Former Call of Duty lead Glen Schofield has expressed significant concern over the future of the franchise under Microsoft's stewardship. In a recent interview, he highlighted alarm over the series’ recent decline in quality and the lack of visibility for other iconic franchises like Gears of War and Halo. Schofield indicated that after leaving Sledgehammer Games, the quality of Call of Duty titles diminished, pointing specifically to Modern Warfare (2023) as an example. He noted that previous teams consisted of influential developers which contributed to more impactful games, contrasting with the current trajectory of the series. Schofield also reflected on his mixed success after leaving Activision, revealing struggles with his new game, The Callisto Protocol.

What are Glen Schofield's concerns about Call of Duty's future under Microsoft?

Glen Schofield is worried that the quality of Call of Duty is declining under Microsoft, fearing that the series is losing its core identity and creativity due to corporate influence and the removal of key developers from its development teams.

The Call of Duty franchise has significantly shaped the first-person shooter genre since it debuted in 2003. With successful titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the series has maintained a massive fanbase and consistently high sales. However, the recent changes in leadership and corporate structure at Activision post-Microsoft acquisition have raised concerns among both former developers and fans about the series' future direction and quality.