Tue, Mar 02, 2010 | 20:13 GMT
Rumour – Infinity Ward not paid royalties for Modern Warfare 2
According to a report from BingeGamer, Activision has not paid royalties to Infinity Ward over the success of Modern Warfare 2.
The article, citing sources “associated with Activision,” says it could be one of the big reasons why the studio had a massive face-off with the publisher today.
The report also says IW may have been looking for a new deal with another publisher, despite Activision buying the studio back in 2003.
It’s also thought the studio might have attempted to stop anyone other than IW developing the Modern Warfare series, as it partially owns the CoD series alongside Activision. According to that story, IW is contracted to Activision as a developer in an agreement that lasts until October this year.
Last we heard, Modern Warfare 3 could potentially be made by Acti upstart Sledgehammer, found by ex-Visceral heads Glen Schofield and Michael Condery.
Earlier this morning, a security detail team apparently showed up at the developer’s studio for unknown reasons. It was later discovered that Jason West, co-head of Infinity Ward, was no longer employed at IW.
Activision then filed with the SEC over “breaches of contract and insubordination” at IW.
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Posted in: Activision Blizzard, Hot, PC, PS3, Shooter, Xbox 360
Tags: activision, infinity ward, modern warfare 2
19 comments
#1
matirishh
02/03/10, 3:13 pm
KARMA strikes back, for what they’ve done with PC version
#2
mescalineeyes
02/03/10, 3:13 pm
wow.
#3
Blerk
02/03/10, 3:20 pm
If Activision don’t own IW, how could they ever ‘fire’ anyone from there? Or am I misunderstanding?
I suspect this is going to get much messier before it goes away.
#4
Goliath
02/03/10, 3:22 pm
This is shaping up to be one nasty hollywood style divorce.
#5
ryn.x
02/03/10, 3:23 pm
Can’t imagine what it’s like to be sat in that office today =/
#6
Egon Superb
02/03/10, 3:30 pm
That SEC paragraph says: “In November 2009, the Company released Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a game developed by one of the Company’s wholly-owned studios, Infinity Ward.” So are they wholly-owned or not?
#7
Blerk
02/03/10, 3:37 pm
Their Wikipedia page says they were ‘acquired by Activision in 2003′, so I suspect your story needs a tweak, Johnny. Of course, several of the other things mentioned in the report make no sense if IW are actually owned by Acti – they probably couldn’t have been looking for another publisher, for instance.
Possible those two could’ve been leading a revolt, though – planning to break away and form a new studio, taking half of the staff with them. You could kind of see how that’d have made Bobby pissed.
#8
Goliath
02/03/10, 3:38 pm
Infinity Ward is owned by Activision. Whatever the reason for the falling out, it seems that the two execs, West and Zampella were unceremoniously fired. Speculation is, they felt the studio didn’t fairly receive revenue from Modern Warfare 2′s success and this article seems to bear truth to this.
#9
Johnny Cullen
02/03/10, 3:42 pm
Fixed.
#10
Bikki
02/03/10, 3:55 pm
Acti is money grabing whores.
#11
OlderGamer
02/03/10, 3:58 pm
Acti is evil.
’bout sums it up for me.
#12
Dralen
02/03/10, 4:01 pm
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
#13
Len
02/03/10, 4:29 pm
Did Steph just pull her take on the IW thing off the front page, took my comment as well…?
We saw it, well I saw it, I think…
#14
Grimrita
02/03/10, 5:07 pm
Sounds like the cats getting the cream. All this on the eve of the release of a new Battlefield game haha.
Looks like the top cheese at IW didnt get their bonus pot, despite having a huge selling title – lifes a bitch
#15
Bulk Slash
02/03/10, 5:17 pm
Maybe Itagaki can give them some tips on how to sue for their missing royalties. Or at least they can share a few drinks with him…
#16
blackdreamhunk
02/03/10, 9:01 pm
my words are so solid it’s not funny
serves them right infity ward is not going to jobs after this they are done as compnay.
I don’t pitty them at all they wanted to work with satin him sel, that is what they get.
what goes around comes around!
#17
Bellisner
02/03/10, 9:04 pm
I want to work for satin-I hear he’s smooth…
#18
blackdreamhunk
02/03/10, 9:07 pm
@Bellisner
there will be wailing and nashing of teeth…..I hear infinty ward is now having problems……you just might get what you wish for!
#19
Bellisner
02/03/10, 9:24 pm
Indeed, a North American game studio has a spot of internal bother with their publisher- most likely over money. Such an unprecedented event can only point towards the rapture. Yep everyone had better make peace with their deity (except you polytheistic lot, you’re just buggered) because it’s all downhill from here.