Infinity Ward still on COD duty?

We know that new Activision studio Sledgehammer is working on a brand new ‘action-adventure’ entry in the Call of Duty series. We know that Infinity Ward is working on DLC for Modern Warfare 2.

Beyond that, things get a little murky.

Activision’s official statement on the saga yesterday claimed: A new game in the Call of Duty series is expected to be released in 2011 and Sledgehammer Games, a newly formed, wholly owned studio, is in development on a Call of Duty game that will extend the franchise into the action-adventure genre.”

Many, including MCV, interpreted this as confirmation that Sledgehammer is working on the 2011 release.

However, G4 claims to be in receipt of a leaked internal memo that seems to differentiate Sledgehammer’s game from the still unnamed 2011 release Activision previously mentioned.

The memo also assures employees that Infinity Ward remains central to Call of Duty’s future”.

With Treyarch confirmed as the developer of this year’s Call of Duty release, does that mean that Infinity Ward will be developing the 2011 game after all?

2010 is expected to be another big year for Call of Duty,” president and CEO Mike Griffith is said to have written.

With Treyarch developing a new title for fall release, Infinity Ward’s downloadable content for Modern Warfare 2 in the works now, and a new Call of Duty title expected to be released in 2011.

In addition, Sledgehammer Games is in development on a Call of Duty title in the action-adventure genre. It’s an exciting time and it’s the right time to ensure the appropriate resources are there to support Call of Duty’s growth.”