Former Call of Duty Director Worried About Future Under Microsoft

Former Call of Duty director Glen Schofield has expressed deep concerns about the future of the franchise following its full integration into Microsoft’s gaming division. Speaking with VGC at Gamescom Asia, the former Sledgehammer Games co-founder—who directed Modern Warfare 3 (2011), Advanced Warfare (2014), and WWII (2017), said he is “immensely worried” about whether the Xbox maker can maintain the creative energy and leadership that fueled the series during its peak.​

Schofield is “Immensely Worried” About Call of Duty’s Future

“I worry about it immensely, I really do,” Schofield said in an interview with Video Games Chronicle. “Because what’s happened to Gears of War, where’s Halo? You know what I mean? And you look at EA, you look at these big companies, and I’m like, where’s the Strike games? Where’s this game? There are so many that just fall by the wayside.” His comments reflect the lingering skepticism among developers about how major acquisitions affect creative autonomy within blockbuster studios.

Schofield, who left Sledgehammer in 2019 and went on to lead The Callisto Protocol at Striking Distance Studios, questioned whether Microsoft’s culture can align with the aggressive production model that sustained Call of Duty for nearly two decades. “Once you’re assimilated by one of these companies, I think you take on some of their traits,” he said, pointing to concerns about reduced bonuses, slower decision cycles, and risk aversion that could undercut the speed and intensity required for annual releases.

He also compared the franchise’s future with recent struggles faced by Halo Infinite and Gears 5, once flagship titles that have since seen dips in both engagement and cultural relevance. Schofield implied that a similar fate could await Call of Duty if Microsoft fails to balance corporate oversight with the independent leadership that characterized its best years.​

During the interview, Schofield praised executives like Vince Zampella, who now oversees Battlefield at EA, noting that “putting the right person in charge” is crucial for creative revival. He contrasted that approach with what he described as “conservative management” at major publishers, suggesting that misplaced leadership, not budgets, is often why large projects fail.