Sledgehammer Games Co-Founders Depart Studio

Three months after the release of its latest title, Call of Duty: WWII, Sledgehammer Games’ leadership is experiencing a drastic shake-up. Activision, the studio’s parent company, confirmed Wednesday that the studio’s co-founders, Michael Condrey and Glen Schofield, have left the company following nine years of working on the Call of Duty franchise. The two will transition into roles within Activision.

“Following the incredible success of Call of Duty: WWII, Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey have decided to transition from their duties at Sledgehammer Games to new executive duties inside Activision,” said Activision. “We thank Glen and Michael for their tremendous body of work on Call of Duty and look forward to continuing to collaborate with them in their new roles.”

Condrey and Schofield started Sledgehammer in July 2009 after departing Visceral Games, where the two developed the original Dead Space game. The studio was quickly purchased by Activision and put to work supplementing the development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 alongside what was left of Infinity Ward following the abrupt firing of that studio’s founders, Jason West and Vince Zampella, and the following exodus of staff. The studio would continue working on the franchise, developing Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Call of Duty: WWII.

Statements attributed to Condrey and Schofield in an email obtained by Kotaku from Activision allude to the pair splitting for the first time in 12 years and working on separate projects. “I’m proud of what we accomplished together, it had been the greatest experience of my professional life,” said Condrey. “We thank Activision fo the wonderful opportunity to create and lead Sledgehammer Games. Now, it’s time to try other things,” said Schofield.

No details of either Condrey’s or Schofield’s future projects have been released. Regardless, both have strong reputations in the development sphere and should find plenty of places within Activision to contribute.