Mark Rubin, a former producer of Call of Duty, is sounding the alarm on the franchise's shift toward profit-driven tactics that prioritize revenue over player experience. He criticized trends like FOMO marketing and engagement-based matchmaking, which he believes have overshadowed the series' quality. Rubin pointed to Larian Studios’ Baldur's Gate 3 as a shining example of player-centric design. While he appreciates the talent still at Activision, he feels they’ve lost direction. His comments come as his own project, XDefiant, faces its impending shutdown in 2025, prompting a deeper conversation on monetization versus player satisfaction in gaming.
Published on: 5/1/2025
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