While this particular slice of drama has been revisited a few too many times already, a new GameInformer interview sees ousted Infinity Ward heads West and Zampella in a rather more affable and earnest mood. The reason Activision fired and sued them? “We deprived them of our services by being fired and therefore we owe them money,” jokes West.
Their pair’s master plan as espoused by their former employer in court, was supposedly to engineer their own firings in order to elope to EA. “Let me leave behind all the tech I’ve spent eight years working on, the 100 million dollars I’ve earned, the momentum in my career, my team, and let me start all over with a small team and development budget on a game I haven’t even thought about that no one has seen or bought,” their lawyer dutifully explained.
The Fallout with Activision
The fallout between Infinity Ward’s co-founders and Activision was one of the most high-profile disputes in the gaming industry. West and Zampella were instrumental in creating the “Call of Duty” franchise, which became a massive success and a cornerstone of Activision’s portfolio. However, tensions began to rise over creative control and financial compensation. Activision accused the duo of insubordination and breach of contract, leading to their abrupt termination in 2010. This move shocked the gaming community and led to a series of lawsuits and counter-lawsuits that highlighted the often tumultuous relationship between creative talent and corporate management in the gaming industry.
Building Respawn Entertainment
After their departure from Infinity Ward, West and Zampella founded Respawn Entertainment in 2010. Despite the legal battles and the uncertainty surrounding their future, they were determined to continue making groundbreaking games. Respawn’s first major project was “Titanfall,” a first-person shooter that introduced innovative gameplay mechanics such as parkour and giant mechs. Released in 2014, “Titanfall” received critical acclaim for its fast-paced action and unique multiplayer experience. The success of “Titanfall” helped establish Respawn as a formidable player in the gaming industry.
Respawn didn’t stop there. They continued to innovate with the release of “Titanfall 2” in 2016, which included a highly praised single-player campaign in addition to its robust multiplayer mode. The studio also ventured into the battle royale genre with “Apex Legends” in 2019. “Apex Legends” quickly became a massive hit, attracting millions of players worldwide and earning numerous awards for its gameplay and design.
The journey of West and Zampella from Infinity Ward to Respawn Entertainment is a testament to their resilience and creativity. Despite the challenges and controversies, they managed to build a new studio that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in video games.
Source GameInformer
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