When one of Activision’s most prestigious game studios, Infinity Ward, tanked last march, it seemed inevitable that the studio would be forced to shut down.  Considering the loss of numerous members, namely executives Jason West and Vince Zampella, it is a surprise to many.  Even if the company is still nimbly standing, there’s no way that the prized studio would be able to put out a third Modern Warfare title, right?

Wrong.  Various inside sources have reported that Activision Blizzard is hoping to marshal studios to aid the weakened Infinity Ward with the third iteration of one of the most successful games of all time.  Although Activision has yet to confirm the report, the superpower’s executive Bobby Kotick and chief operating officer Thomas Tipple has made it clear that over five hundred employees are currently working on varying entries into the Call of Duty franchise.  The company has also made it clear that it is their initiative to complete a new entry in the Call of Duty franchise – whether it is a Black Ops, a Modern Warfare, or a World at War - each time November rolls around.

News that a Modern Warfare 3 is on the way will please many fans, who are buying Black Ops, the most recent Call of Duty iteration, at a record rate.  Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the initial entry into the series, sold 13 million units, whose successor sold 20 million and counting.

As previously noted, Infinity Ward is not alone when it comes to Modern Warfare 3.  Sledgehammer Games, lead by DeadSpace’s head dev Glen Schofield, is one of one the studios confirmed to be bailing out the studio now lacking icons West and Zampella.  After Activision fired them in March, 2009, for trying to set up an EA-funded studio before officially exiting the grasps of Activision.  Despite this claim, several more suits and counter-suits ensued in a hurry, resulting in West and Zampella opening Respawn Entertainment, a studio under Electronic Arts.  Since initiating the new-fangled studio, dozens of ex-Infinity Ward employees have been added to the Electronic Arts ranks.

Previous to aiding the ailing Infinity Ward with this series entry, many sources reported that Sledgehammer Games was working on their own action-adventure entry into the Call of Duty Franchise, entirely separate from the likes of Modern Warfare 2.  Because of the minor league call-up by Activision Blizzard, that spin-off title will most likely be delayed until at least the third quarter of 2012.  Wisconsin based Raven Software will also be assisting the two established studios, specifically with the multiplayer content in Modern Warfare 3.

Whether or not the Call of Duty franchise continues with its success is irrelevant to the blatant grudge match between Electronic Arts and Activision.  Regardless of studios, royalties, and sales, chances are slim that these two superpowers will come to terms anytime soon.