Summary
- After 15 years at Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty multiplayer creative director Greg Reisdorf has departed.
- His contributions spanned numerous Call of Duty titles, beginning with Modern Warfare 3 (2011).
- Reisdorf spearheaded the multiplayer development for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including its live seasonal content.
Greg Reisdorf, Call of Duty's multiplayer creative director, recently announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after a 15-year tenure. His involvement encompassed all Sledgehammer-developed Call of Duty titles, starting with the 2011 release of Modern Warfare 3.
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, most recently contributing to 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the ongoing 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" mission 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 shaping the "boots on the ground" era of Call of Duty, contributing to the gameplay systems of Advanced Warfare, including boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads. His work also extended to unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps within the same title. However, he expressed reservations about the "Pick 13" system, believing that streak rewards shouldn't impact essential loadout choices like primary and secondary weapons.
He also reflected on his contributions to Call of Duty: WW2, acknowledging the initial challenges posed by the game's launch. Specifically, he noted the initial weapon restrictions imposed by the Divisions system, a decision that was thankfully reversed shortly after release. His work on Call of Duty: Vanguard significantly impacted its multiplayer, particularly the design of its discovery and traditional three-lane maps. He expressed a preference for three-lane maps, prioritizing enjoyable gameplay over strict military realism.
Finally, Reisdorf recounted his experiences developing multiplayer maps for 2023's Modern Warfare 3. He enjoyed revisiting and enhancing classic Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps, adding subtle details like Shepherd's skull to the Rust map. As multiplayer creative director, he directly oversaw the development of Modern Warfare 3's live seasonal modes, including Season 1's Snowfight and Infectious Holiday modes. His contributions extended to over 20 modes throughout Modern Warfare 3's post-launch support. Reisdorf expressed excitement for his future endeavors, hinting at continued work within the gaming industry.
