14 DAY TRIAL // When the multiplayer content for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was first revealed by developer Sledgehammer Games and publisher Activision, many keen gamers noticed that it seemed to focus on the same core ideas that powered the previously launched Titanfall from developer Respawn Entertainment and publisher Electronic Arts.
Both video games are shooters, both are set to introduce a set of mechanics that focus on nimble and fast movement, both include massive combat robots that the player can control, both are designed from the ground up to run on current-gen consoles with a focus on improved graphics.
The two development teams quickly shut down any rumors that Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was inspired in any way by Titanfall and talked about the way player communities have been requesting the kind of mechanics that both titles are set to deliver.
The closed development process means that we might never know the truth about the issue, but it bears keeping in mind that the two studios have some shared history and that market forces are influencing the industry.
A Tangled History
Once upon a time Infinity Ward, led by Jason West and Vince Zampella, was the studio that delivered the best Call of Duty titles and had the respect of the player base while enjoying a privileged relationship with Activision.
While working on Modern Warfare, the developers entered a dispute with Activision, apparently mainly over royalties, and in March 2010 the pair was effectively fired and the publisher moved quickly to secure the assets associated with the game.
The two developers founded Respawn Entertainment after about one month and then revealed Titanfall.
It’s perfectly possible that the pair was thinking about changing the multiplayer of the series to include more of a focus on movement and that, as they worked on it, some of those who remained linked to Call of Duty also promoted the same concepts.
A Shooter Convergence
For both Titanfall and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, it is important to secure a large player base and then keep it interested in the long term, and that means delivering a range of mechanics that are based on the needs of the potential shooter audience.
The focus on options for faster and quicker movement reflects a trend and it’s entirely possible that both companies have noticed the same needs and decided to create video games that could satisfy them and in the process become best-sellers.
Blockbusters Will Be Similar
Regardless of how the two titles ended up looking similar to each other, the reality is that major releases cannot afford to be very different, especially in a genre that’s as crowded as the first-person shooter.
No company is willing to cede a competitive advantage entirely to another team, and that means both Respawn Entertainment and Sledgehammer Games tried to cover as many bases as possible while delivering innovation that can capture the attention of the player base.
Once Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is actually out and we see how it compares to Titanfall, it will be interesting to see how both companies will deal with the future of the two series.