Infinity Ward To Be Closed By Activision, Analyst Suggests

29 Apr 2010 at 02:07:30 by Peter Parrish

Industry analyst Mike Hickey has suggested that Infinity Ward will be "essentially closed" after the studio completes work on a second Modern Warfare 2 map pack.

Hickey's comments come from a Janco Partners investor note focusing on Activision's forthcoming first quarter financial report.

"Continued defections from their Infinity Ward studio have created meaningful uncertainty around the future of their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise" he said; perhaps stating the obvious somewhat in light of regular departures from the studio and yesterday's news of an employee-led lawsuit against Activision.

Hickey goes on to suggest that he believes the development of Modern Warfare 3 will be handled by two other (unnamed) studios.

It is perhaps worth noting that Hickey has made a few less-than-spectacular predictions in the past. In February 2009, he suggested that there would be a PS3 price cut "within days" or "by June at the latest." Sony announced PS3 price cuts in August 2009.

An even more incredible act of Hickey clairvoyance warned Marvel stock holders that the release of Grand Theft Auto IV could seriously damage Iron Man's box office takings. Iron Man made $100 million USD on its opening weekend and went on to earn over $580 million USD worldwide.

In other Activision news, the company today announced to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that Publishing CEO and President Mike Griffith would be stepping down from his twin roles.

This appears to be little more than a reshuffle, however. Griffith will become vice chairman of the company’s board, on a yearly salary of $250,000 USD.

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