A former long-time Call of Duty developer has voiced criticism towards Activision executives for allegedly profiting significantly from re-releases of older titles, such as Black Ops 1 and 2, while the original creators receive no financial benefit.
Gavin Goslin, who spent over 15 years at Treyarch as a level artist and designer, shared his perspective on LinkedIn regarding the recent re-issues of Black Ops 1 and 2. He noted that these games, originally released over a decade ago, are now generating substantial revenue. Goslin stated that he and his colleagues poured immense effort and endured significant crunch time to ensure the quality of these titles, only to see executives benefit financially from their past work without compensation for the original developers.
Goslin's comments gained traction across various gaming media outlets, prompting a further statement from him. He expressed his satisfaction that this "critical conversation" is gaining attention, highlighting what he perceives as a fundamental flaw in the industry's valuation of talent. He argued that if older games continue to be financially successful for publishers, then corresponding rewards and protections should extend to the developers who worked to create them.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 were re-released in July and reportedly achieved considerable success for Activision and its owner, Microsoft. Reports indicate sales of approximately 11 million copies, generating nearly $450 million. These figures are particularly notable as the releases were simple re-issues rather than full remasters. According to US data tracker Circana, Black Ops 1 and 2 were not only the highest-earning games in July but also the fifth highest-earning games of the year. This performance is considered remarkable for games that are roughly 15 years old.
Meanwhile, the latest Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 4, is set to launch on Friday, October 23rd. The game has received positive reactions to its campaign from players who have had early access through pre-orders. A review of Modern Warfare 4 is currently in progress.