Call of Duty Studio Loses Multiplayer Development Director

Summary

• After 15 years at Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty multiplayer creative director Greg Reisdorf has departed.
• His career spanned numerous Call of Duty titles, beginning with Modern Warfare 3 (2011).
• Reisdorf spearheaded multiplayer development for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including live seasonal content and modes.

Greg Reisdorf, Call of Duty's multiplayer creative director, recently announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after a 15-year tenure. Reisdorf's contributions extended across all Sledgehammer-developed Call of Duty titles, starting with the original Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.

Sledgehammer Games, established in Foster City, California on July 21, 2009, delivered its first Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare 3, just two years later. The studio has collaborated extensively with Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software on various Call of Duty releases, including the recent Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the ever-popular Call of Duty: Warzone.

On January 13th, Reisdorf confirmed his January 10th departure via Twitter, sharing a thread detailing his accomplishments and experiences. His journey began with contributions to Modern Warfare 3, including the Scorched Earth campaign mission. He highlighted the "Blood Brothers" campaign sequence featuring Soap on a gurney as "one of the most fun and chaotic moments" of his career.

Call of Duty Multiplayer Creative Director Greg Reisdorf Leaves Sledgehammer Games After 15 Years

Reisdorf played a key role in the early "boots on the ground" era of Call of Duty, contributing to the gameplay systems of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, including boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads. He also worked on the game's unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps. He expressed some reservations about the "Pick 13" system, believing that killstreaks should be rewards, not factors affecting essential equipment like primary and secondary weapons.

He also reflected on his work on Call of Duty: WW2, particularly its initial state. He noted the initial class-based weapon restrictions in Call of Duty: WW2 (Divisions) and expressed relief that this system was quickly revised post-launch. His contributions to Call of Duty: Vanguard included the design of discovery and traditional three-lane maps, a style he prefers for its emphasis on fun gameplay over strict military simulation.

Finally, Reisdorf discussed his involvement in developing multiplayer maps for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He enjoyed revisiting and enhancing classic Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps, such as adding Shepherd's skull to Rust. As multiplayer creative director, he directly oversaw Modern Warfare 3's live seasonal modes, including Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. He worked on over 20 modes throughout Modern Warfare 3's post-launch year and expressed excitement for his future endeavors in the gaming industry.