostofHope previous leaks:

1,2, 3, 4, 5

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Microsofts not a charity. Got to trim the fat. Economics 101. Lay offs are normal after an M&A

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

So this is how COD dies.

 

[Dr_Ifto]

This has got to be fake, right?

Why buy them if you dont want them to continue the IP you paid billions for?

 

[Salz01]

So you’re telling me this 2024 CoD is basically the last one that will be probably decent. Then everything will really go to shit.

 

[twilo99]

If they can get CoD multiplayer to the level of polish they got Halo to currently... all in

 

[Roxkis_ii]

Ahhh that Microsoft touch everyone was talking about before the acquisition.

Remember how Xbox fans were cheering this on? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

 

[clarky]

If they can get CoD multiplayer to the level of polish they got Halo to currently... all in

Every COD gets just a year so if you fancy just one six month season, limited game modes and 7 maps before they cut support. Then a new COD, then be my guest and go all in.

 

[user friendly]

Isn't this basically what happened with Halo?

Haha, it's right in the OP... my bad.

 

[wvnative]

Wow.......

 

[jroc74]

This cant be real....if so....

Oof.

 

[Pelta88]

 

[SlimySnake]

lol Amazing. MS Never learns from their mistakes.

CoD under kotick was already a mess. Good luck with shitty MS contractors.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

To be fair, its not like Sledgehammer made great COD games. Hopefully, if contractors are used the brunt of it replaces Sledgehammer head office. Their latest game is probably the best one IMO. And thats mainly because I like the old 2009 maps. Their other games are pretty crap. WWII was decent. But Vanguard is easily the worst COD game out of all the ones I played.

 

[RiccochetJ]

Considering the news lately, I can't outright dismiss it, but this story doesn't sound right. Why completely overhaul the thing that you probably spent the most of that 69 billion for?

 

[DaciaJC]

Not sure how much stock I would put into this leaker, to be honest.

 

[Hudo]

Ahhh that Microsoft touch everyone was talking about before the acquisition.

Remember how Xbox fans were cheering this on? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

On the other hand, the "Microsoft touch" also resurrected Age of Empires.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

If true:

WTF DID YOU BUY ACTIVISION FOR THEN?

 

[Killjoy-NL]

 

[Fake]

This is absurd LOL

 

[MikeM]

This can’t be true. If so, MS is clearly where IP goes to die.

 

[user friendly]

This is a joke, right?

Spend all that money to buy basically one damn game and then start messing with the formula that made it what it is? Are they mental? If not mental, they sure are bold.

 

[Dorfdad]

The only concern I have with this, is that using outside vendors for specific parts of the game can change the feel and flow of a game. There isn't a single midget on the levels, feel etc... Activision has been stale and just making the same shit over and over with little changes mostly bad for 10 years. Im ok with this as long as Microsoft allows Respawn to make a Titanfall 3!!!!

 

[Doom85]

Seriously, what the fuck are they doing over there?!

 

[MiguelItUp]

Wow, lmao. I mean, if this is real, it's a shame for COD and COD fans. But on the same note, it could potentially mean a lot of good for the series. Considering at this point it's practically the same game time and time again. Something needs to change. If something like this is what makes it change, or even kills it, so be it.

I just feel so bad for all the devs involved. Everything is such a shit show.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Infinity ward and treyarch increased their operations and have been making cod games for years, those studious went after the heart of warfare (modern warfare, world at war, black ops etc.) they could really benefit from one of those studios.

 

[Punished Miku]

Isn't this basically what happened with Halo?

Honestly Halo is really good. It was slow in development because they had engine issues. And they fully failed on creating a GAAS pipeline at launch. But that seems to have hobbled even the best devs, including Naughty Dog.

As for Call of Duty, I'll just wait and see. If it goes south we'll all see it.

 

[Dorfdad]

This is a joke, right?

Spend all that money to buy basically one damn game and then start messing with the formula that made it what it is? Are they mental? If not mental, they sure are bold.

Microsoft bought the IP's they dont give a damn about the people. They want the rights to publish and license those NAMES. a shoe is a shoe until it gets a Nike Logo than its worth 50.00 more for the same reason.

 

[Darsxx82]

"leaker"
I rather see someone speculating. Which doesn't mean it's not right.

That said, layoffs at Activision/COD could have been around ~500 (to say a possible figure) when the development of each COD is carried out each year by around 7000-8000 devs (from 11 Studios/teams?) I don't think it could have an effect that would decide how good or bad a COD could be.
Another thing is that this was only the beginning of a process. Which would be decisive for a COD 2030 not for COD 2025.

 

[Dick Jones]

Microsofts not a charity. Got to trim the fat. Economics 101. Lay offs are normal after an M&A

Explain Greenberg then.

 

[CamHostage]

If true:

WTF DID YOU BUY ACTIVISION FOR THEN?

Why, you ask, buy a Publisher/Developer if you're just going to fire the publishers and supposedly also farm out all the development?

They paid $69bil so they could put the word "Call of Duty" on a box in stores.

...Oh, except also, they won't be putting boxes in stores anymore.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Explain Greenberg then.

 

[March Climber]

"leaker"
I rather see someone speculating. Which doesn't mean it's not right.

Same. I'll wait and see before dogpiling on MS.

Draugoth is trained in the art of clickbait-fu. It can be effective at times when it comes to riling up gaffers.

 

[GHG]

What could go wrong?

 

[skit_data]

I can finally see what everyone meant when they said this acquisition would be good for the industry

CoD finally dies

 

[Negotiator101]

lol Amazing. MS Never learns from their mistakes.

CoD under kotick was already a mess. Good luck with shitty MS contractors.

What's that? becoming the biggest publicly traded company in the world? Yeah when will they learn

 

[user friendly]

Microsoft bought the IP's they dont give a damn about the people. They want the rights to publish and license those NAMES. a shoe is a shoe until it gets a Nike Logo than its worth 50.00 more for the same reason.

But they are messing with what made it what it is. They start messing with the formula, it's not going to be the same. I get what you mean though but there are shitty nikes as well. If COD starts to suck, it won't matter what the name is. It may take a few iterations to fall but this doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

What's that? becoming the biggest publicly traded company in the world? Yeah when will they learn

 

[SlimySnake]

What's that? becoming the biggest publicly traded company in the world? Yeah when will they learn

I couldnt care less about their market cap. Im not a shaderholder. I play games and their games are lacking in quality, innovation and ambition.

 

[buenoblue]

Infinity Ward will be making Avatars soon

 

[Draugoth]

"leaker"
I rather see someone speculating. Which doesn't mean it's not right.

That said, layoffs at Activision/COD could have been around ~500 (to say a possible figure) when the development of each COD is carried out each year by around 7000-8000 devs (from 11 Studios/teams?) I don't think it could have an effect that would decide how good or bad a COD could be.
Another thing is that this was only the beginning of a process. Which would be decisive for a COD 2030 not for COD 2025.

Same. I'll wait and see before dogpiling on MS.

Draugoth is trained in the art of clickbait-fu. It can be effective at times when it comes to riling up gaffers.

This leaker is somewhat reliable. Which is why i posted this. You can check some previous leaks in the post

 

[Dorfdad]

But they are messing with what made it what it is. They start messing with the formula, it's not going to be the same. I get what you mean though but there are shitty nikes as well. If COD starts to suck, it won't matter what the name is. It may take a few iterations to fall but this doesn't seem like a good idea.

I buy every cod and I think it sucks. It just one of those games you and 4-5 friends can get on and play with very little thought. You don't have to concentrate and be on the edge while playing it. Just run around and gun. Die so what you respawn in 3 seconds. There isn't a real penalty for it. This is why I play Battle Royals and other games make you stress and think harder and play slower due to having to wait for respawn or just be out of it after death.

Im pulling for Xdefinace if it ever comes out lol. Loved the beta's and where they were heading.

 

[kingsamj]

This is (to SOME extent) what all big game studios do. Not all employees of course but they all do the contractor rotation for some portion of the workforce.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

What's that? becoming the biggest publicly traded company in the world? Yeah when will they learn

Meanwhile, said biggest publicly traded company can't run a games division.
Which should be of concern for Xbox fans.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

This is nonsense, every CoD studio has 300+ people, so they are just gonna fire 1000 people and close the studios?

 

[PectacularOz]

This has got to be fake, right?

Why buy them if you dont want them to continue the IP you paid billions for?

Because you think you can get the same return cheaper.
Spoilers: you can't

 

[Jack Package]

So they buy most of the best FPS makers in the world, then what? Farm COD out to fucking India?
Morons.

 

[intbal]

Why completely overhaul the thing that you probably spent the most of that 69 billion for?

Candy Crush?

 

[PixelatedBeast]

Ahhh that Microsoft touch everyone was talking about before the acquisition.

Remember how Xbox fans were cheering this on? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

I dont know why anybody is surprised by this. Its well known that Micrososft has a management problem. They should have never been trusted to manage an IP like COD after letting Halo rot.

 

[Deerock71]

Ahhh that Microsoft touch everyone was talking about before the acquisition.

Remember how Xbox fans were cheering this on? Pepperidge Farms remembers.

You old!