Highlights
- Chance Glasco alleges Activision proposed an Iran-Israel Call of Duty storyline.
- Glasco says Infinity Ward developers rejected the idea.
- The remarks followed a White House video using Call of Duty-style visuals.
One of the early creators and co-founders behind the Call of Duty franchise has claimed that publisher Activision once pushed Infinity Ward to develop a new storyline. The proposed concept centered around Iran attacking Israel.
Chance Glasco, a co-founder of Infinity Ward and one of the early creators of the Call of Duty franchise, raised the allegation on X. He was one of 22 developers who left the company behind Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, 2015, Inc., to form Infinity Ward in the early 2000s.
The former lead animator on several Call of Duty titles posted the comment while reacting to a video shared by the official White House account. The clip used Call of Duty-style UI elements over footage of U.S. strikes on Iran.
Glasco stated the proposal emerged after Activision gained tighter control of the franchise following the formation of Respawn Entertainment. Infinity Ward had already undergone a leadership crisis in 2010, when Activision dismissed founders, Jason West, and Vince Zampella, over alleged “insubordination.”
The pair later launched Respawn Entertainment, and several Infinity Ward developers joined the new studio.
Glasco wrote on X, "After Activision took over post-Respawn formation there was a very awkward pressure from Activision for us to make the next CoD about Iran attacking Israel.” He added that the idea was rejected because “the vast majority of our devs were disgusted by the idea.”
Glasco Revisits Modern Warfare 2’s “No Russian” Mission
Glasco also responded to criticism of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s controversial “No Russian” airport mission. He stated that early Infinity Ward titles aimed to remind players that “war is hell and not just a video game.”
According to Glasco, playtests showed many players froze or stopped playing when they realized the scenario’s implications.
The reactions led the team to include a skip option. He also noted the mission could be completed without killing civilians by firing near them, so Russian separatists believed the player was participating.
The comments surfaced as the United States and Israel conducted coordinated strikes on Iran. The conflict has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 120 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have also been killed. The figures are based on recent reports and could rise as the conflict continues.
The remarks add fresh context to long-standing debates over how real-world conflicts shape the narratives of major military video game franchises.
