A single decision nearly killed call of duty – a veteran’s stark account

A seemingly minor decision in 2002, regarding the PC port of 007 Nightfire, could have erased the entire Call of Duty franchise from existence, according to Michael Condrey, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games and veteran of EA’s James Bond titles.

A pivotal fork in the road

Speaking with Cade Onder for a documentary on the making of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Condrey revealed the immense pressure surrounding the choice of a PC development partner. Back in the early 2000s, he spearheaded the effort to bring the console hit to PC, a move that ultimately shaped the trajectory of Activision’s most successful series.

“GoldenEye sits on this pedestal, as you know, right?” Condrey began, referencing the groundbreaking GoldenEye 007. “We were building on that success, moving into The World Is Not Enough and beyond. Nightfire was the next step – a PC title designed to expand our reach.”

The search for a suitable developer led Condrey and his team to 2015, Inc., an Oklahoma-based studio known for Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Vince Zampella and Jason West, fresh off a successful collaboration, presented their vision for Nightfire. “They wanted the game,” Condrey stated, recalling the meeting. “We went with a different PC developer, and you want to talk about a weird multiverse…

The gamble paid off handsomely for EA – and indirectly, for Activision. 2015, Inc.’s subsequent work on Medal of Honor secured them a lucrative deal with Activision, laying the foundation for the creation of Infinity Ward and the birth of Call of Duty. Had EA chosen a different path, the history of gaming – and Condrey’s own career – might have been drastically altered.

“It’s kind of a funny story of just all the creative decisions and business decisions that led to them starting Call of Duty and, of course, us joining with them on MW3,” Condrey added, reflecting on the unexpected chain of events.

The stakes were incredibly high – a single choice, rooted in the early days of PC gaming, nearly extinguished a global phenomenon. Condrey’s account serves as a potent reminder of how fragile the entertainment industry can be, and the ripple effects of seemingly minor decisions.”n