Crossfire, a new military shooter, is being developed by a team led by veteran designers Jacob Minkoff and Taylor Kurosaki, known for their significant contributions to titles like Uncharted 2, Uncharted 3, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, and the 2019 reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The duo, who have worked together for over 18 years, aim to deeply connect game design and narrative in Crossfire, a philosophy they have cultivated throughout their careers.
Minkoff and Kurosaki previously honed their craft at Naughty Dog. There, Kurosaki served as a narrative design lead, while Minkoff was instrumental in developing memorable sequences such as Uncharted 2's train level and Uncharted 3's dynamically shifting cruise ship escape. This signature approach involves transforming static environments into fluid, reactive spaces that challenge player interaction. In Crossfire, this philosophy is evident in its adaptive cover system, where player character Layla dynamically adjusts her stance to the terrain and enemy positions, fundamentally altering the player's relationship with the environment and presenting it as an active skill to master.
Following a period of creative change at Naughty Dog, Minkoff and Kurosaki moved to Infinity Ward. They joined the Call of Duty developer during a period of rebuilding after the departure of its original founders. Their work on 2016's Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, serving as narrative director and design director respectively, marked a shift towards character-driven drama and a focus on grounding its science-fiction setting. The campaign utilized a hub world, the UNSA Retribution, to foster intimate character interactions and explore themes of command and sacrifice, drawing lessons from games like Wolfenstein: The New Order. The game's design also embraced unconventional level navigation, allowing players to move between zero-gravity combat in open space and grounded encounters within spacecraft interiors.
Their work on the 2019 reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is widely credited with revitalizing the series. While Warzone garnered significant attention, the campaign continued the strong character work, emphasizing intimacy and tension over bombast. The narrative arc of siblings Farah and Hadir, shaped by trauma and diverging ideologies, was a particular highlight, showcasing the duo's ability to craft emotionally resonant stories.
Claudia Doumit, who portrayed Farah in Modern Warfare, returns to star in Crossfire. Kurosaki stated that in the new game, two opposing operators must form a temporary alliance for survival, a setup that echoes Naughty Dog's early success in exploring complex relationships under pressure. The creative team's history suggests a potential for similar narrative depth and engaging gameplay in Crossfire.