Space failed to ‘resonate’ with some fans

Where do you go from space? From “infinite” warfare? Rather than charge forward and continuously raise the stakes, presumably, you pause, weigh your options, and start heading in the other direction.

In a financial report, Activision said that the nextCall of Dutytitle — an as-yet-unnamed 2017 release in production at Sledgehammer Games — “will take [the series] back to its roots.”

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That statement can mean a whole lot of things, but for added context, Activision chief operating officer Thomas Tippl told investors thatInfinite Warfare“underperformed” and “for a portion of our audience, the space setting just didn’t resonate.” (No kidding!) With respect to this year’s Sledgehammer-developedCall of Duty, “traditional combat will once again take center stage,” he elaborated.

Finally, Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg added that the project was given the go-ahead “over two years ago,” and the game’s reveal will happen “soon” (though I suspect we’re still a couple months out).

The opening area of the Whisper mission, in a small grove.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Results[Activision]This year’s Call of Duty will go ‘back to its roots’[Polygon]

The Divide in the Cosmodrome, where the Guardian was resurrected.

A holofoil Ribbontail, as seen in collections.

The Phoneutria Fera hand cannon, inspired by the Season of the Haunted armor set. It has a unique, galactic glow.

Three Fuses appear in a match of Apex Legends' Wild Card mode.

Mad Maggie opens a supply bin and an item with a symbol indicating infinite ammo appears.

Legends slide through a zipline in King’s Canyon in Apex Legends.

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The Yeartide Apex tex Mechanica SMG with a Holofoil glow.