Mark Gordon, head of the studio behind iconic Call of Duty games have departed for a new venture.
Amid reports of multiple studio closures, another shift has taken place within one of Call of Duty’s primary studios. Activision’s Treyarch has announced the departure of its studio head, Mark Gordon, bringing his 22-year tenure at the studio to an end as he moves on to a new, undisclosed venture.
The announcement paid tribute to Gordon's contributions, highlighting his role in shaping many of Call of Duty's biggest instalments, including the entire Black Ops series.
"After an extraordinary 22 years with Treyarch, our own Mark Gordon has decided to retire from his role as Studio Head to focus on his next chapter.
We're incredibly grateful to Mark for his steady guidance and deep care for the studio, its culture, and its people. Mark's impact on the franchise has been immeasurable, from Call of Duty 2: Big Red One and Call of Duty 3, to World at War and the entirety of the Black Ops series."
The announcement also revealed the appointment of Treyarch’s new studio co-heads, Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller. Both have served within the studio for years, with Treyarch describing them as "veterans of the franchise with decades of development and leadership experience".
What were Mark Gordon's contributions to Treyarch?
Throughout his 22 years at Treyarch, Gordon has held plenty of leadership and senior positions before being elected studio head in 2016. His contribution began right when the studio transitioned to become one of Activision's primary Call of Duty developers, alongside Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games.
He played a key role in the development of Call of Duty 2: Big Red One in 2005 and Call of Duty: World at War in 2008. However, he became most widely recognised for his involvement in every Black Ops title, from the original game released in 2010 through to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which launched last year.
Who are Treyarch's new studio heads?
Following Gordon's retirement, Treyarch has appointed Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller as its new co-studio heads.
Both are longstanding contributors to the studio and the wider Call of Duty franchise. Hendrickson steps into the role from his previous position as Chief Operating Officer, while Miller has been part of Treyarch's leadership team for years.
What's ahead for Treyarch?
Currently, Treyarch has no new titles announced, with the studio likely focusing on supporting Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 through seasonal updates and the upcoming Classic Mode addition.
Meanwhile, Infinity Ward is gearing up for the launch of Modern Warfare 4 in October, while Sledgehammer Games is speculated to be working on an entirely new Call of Duty sub-franchise.
