Editing Infinity Ward (section)

==History==
Infinity Ward was founded as an independent game studio by Grant Collier, Jason West, and [[Vince Zampella]] in 2002, with a publishing agreement with [[Activision]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/activision-announces-long-term-exclusive-publishing-partnership-with-infinity-ward-77540912.html |work=[[PR Newswire Association LLC]] |access-date=January 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312050009/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/activision-announces-long-term-exclusive-publishing-partnership-with-infinity-ward-77540912.html |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |title=Activision Announces Long-Term Exclusive Publishing Partnership With Infinity Ward |date=May 21, 2002 |publisher=[[Cision]]}}</ref><ref name="IW">{{cite web|url=http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020521/latu053_2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020812040510/http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020521/latu053_2.html|title=Activision Announces Long-Term Exclusive Publishing Partnership With Infinity Ward|website=[[PR Newswire]]|publisher=[[Cision]]|via=[[Yahoo! Finance|Yahoo.com]]|archive-date=August 12, 2002|date=May 21, 2002|access-date=June 15, 2019}}</ref> The studio was formed by several members of [[2015 Games, LLC.]], the studio that developed the successful ''[[Medal of Honor: Allied Assault]]'' for [[Electronic Arts]] (EA) in 2002. Dissatisfied with the current contract they had under EA, Collier, West, and Zampella engaged with Activision to help establish Infinity Ward, which became one of the primary studios within Activision for the competing ''[[Call of Duty]]'' series.<ref name="forbes kotick">{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/052.html#788254c31a16 |title=Activision's Unlikely Hero |first=Peter |last=Beller |date=January 15, 2009 |access-date=February 12, 2019 |work=[[Forbes (magazine)|Forbes]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806105646/https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/052.html#788254c31a16 |archive-date=August 6, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Initially, Activision provided Infinity Ward {{USD|1.5 million}} for 30% stake in the company to start development on the first game ''[[Call of Duty (video game)|Call of Duty]]'', acquiring full ownership in October 2003 after the title was successfully launched.<ref name="vb if">{{cite web | url = https://venturebeat.com/2010/03/07/the-making-and-unmaking-of-infinity-ward/ | title = The making and unmaking of Infinity Ward | first = Dean | last =Takahashi | date = March 7, 2010 | access-date = January 3, 2020 | work = [[Venture Beat]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Activision Acquires Infinity Ward Developer Of Critically Acclaimed PC Game Call Of Duty™ |url=https://investor.activision.com/news-releases/news-release-details/activision-acquires-infinity-ward-developer-critically-acclaimed}}</ref> During this period, the studio was about 25 employees including many who followed Collier, West, and Zampella from 2015. Activision allowed Infinity Ward a great deal of freedom in how it developed its titles.<ref name="vb if"/>

Shortly after this release, [[Microsoft]] contacted Activision to seek a ''Call of Duty'' title as a launch title for the upcoming [[Xbox 360]] console.<ref name="vb if"/> Infinity Ward agreed to prepare ''[[Call of Duty 2]]'' for release in the last quarter of 2005. Collier said the request would help them lose the stigma of being only a personal computer developer, and so to make sure the console version was on parity, they tripled their staff to about 75 employees.<ref name="vb if"/> Much of the focus of Infinity Ward's development was improving its [[game engine]] to include realistic special effects, such as smoke grenades to hinder sight, or bullets piercing through weak materials.<ref name="vb if"/> ''Call of Duty 2'' was a major success, having an 85% attach rate to new Xbox 360 console sales, and selling 1.4 million units its first year.<ref name="vb if"/> At this point, Activision brought in [[Treyarch]], one of their internal studios, to help develop additional ''Call of Duty'' games, with Infinity Ward spending the time and effort to improve the game's engine for one game, and Treyarch using the updated engine to create a new title.<ref name="vb if"/> Treyarch released the next sequel ''[[Call of Duty 3]]'' while Infinity Ward itself developed ''[[Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]'', which instead of taking place during World War II, was set in a contemporary period with a fictional conflict between superpowers.<ref name="vb if"/> At the time of ''Modern Warfare''{{'}}s release, Infinity Ward had more than 100 employees.<ref name="vb if"/>

===2010 employee firings and departures===
Following the critical and financially successful release of ''[[Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]'' in 2007, Jason West (president, co-CCO, and CTO) and Vince Zampella (CEO) began contract negotiations with Activision. They promised to deliver ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2]]'' in 2009, but in exchange asked for extremely large bonuses and creative control of the ''Call of Duty'' series. Activision agreed, but added a clause to the contract that should they be fired, the rights to ''Call of Duty'' would fall back to Activision.<ref name="vg if respawn">{{cite web | url = https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2013/06/lawsuit-video-game-activision-zampella-west | title = MODERN WARFARE | first = Max | last= Chafkin | date=  June 11, 2013 | access-date = January 2, 2020 | work = [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] }}</ref>

Following the execution of the contract in 2008, Activision began seeking ways to find reason to fire West and Zampella to trigger the new clause. This in turn led to West and Zampella look to means to make Infinity Ward a studio outside of Activision's control.<ref name="vg if respawn"/> Events came to a head in February 2010 when Activision hired a lawfirm to investigate Infinity Ward. On March 1, 2010, West and Zampella were released by Activision for "insubordination", forfeiting the bonuses they had negotiated.<ref name="vg if respawn"/> The pair went on to form [[Respawn Entertainment]] in April 2010 as an independent studio, through working closely with EA on a yet-announced project (revealed in 2013 as [[Titanfall (video game)|Titanfall]]). Several dozen of Infinity Ward's employees resigned in the following months, many taking up positions at Respawn.<ref name="cyn-IW">{{cite web|url=http://www.cynicalsmirk.com/who_remains_at_infinity_ward.html |title=Who Remains At Infinity Ward ? |publisher=Cynicalsmirk.com |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3179080 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720160613/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3179080 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Who Remains at Infinity Ward? |publisher=cynicalsmirk.com |date=May 25, 2010 |access-date=May 25, 2010 }}</ref>

West and Zampella had been replaced on an interim basis by Activision CTO Steve Pearce and head of production Steve Ackrich.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gonzalez |first=Annette |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/03/02/activision-announces-new-plans-for-cod.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720204948/http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/03/02/activision-announces-new-plans-for-cod.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=July 20, 2012 |title=Activision's Future Plans For Call Of Duty Call For New Developer – News |publisher=GameInformer |date=March 2, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref> By November 2010, Activision had installed new management at Infinity Ward, and Vivendi chairman and CEO Jean-Bernard Lévy stated that Infinity Ward "got over" their problems and are fully reconstructed and that Activision is very happy with the result. The executive went on to say that there will be three studios working on the ''Call of Duty'' franchise including the newly formed studio Sledgehammer Games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/6284314.html|title=Infinity Ward 'reconstructed' – Vivendi CEO|publisher=CBS Interactive Inc|work=GameSpot|author=Tor Thorsen|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=March 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2b4555c8-f3d3-11df-901e-00144feab49a.html#ixzz1OovUy38j
 |title        = Vivendi sees continued success for COD franchise
 |author       = Tim Bradshaw
 |date         = November 19, 2010
 |publisher    = Financial Times
 |location     = Barcelona
 |archive-url  = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210181252/https://www.ft.com/content/2b4555c8-f3d3-11df-901e-00144feab49a#ixzz1OovUy38j
 |archive-date = December 10, 2022
 |url-status   = live
 |url-access   = subscription
 |access-date  = June 9, 2011
}}</ref>

Several lawsuits followed in the wake of West and Zampella's departure. The pair themselves initially filed suit against Activision shortly after their release to reclaim "substantial royalty payments" that Activision failed to pay them in the weeks leading up to their firing, estimated to be {{USD|36 million}};<ref name="vg if respawn"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Reilly |first=Jim |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/107/1074211p1.html |title=Infinity Ward Founders File Lawsuit Against Activision |publisher=IGN |date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name="IW v. Activision">{{cite web|last=Kollar |first=Phil |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/03/01/news-what-s-going-down-at-infinity-ward.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305221734/http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/03/01/news-what-s-going-down-at-infinity-ward.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=March 5, 2010 |title=UPDATE: Infinity Ward Vs. Activision |publisher=GameInformer |date=March 1, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Veto power">{{cite web|url=http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-4556-Future-Modern-Warfare-Releases-Could-Be-Vetoed-By-West-and-Zampella.html |title=Future Modern Warfare Releases Could Be Vetoed By West and Zampella |publisher=Xbox360Achievements |date=March 4, 2010 |first=Richard |last=Walker |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref> this figure eventually rose to over {{USD|1 billion}} by May 2012, based on Activision's filings with the [[United States Securities and Exchange Commission]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.develop-online.net/news/40829/West-Zampella-claim-grows-to-1bn | title = West-Zampella claim grows to '$1bn' | first = Seth | last = Tipps | date = May 17, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120520135910/http://www.develop-online.net/news/40829/West-Zampella-claim-grows-to-1bn | archive-date = May 20, 2012 }}</ref> Activision countersued the pair in April 2010, calling their actions to fire them justified and asserting the two were "self-serving schemers".<ref>{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Jim |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1082893p1.html |title=Activision Countersues Former Infinity Ward Execs |publisher=IGN |date=April 9, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616231947/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1082893p1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Activision amended its suit in December 2010 to include EA as a defendant, stating that their competitor had worked with West and Zampella to "destabilize, disrupt and ... destroy Infinity Ward", and sought {{USD|400 million}} in damages.<ref>{{cite web
| url         = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-dec-23-la-fi-1223-ct-activision-20101223-story.html
| title       = Activision sues Electronic Arts, seeks $400 million over Infinity Ward game studio
| author      = Alex Pham
| date        = December 23, 2010
| work   = Los Angeles Times
| access-date  = June 9, 2011
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url         = http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/activision-claims-ea-and-former-iw-execs-schemed-to-inflict-ser
| title       = Activision claims EA and former IW execs schemed to 'inflict serious harm on the company'
| author      = Christopher Grant
| date        = December 21, 2010
| publisher   = Joystiq
| access-date  = June 9, 2011
}}</ref> Separately, several former and current members of Infinity Ward under the name "Infinity Ward Employee Group" (IWEG) sued Activision for between {{USD|75 – 125 million}} for unpaid bonuses for work on ''Modern Warfare 2'' and an additional {{USD|75–500 million}} in punitive damages.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ryckert |first=Dan |url=https://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/04/27/new-iw-acti-lawsuit.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430120902/http://gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2010/04/27/new-iw-acti-lawsuit.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=April 30, 2010 |title=Activision Sued By New "Infinity Ward Employee Group" |publisher=GameInformer |date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reilly |first=Jim |url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1086448p1.html |title=Infinity Ward Group Sues Activision For Unpaid Bonuses |publisher=IGN |date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=May 21, 2010}}</ref> Ultimately by May 2012, Activision had settled with the IWEG for {{USD|42 million}},<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/2012/05/15/activision-pays-42-million-to-infinity-ward-employee-group/ | title = Activision pays $42 million to Infinity Ward Employee Group | first = JC | last = Fletcher | date =May 15, 2012 | access-date = January 2, 2020 | work = [[Engadget]] }}</ref> while private settlements were separately reached between Activision and EA, and between Activision, West and Zampella.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/west-zampella-settle-with-activision-in-infinity-ward-lawsuit/ | title=  West, Zampella settle with Activision in Infinity Ward lawsuit | first = Jessica | last =Conditt | date = May 31, 2012 | access-date = January 2, 2020 | work = [[Engadget]] }}</ref>

===2012 departure of Robert Bowling===

On March 27, 2012, Robert Bowling resigned as creative strategist of ''Call of Duty'' and a lead employee at Infinity Ward. In response, Activision issued a statement thanking Bowling for his service.<ref name="xbox360achievements">{{cite web|url=http://www.xbox360achievements.org/news/news-11264-Call-of-Duty-s-Creative-Strategist--Robert-Bowling-Exits-Infinity-Ward.html |title=Call of Duty's Creative Strategist, Robert Bowling Exits Infinity Ward – Xbox 360 News At |publisher=Xbox360achievements.org |access-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref> When questioned about his department, Bowling responded "Too much 'pew pew' not enough new new".<ref>{{cite tweet|user=fourzerotwo|last=Bowling|first=Robert|number=234064594170171393|title=Too much 'pew pew' not enough new new. RE: "why u no with infinity ward no more -.-" |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330195336/https://twitter.com/fourzerotwo/status/234064594170171393 |archivedate=March 30, 2014}}</ref> Signs of disagreement between Bowling and Infinity Ward arose in an interview in February 2012 when he stated: "I feel like we are in a fucking era where everyone is so focused on subscriber numbers and all that stuff that we need to get back to what I feel like we did so much better in the old days of just plain good will, like stuff like the LAN patch, yeah it is lower priority but let's get it out the fucking door. Let's just do it."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/infinity-ward-robert-bowling-call-duty-dlc-subscriptions/ |title=Robert Bowling Wanted to Release Free DLC and Axe Subscriptions |date=March 30, 2012 |website=Game Rant |access-date=September 29, 2021}}</ref><ref name="BowlingCommentsOnInfinityWard">{{cite web |last=Control |first=Mission |url=http://www.callofdutymappacks.com/news/robert-bowling-on-classic-maps-for-mw3-keep-classic-maps-outside-of-the-dlc-model/ |title=Robert Bowling on classic maps for MW3: Keep classic maps outside of the DLC model |publisher=Call Of Duty Map Packs |date=February 22, 2012 |access-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214034051/http://www.callofdutymappacks.com/news/robert-bowling-on-classic-maps-for-mw3-keep-classic-maps-outside-of-the-dlc-model/ |archive-date=February 14, 2013  }}</ref>

===Neversoft merger and further expansion===
In May 2014, [[Neversoft]] was merged with Infinity Ward to form a single 'super-studio' after both collaborated on the development of ''[[Call of Duty: Ghosts]]''. Neversoft studio head Joel Jewett and studio director Scott Pease retired shortly after the completion of the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://charlieintel.com/rumor-neversoft-losing-name-merging-with-infinity-ward/23579/ |title=Neversoft and Infinity Ward merging into a single studio under 'Infinity Ward' name |date=May 3, 2014 |website=Charlie Intel |access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/neversoft-infinity-ward-combined-super-studio/ |title=Neversoft and Infinity Ward Being Combined into 'Super Studio' |date=May 4, 2014 |website=Game Rant |access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/infinity-ward-and-neversoft-merge-to-form-infinity-ward |title=Infinity Ward and Neversoft Merge to Form... Infinity Ward |date=May 5, 2014 |website=usgamer.net |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928022416/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/infinity-ward-and-neversoft-merge-to-form-infinity-ward |url-status=dead}}</ref> By March 2015, Infinity Ward had over 250 employees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/16/8224831/call-of-duty-lead-designer-returns-to-infinity-ward-executive |title=Call of Duty lead designer returns to Infinity Ward, executive producer departs |date=March 16, 2015 |website=Polygon}}</ref>

Infinity Ward presently operates in five locations – California, Texas, Poland, Mexico and Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2021/10/07/call-of-duty-developer-infinity-ward-expands-with-new-austin-studio/ |title=Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward expands with new Austin studio |date=October 7, 2021 |website=Venture Beat |access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref> The studio in [[Kraków]], Poland opened in December 2017. The studio serves as a research and development center, and is headed by principal rendering engineer Michal Drobot.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-12-18-infinity-ward-to-open-polish-studio |title=Infinity Ward to open Polish studio |date=December 18, 2017 |website=gamesindustry.biz |access-date=September 3, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-duty-studio-infinity-ward-opens-new-office/1100-6455709/ |title=Call Of Duty Studio Infinity Ward Opens New Office In Poland |date=December 19, 2017 |website=GameSpot |access-date=September 3, 2021}}</ref> The Poland studio assisted in rebuilding the IW engine for the 2019 reboot of [[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 video game)|''Modern Warfare'']] and ''[[Call of Duty: Warzone]]''.<ref name= "IW8">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/08/26/the-impressive-new-tech-behind-call-of-duty-modern-warfare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827101452/https://www.gameinformer.com/2019/08/26/the-impressive-new-tech-behind-call-of-duty-modern-warfare |url-status=live |archive-date=August 27, 2019 |title=The Impressive New Tech Behind Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare |last=Shea |first=Brian |date=August 26, 2019 |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> In October 2021, Infinity Ward opened a new studio in [[Austin, Texas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/modern-warfare-dev-infinity-ward-opens-new-studio-in-austin-texas/1100-6496908/ |title=Modern Warfare Dev Infinity Ward Opens New Studio In Austin, Texas |date=October 8, 2021 |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 10, 2021}}</ref> In June 2023, Infinity Ward continued to expand with its fifth location, opening a studio in [[Barcelona]], Spain to continue supporting ''Modern Warfare'' as well as assisting development in ''Warzone Mobile''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/modern-warfare-studio-infinity-ward-establishes-new-spanish-team/ |title=Modern Warfare studio Infinity Ward establishes new Spanish team |date=June 28, 2023 |website=Video Games Chronicle |access-date=June 28, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/infinity-ward-opens-new-art-focused-office-in-spain |title=Infinity Ward opens new art-focused office in Spain |date=June 29, 2023 |website=Game Developer |access-date=June 29, 2023}}</ref>