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 multiplayer development for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, including its live seasonal content.

Greg Reisdorf, Call of Duty multiplayer creative director, recently announced his departure from Sledgehammer Games after a 15-year tenure. Reisdorf's involvement extended across all Sledgehammer-developed Call of Duty titles, starting with the 2011 release of Modern Warfare 3.

Established on July 21, 2009, in Foster City, California, Sledgehammer Games delivered its first Call of Duty title, Modern Warfare 3, just two years later. Collaborating with Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software, the studio has contributed to numerous Call of Duty releases, most recently 2024's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and the enduringly popular 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 significant role in the evolution of Call of Duty's "boots on the ground" era, contributing to the gameplay mechanics of Advanced Warfare, including boost jumps, dodging, and tactical reloads. His work also encompassed unique weapon signatures, energy weapons, and multiplayer maps for the same title. However, he expressed some reservations about the "Pick 13" system, believing that streaks should be rewards separate from essential equipment like primary and secondary weapons.

He also reflected on his involvement in Call of Duty: WW2, particularly addressing the initial challenges posed by the game's class-restricted weapon system ("Divisions"). He expressed relief that this limitation was quickly addressed post-launch. His contributions to Call of Duty: Vanguard included the design of its discovery and traditional three-lane maps, a preference stemming from his focus on enjoyable gameplay over strict military simulation.

Finally, Reisdorf shared his experiences developing multiplayer maps for 2023's Modern Warfare 3, including the rewarding process of revisiting and enhancing classic Modern Warfare 2 (2009) maps—a notable example being the inclusion of Shepherd's skull in the Rust map. As multiplayer creative director, he 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 the game's post-launch year, and he expressed anticipation for future opportunities within the gaming industry.