A recent report reveals that Microsoft has established a 'new committee' within its Activision division to oversee key decisions regarding the future of the Call of Duty brand. According to TheGhostOfHope, a reliable source for unannounced Call of Duty news, this committee will consider input from studios like Treyarch and Infinity Ward but will ultimately determine the 'features' and 'systems' for future games. Hope further explained that the continuation of features like Omnimovement beyond Black Ops 6 will be decided by the committee, not by individual studios.

The insider also mentioned that Call of Duty developers are being instructed 'not to innovate' in areas such as UI, Prestige, and certain gameplay features. Instead, they are encouraged to explore new directions in map design, game modes, and storytelling. 'That is where they want the creativity to come from,' Hope stated. Specifically for the UI, Microsoft aims to make it resemble older games more closely. Regarding Omnimovement, a Treyarch developer expressed hope that it becomes a standard feature in future titles.

Reactions to Hope's report have been varied. Some understand Microsoft's approach, given its $75.4 billion investment in Activision Blizzard and its desire to have a significant say. Others highlight the potential drawbacks of product design 'by committee.' For instance, there is speculation that the popular Zombies mode might have been scrapped if a committee had made the decision. While this is purely hypothetical, it's worth noting that Zombies was a last-minute addition to Call of Duty: World at War and almost didn't make it.

GameSpot has reached out to Microsoft for further details. Black Ops 6, which launched at the end of October, is currently breaking records. The Call of Duty series traditionally releases a new game annually, and Microsoft has not indicated any plans to alter this schedule. Fans can anticipate a new Call of Duty in 2025, reportedly a sequel to Black Ops 2. For now, Activision is concentrating on Black Ops 6's seasonal content, with Season 1 having debuted on November 14. The next major release is the Citadelle Des Morts Zombies map, set for early December.

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