Call of Duty Studio Loses Multiplayer Development Director

Summary

• Greg Reisdorf, the creative director for Call of Duty multiplayer, has departed from Sledgehammer Games after a 15-year tenure.
• He played a pivotal role in developing various Call of Duty titles, beginning with Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.
• Reisdorf spearheaded the multiplayer development for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including live season modes and content.

Greg Reisdorf, the creative director for Call of Duty multiplayer, has announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after spending 15 years with the studio. His journey with Sledgehammer began with the development of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, released in 2011. Sledgehammer Games, established on July 21, 2009, in Foster City, California, launched its first Call of Duty title just two years after its inception. Over the years, the studio has collaborated with Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software on various Call of Duty releases, including the latest 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the popular Call of Duty: Warzone.

On January 13, Greg Reisdorf took to Twitter to confirm his exit from Sledgehammer Games on January 10. In a detailed thread, he shared his accomplishments and experiences as a developer. Rising through the ranks at Sledgehammer, Reisdorf contributed significantly to 2011's Modern Warfare 3, particularly the Scorched Earth campaign mission. One of his standout contributions was the sequence featuring Soap on a gurney in 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 played a key role in ushering in the "boots off the ground" era of Call of Duty with his work on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare's gameplay systems, such as boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads. He also developed unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps for Advanced Warfare. However, he expressed mixed feelings about the "Pick 13" system, arguing that streaks should not impact essential items like primary and secondary weapons.

Reflecting on Call of Duty: WW2, Reisdorf discussed the game's initial state at launch, particularly the Divisions system that locked weapons to specific classes, limiting player freedom. He was pleased that this decision was quickly reversed post-launch. His contributions to Call of Duty: Vanguard's multiplayer included the game's discovery and traditional three-lane maps, which he favored for their emphasis on fun gameplay over military simulation.

Finally, Reisdorf shared his experiences developing multiplayer maps for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He relished the opportunity to revisit classic Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps and add unique touches, like Shepherd's skull on Rust. As the creative director of multiplayer, he directly oversaw Modern Warfare 3's live season modes, including Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. Throughout the year of post-launch support, Reisdorf worked on over 20 modes for Modern Warfare 3. He expressed excitement about his future in the gaming industry, hinting at continued involvement in game development.