"Call of Duty Studio's Multiplayer Director Departs"

Summary

• Call of Duty multiplayer creative director Greg Reisdorf has left Sledgehammer Games after 15 years.
• He was a key developer on various Call of Duty titles, starting with Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.
• Reisdorf led development of multiplayer for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including live season modes and content.

Call of Duty multiplayer creative director Greg Reisdorf announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after a remarkable 15-year tenure. Throughout his career at the studio, Reisdorf played a pivotal role in developing every Call of Duty title crafted by Sledgehammer, beginning with the iconic Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 released in 2011.

Founded on July 21, 2009, in Foster City, California, Sledgehammer Games made a swift impact in the gaming world, launching their first Call of Duty title just two years after inception. Over the years, they've collaborated with renowned studios like Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software on various Call of Duty releases, including the recent 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the ever-popular Call of Duty: Warzone.

On January 13, Greg Reisdorf confirmed his departure from Sledgehammer Games on January 10 via a Twitter thread, where he detailed his significant contributions and experiences. His journey began with the development of content for Modern Warfare 3, including the memorable Scorched Earth campaign mission. One of Reisdorf's standout achievements from this title was the intense sequence featuring Soap on a gurney during the Blood Brothers mission, which he described as "one of the most fun and chaotic moments" he worked on.

Call of Duty Multiplayer Creative Director Greg Reisdorf Leaves Sledgehammer Games After 15 Years

Reisdorf was instrumental in shaping the "boots off the ground" era of Call of Duty, particularly with his work on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. He contributed to the game's innovative gameplay systems, such as boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads, and developed unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps. However, he expressed mixed feelings about the "Pick 13" system, believing that streaks should not impact core equipment choices like primary and secondary weapons.

Reflecting on Call of Duty: WW2, Reisdorf discussed the initial state of the game upon its release. The Divisions system, which tied weapons to specific classes, limited player freedom—a decision he was glad to see reversed shortly after launch. His contributions to Call of Duty: Vanguard included enhancing the game's discovery and crafting traditional three-lane maps, which he favored for their focus on fun gameplay over military simulation.

Lastly, Reisdorf shared his experiences with the development of multiplayer maps for the 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He relished the opportunity to revisit and enhance classic maps from Modern Warfare 2 (2009), adding subtle details like Shepherd's skull on the Rust map. As the creative director of multiplayer, he directly influenced Modern Warfare 3's live season modes, including the innovative Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. Throughout the year, Reisdorf worked on over 20 modes for Modern Warfare 3, and he expressed excitement about his future endeavors in the gaming industry.