Schofield, a former developer for Call of Duty, expresses regret over the current situation of Activision and EA

Glen Schofield, a developer formerly associated with Call of Duty, has remarked on feeling troubled by the current paths of Activision and Electronic Arts.

Writing on LinkedIn, Schofield reminisced about his tenure at both companies and expressed mixed emotions about their current conditions. Recently, Activision Blizzard was acquired by Microsoft for $68.7 billion and Electronic Arts is poised for acquisition by a consortium, including the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, at a valuation of $55 billion.

Schofield spent over seven years at Electronic Arts, where he rose to the role of general manager at Visceral Games, the studio behind the Dead Space series.

In 2009, he co-founded Sledgehammer Games with Michael Condrey. The studio was later acquired by Activision to work on Call of Duty, a flagship franchise for the company.

In 2018, Schofield departed from Activision shortly after leaving Sledgehammer. Afterward, he became the founder and CEO of Striking Distance Studios under Krafton, and stepped down from his position in 2023. He currently holds roles as director and advisor at Pinestripe Games.

Reflecting on industry changes, Schofield shared, "With Electronic Arts being bought and possibly scaled down, my thoughts quickly turned to Activision's acquisition by Microsoft."

He continued, "Within a few short years, the major publishers that influenced the past two decades have embarked on new chapters.

"The experience is bittersweet. My time at both these companies during their peak was significant. Their transition away from being dominant forces in the industry impacts me deeply," Schofield acknowledged.

Despite his concerns about Activision and EA, Schofield sees a chance for emerging talents to flourish in the industry.

"It is challenging to observe these companies retreating from their dominant positions: renowned publishers and developers where skills were honed," he remarked.

"Yet, there's a silver lining: it's an opportunity for new individuals and studios to rise. There will always be leaders to take on this role. When they do, I hope they nurture talent as EA and Activision once did, setting aspirational standards for us all," he added.