The folks at Activision announced this evening that they’ll be shutting down their long-time project, Call of Duty: Strike Team and dismantling their collection of game developers employed at The Blast Furnace. While the publishers at Activision promised to retain most of their team and offer possible relocation, there has been no further statements on just how many employees will be fortunate enough to keep their jobs at the branch studio. At the moment, details on the topic of potential numerous lay-offs and integration into Activision’s main Call of Duty franchise are a little scarce.
When asked to make a comment on the closure of the studio, an Activision spokesperson explained to MCV: “Having explored a range of options, including a potential sale of the business, and consulted with the staff about the options, we have not been able to find a suitable alternative for the talented team in the timescales set by the consultation exercise and have agreed to close The Blast Furnace,” which ultimately could cost Call of Duty future titles to be completely barren across the mobile field of gaming. While their efforts towards the creation and distribution of Call of Duty: Strike Team is what The Blast Furnace are most well-known for, the game developers have also contributed an array of apps such as Pitfall and Wipeout.
“Additionally, we will be offering a number of tools and resources, including outplacement counselling services, to those who are impacted,” said Activision. “We would like to note that The Blast Furnace has been a great partner to Activision and we thank them for all of their efforts.” This definitely seems a smidgen abrupt on Activision’s part, as The Blast Furnace haven’t even cycled through an entire year since Call of Duty: Strike Team‘s release in September of 2013. The company itself was established in late 2011, and sorrowfully they won’t be permitted to see their third year in the rapidly expanding mobile market.
Constructed in Leeds featuring development veterans from Rockstar and Team 17 amongst others; the imminent disband of The Blast Furnace might in fact be a negative deployment of Activision’s priorities. The sole silver-lining to the closure of the studio is that at least Activision is making an attempt to support all persons effected by their ultimatum to discharge their mobile contributors. We’ll keep you updated on the impact as the story continues to develop.