Papers signed in 2008 shows only one Call of Duty studio has control over modern settings
Treyarch’s next game in the Call of Duty franchise could be in breach of a studio agreement signed in 2008 by both Activision and Infinity Ward executives.
Black Ops II is the first original Call of Duty game developed by Treyarch that plays out modern-day and futuristic scenes, yet a Memorandum of Understanding suggests the studio is prohibited from framing its games within the “post-Vietnam” era.
Activision representatives, as well as Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia, declined to comment on the matter when approached by Game Informer.
The Infinity Ward Memorandum of Understanding was agreed two years before studio directors Vince Zampella and Jason West were dismissed by Activision, in a move that sparked a acrimonious and highly public lawsuit.
It is not understood if Activision’s Memorandum of Understanding with Infinity Ward is still binding. The company has not clarified the situation.