A near miss: how a failed 007 port could have stole call of duty
A seemingly minor decision in 2002 – the choice of PC developer for the troubled 007 Nightfire port – nearly derailed the entire Call of Duty franchise, according to a revealing account from Michael Condrey, co-founder of Sledgehammer Games.
A pivotal point in activision’s history
Condrey details how a partnership with Vince Zampella and Jason West, then at a fledgling 2015, Inc., could have drastically altered the trajectory of Activision, potentially preventing the rise of Infinity Ward and the behemoth that is Call of Duty. The stakes, he suggests, were astronomically high – the very existence of the series hung in the balance.
The nightfire gamble
Back in the early 2000s, Condrey was deeply involved with EA’s James Bond games, serving as a producer on titles like The World Is Not Enough and From Russia With Love. The challenge was clear: to successfully translate the console experience of Nightfire to PC. EA initially considered several developers, including 2015, Inc., known for their work on Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. Condrey recalls, “They presented 2015. They were looking for their next gig; they needed funding. They pitched to do Nightfire.”
A different path
Despite the potential, EA ultimately opted for Gearbox, a decision that proved disastrous, resulting in a universally panned PC port. This misstep, ironically, paved the way for Zampella and West to leave EA and, crucially, join Activision, laying the foundation for Infinity Ward and the Call of Duty brand. Condrey admits, “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.”
A 'weird multiverse' moment
“They wanted the game,” Condrey states, reflecting on the near miss. “They wanted the game, and we went with a different PC developer. And you want to talk about a weird multiverse… we met with them, walked through the process, did the due diligence; had we hired Vince and Jason and 2015 to do James Bond PC, who knows what? That’s a weird moment.” The implications are staggering – a single decision, a slight alteration in the timeline, could have rewritten the history of the gaming industry. The entire saga highlights the chaotic, often unpredictable nature of creative development, and the butterfly effect that can ripple through even the most established franchises. It’s a stark reminder that success isn’t guaranteed, and sometimes, the road less traveled holds the greatest potential.