Infinity Ward in disarray as five more go

Activision studio Infinity Ward has now lost close to twenty per cent of Modern Warfare 2 staff since the Zampella and West row, with news that five more have quit the beleaguered outfit.

A report from consumer site Kotaku claims that senior designers Mohammad Alavi, Chad Grenier and Brent McLeod have left the group. Joining them is programmer Chris Lambert and designer Jason McCord.

It brings the total of known departures to 18, comprising around a fifth of the 100-strong Infinity Ward staff that built one of the most lucrative games of all time, Modern Warfare 2.

[TIMELINE – INFINITY-GATE]

An Activision representative recently claimed that more staff would likely depart from the studio, though few can put a figure on the final number of walkouts. It was also suggested that the studio, or what remains, will undergo a transformation in company culture.

Where next for the newly departed is, most likely of all, going to be Respawn Entertainment – a new indie studio formed by ex-studio heads Vince Zampella and Jason West.

Seven former Infinity Ward staff have already regrouped at the new outfit, with rumours abound that more will follow.

The news continues a disastrous several weeks for Activision, which began with the publisher sacking and suing West and Zampella over claims of "insubordination". West and Zampella volleyed back a legal suit of their own, before setting up their own studio, signing a lucrative deal with EA and hiring Modern Warfare staff.