Sledgehammer calls Modern Warfare III "labor of love" after crunch reports
Sledgehammer Games studio head Aaron Halon claims that working on Modern Warfare III was a "labor of love" after Bloomberg reported the critically panned shooter was made in around 16 months.
Sources told Bloomberg that Modern Warfare III was initially pitched as an expansion but eventually morphed into a mainline released to fill a hole in Activision Blizzard's release schedule, itself caused by the delay of another Call of Duty title.
Activision Blizzard has multiple studios working on its blockbuster franchise, which has become one of the most lucrative products in the publisher's arsenal.
Over a dozen current and former Call of Duty developers told Bloomberg the plan for Modern Warfare III was ambiguous at best during the initial stages of development, while others claim to have been told outright the project would be an expansion.
They explained those shifting production goalposts required some employees to work nights and weekends in order to finish the title, with timeframes being compressed to ensure Modern Warfare III would hit shelves in 2023.
The game's campaign mode was reportedly completed in around 16 months, despite inefficiencies caused by the need to run content past execs at Infinity Ward—the Activision Blizzard studio that usually oversees the Modern Warfare series—and then incorporate feedback.
Those who spoke with Bloomberg said a number of Sledgehammer workers felt the studio had betrayed their trust after previously promising they wouldn't have to endure another shortened development cycle, as was the case on Call of Duty: Vanguard.
In a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, just hours after Bloomberg published its report, Sledgehammer said it's "incredibly proud" of Modern Warfare III and claimed that
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