Xbox Addict

Bungie Deal Similar to What IW Heads Were Seeking

Activision’s new publishing deal with Bungie has helped to divert attention from the debacle with Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment. Bungie managed to land themselves what sounds like a fine deal, as they’ll continue to be independent and will be afforded control over the IP they’re developing and at least some say in the pricing of their games. According to an LA Times story (via VG247), this deal is actually quite similar to what Respawn founders and former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella were seeking from Activision before being fired last month.
Citing "people familiar with the situation," the LA Times story says, "...the publicly released terms of the Bungie deal are similar to the one that former Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vincent Zampella were seeking before talks broke down and they were fired for alleged breach of contract in attempting to form their own company."

West and Zampella’s attorney, Bobby Schwartz, was quoted as saying, "It’s astonishing how much money Activision had to pay to cover up its horns and pitchforks with a halo."

It’s unclear if the duo were more interested in trying to earn Infinity Ward’s independence, similar to how Bungie became independent of Microsoft in 2007, if they wanted more control over the IP and pricing of the games they were working on, or something else completely. In their deal with EA, they have, at the very least, ended up with both their independence and control of their IP.