Image source: Activision
Hot off the heels of Activision’s big MW3 reveal, former Treyarch Studio Design Director David Vonderhaar has made the announcement that he is departing from both the Call of Duty studio and Activision.
Call of Duty Veteran Dev Quits Activision
Vonderhaar took to LinkedIn to explain his reasoning behind leaving the company. Having dedicated almost twenty years to working on Call of Duty and contributing to eight titles in the series, he expressed his appreciation for the time spent refining his skills. He highlighted the studio’s unwavering dedication to consistently enhancing game design and production.
Vonderhaar also took a moment to extend his heartfelt thanks to the Call of Duty community for their unwavering “passion and enthusiasm.” He acknowledged the vital role this energy played in motivating the studio and its individuals.
Call of Duty 2: Big Red One in 2005 was Vonderhaar’d first COD project, initially serving as an Online Manager. His career quickly ascended, and he assumed the role of Lead Multiplayer Designer for Call of Duty 3. By the time of the Black Ops series, he had become the Studio Design Director, a position he held through much of that series until Black Ops 4.
During BO4’s development, his focus shifted mainly to the game’s Career mode, although this mode was eventually canceled, and the decision was made for BO4 to forgo a traditional single-player campaign. Instead, Vonderhaar contributed to Blackout, the battle royale mode that served as a precursor to today’s Call of Duty Warzone.
Regarding his future plans, David has chosen to keep details under wraps for now, but he has confirmed that he will remain in the gaming industry. He mentioned that he is engaged in an undisclosed project he cannot currently discuss but expressed excitement about this rare and unique opportunity. He promised to provide updates as soon as possible.
While David embarks on his new adventure, Call of Duty continues its journey without him. Treyarch is currently involved in the development of Warzone and is working on Modern Warfare 3’s new Zombies mode. The studio bid their farewell to him on Twitter, acknowledging his significant contributions and innovative ideas that have shaped the series over the years.
Is DMZ Going To Be In MW3? Answered
Meanwhile, Call of Duty 2023 received its grand unveiling last night, with the Modern Warfare 3 release date set for November 10.
