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Infinity Ward renews contract, teases 'unique new IP'

Call of Duty 4 cadre reveals "renegotiated deal" with Activision, says super-secret project is in the works.

220 Comments

This time last year, the thought of a wholly owned developer splitting off from its parent company was unthinkable. Then, Bungie Studios stunned the industry by doing just that, amicably parting with owner Microsoft after generating over $1 billion with the Xbox and Xbox 360's flagship Halo franchise.

With the Bungie precedent hanging in the background, it appears another top-tier studio has also sat down at the table with its corporate overlord--and chosen to stay put. Late last week, Infinity Ward director of communications Robert Bowling quietly posted an update on the Iamfourzerotwo.com Web site saying "we have decided to re-up on our contract with Activision publishing" following a "recently renegotiated deal."

Perhaps more excitingly, the community manager also used the post to reveal the new agreement with Activision "has laid the groundwork and kick started our future project, as well as the possibility of a unique new IP by Infinity Ward that we'll have complete control over." (Emphasis added.) Bowling went on to say "We're excited to be working on our next project, but it's going to be quite a while before I can share any details on exactly what that project is."

Indeed, Activision had good reason to hash out a favorable arrangement with Infinity Ward, which won numerous awards for its latest effort, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Besides frequently being the most popular game on Xbox Live, the title was also last year's top cross-platform title, moving over 10 million copies as of last month. According to industry research firm the NPD Group, it is the eighth best-selling video game in US history.

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Lonelynight

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NinjaMunkey01: LMAO :lol: when had IW ever made a realistic game?

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Lonelynight

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Hope its not another rehash of CoD with a different name.

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Mackyt

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I read somewhere that people were talking about a CoD MMO (don't know how it would work... but that would be awesome). 'Tis but a possibility

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NinjaMunkey01

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So its not going to be a call of duty... They should just skip that name and make a modern warfare series. I would like to see another realistic shooter from them. COD4 was great.

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cotterell55

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God I hate EA (just thought id let you all know) right im off to play bad company lol

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raverrozza

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the fact he emphasised "complete control over" could be a stab at COD5 as treyarch are very much running off the success of IW hard work.

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JCM28PR

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Good thing that they stayed with Activision. If they leave, EA would be all over them.

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pourya_ahmadian

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a strong game-maker that make us so happy;thanx for everything and go faster;(only XBOX360) (WE ARE THE BEST AND WILL BE)

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bubnux

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I wish they had re-upped for COD5, COD4 was so damn good that 5 will push copies like money ain't a thang regardless if it is decent or not. Activision is lucky to have Infinity Ward and I hope that they get to take COD6 back to the modern warfare, I'd much rather our guns than WWII guns and a new FPS IP would be sweet (as long as it's not another stupid sci-fi futuristic space jumpy piece of crap, that's getting pretty tired).

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football_legend

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This is awesome new, I cant wait to find out what COD series can give birth to. Also free from the shackles of Activision, this is great.

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punkpunker

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*release's breath* Why you CoD 4 fans say's its a new CoD with MW theme where as they says that they are making a new IP

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sandshark8

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CoD 6 "In Space" :b

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Corvan

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New project..this should be good.

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FantasticalZom

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A Sci-Fi Series would be sweet!

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Bucharifique

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Sweet!

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Henninger

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If its a new IP then its not gonna b Call of Duty. But lets just say im wrong & it is, then my guess would b that its gonna b some future weapons type of game. Im not big on future weapons games but i do like Infinity Ward so i'll give em a shot.

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raze-boi

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I want a Modern Warfare one!

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thanos723

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i have faith in infinity ward. i think they can produce a new IP and be successful at it again. they are a great company with a good mind for what consumers want

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silverman2000

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Who cares now we have Battlefield online rocks now thats a realestic war!!

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DSfanatic5

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I would hope that Infinity Ward could produce an original game, that would rival the quality of their Call of Duty games. However, when you look at Bungie without the Halo Franchise, it brings to mind other efforts such as Stubbs the Zombie. Bungie might be able to make a decent game outside the Halo franchise, but it's hard to say how well those efforts will turn out. I expect the same from Infinity Ward, yet I hope for the best.

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Timmeus

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Most likely a new CoD, probably Modern Warfare 2 or Vietnam or something I doubt a future based game but that would be cool. Will be interesting to find out what the new IP is.

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Wezker619

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Im tired of answering this Call, give me something new.

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Beesters

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CALL OF DUTY CALL OF DUTY CALL OF DUTY! STFU PLEASE!

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Fox-sama

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Call of Duty: World at War is NOT Call of Duty 5.

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kkkkknaruto

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cod 4 MMO without a subscription

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Duke_51

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I would like to see futuristic stuff - or something sci-fi. IMO, modern settings are becoming a little played like the WWII scene.

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deactivated-5ff54ab0475a5

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w00t for new IP! I wish Infinity Ward had chosen to leave Activision, though...Activision will just turn it into a year-after-year sequel factory like the CoD series. can't wait til they're done with CoD6: Space Warfare so we can see something new and interesting.

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peeweeshift

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8th best...it still surprises me how a game like cod4 did so well. Maybe it's because the horrible multiplayer that barely distiguished between the bad and good players is what helped it get all the sales. sheesh

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im-a-roustabout

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ALl you people are lame, is all anybody has to say is the same damn thing? COd 6 cod 6!!!! ZOMGWTFBBQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Voork

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The New COD4 isn't going to be 5. So your talking about COD5. Not 6.

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bassplayer275

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nice. gotta love infinity ward

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Avatar image for -E-N-E-M-Y-
-E-N-E-M-Y-

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I actually HEARD that CoD6 is gonna be in the future.

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SirFatalChaos

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Want Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 plz

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sonicmask

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[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

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sonicmask

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WHERE IS EVERYONE GETTING COD 6 FROM!!!

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Gifted_One

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Well, I guess I will be looking forward to a Call of Duty 6.Sounds good to me. Cannot wait to play Call of Duty 5 either. They all all be good games.

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daprofesa

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the chances of it being a COD is slim...as to the wording is a "unique new IP" keywords are unique and new

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LegendaryGamer0

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Maybe we WILL still see another modern Call Of Duty game...

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Dragonblade01

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Hmm, do I sense futuristic CoD? Wishful thinking, I guess, lol!

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godzillavskong

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After the success of COD4 , you know anything that Infinity Ward touches is going to generate a lot of buzz. Activision was smart to keep them under wraps.

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Sk8ter_213

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hopefully its cod6

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hilltops

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Going to be a while.. But definately keeping My ear to the ground about this one.. **** i love infinity ward :P

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xmg0

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interesting!

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sunnystarz

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Infinity Ward has yet to make a below average game... and i don't expect one that will be bad anytime soon..

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goleafsguy

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lamprey263 I hope this doesn't mean they won't be doing CoD6: I think it would be called CoD5 since the next CoD is going to be CoD World at War not CoD5

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SavoyPrime

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I'll keep my eye on this project. If Infinity Ward can get me to purchase a FPS and enjoy it (which happened with CoD4), then they deserve for me to keep an eye on them.

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burnit2earnit

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so they have two new games coming out including the new ip. so maybe the current project is another call of duty set whenever because if infinity ward does it it is goin to be amazing. and who can even guess what the new ip will be, which im sure will also be awesome.

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Colonel_Cool

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I think a futuristic sci-fi shooter from IW would be sweet.

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Intrakitt

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Bad ass...These guys have always made great shooters and I'm sure they will continue to do so.

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bamfer3

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Hopefully another COD set in the modern world...

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