Summary
- Greg Reisdorf, the creative director for Call of Duty multiplayer, has left Sledgehammer Games after 15 years of service.
- He played a significant role in developing numerous Call of Duty titles, beginning with Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.
- Reisdorf spearheaded the multiplayer development for the 2023 release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including its live season modes and additional content.
Greg Reisdorf, the creative director for Call of Duty multiplayer, recently announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after a dedicated 15-year tenure. Throughout his career at the studio, Reisdorf contributed to all the Call of Duty titles developed by Sledgehammer Games, starting with the iconic Modern Warfare 3, which hit the shelves in 2011.
Sledgehammer Games, established on July 21, 2009, in Foster City, California, made its mark with the release of Modern Warfare 3 just two years after its founding. Over the years, the studio has collaborated with other renowned developers like Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software on various Call of Duty releases, including the latest 2024 title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and the fan-favorite Call of Duty: Warzone.
On January 13, Reisdorf took to Twitter to confirm his exit from Sledgehammer Games, which occurred on January 10. In a detailed thread, he shared insights into his achievements and experiences at the studio. Reisdorf's journey at Sledgehammer Games began with significant contributions to Modern Warfare 3, including the creation of the Scorched Earth campaign mission. One of his most memorable works from this game was the dramatic sequence in the Blood Brothers mission, where Soap is on a gurney, a moment Reisdorf described as "one of the most fun and chaotic" he worked on.
Call of Duty Multiplayer Creative Director Greg Reisdorf Leaves Sledgehammer Games After 15 Years
Reisdorf played a pivotal role in ushering in the "boots off the ground" era of Call of Duty with his work on Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. He helped develop key gameplay systems such as boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads, as well as unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps. However, he expressed mixed feelings about the "Pick 13" system, believing that streaks should not impact essential items like primary and secondary weapons.
Reflecting on his contributions to Call of Duty: WW2, Reisdorf discussed the initial state of the game upon its launch. The game's Divisions system initially restricted player freedom by locking weapons to specific classes, a decision that was fortunately reversed shortly after launch. He also contributed significantly to Call of Duty: Vanguard's multiplayer, focusing on the game's discovery and its traditional three-lane maps, which he preferred for their fun gameplay over strict military simulation.
In his final project, Reisdorf led the development of multiplayer maps for the 2023 release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He relished revisiting classic maps from Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and adding creative touches, such as Shepherd's skull on the Rust map. As the creative director, he was directly involved in developing Modern Warfare 3's live season modes, including Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. Over the course of its year-long post-launch support, Reisdorf worked on more than 20 modes for Modern Warfare 3. Looking ahead, he hinted at continued involvement in the gaming industry, excited about future opportunities.
