Infinity Ward’s multiplayer lead explains why Infinite Warfare is still Call of Duty

Activision has a lot riding on Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. The big game publisher has bet the billion-dollar business on the new over the familiar, as it has taken the franchise from modern war into science fiction.

To ease that transition, Infinity Ward designed the game’s core multiplayer to be as familiar as possible to the series’ diehard fans. When you pull the trigger on one of the title’s sci-fi weapons, it will feel like you’re firing a shotgun or an assault rifle in a previous Call of Duty game. It’s a delicate balance, and Joe Cecot, lead multiplayer designer at Infinity Ward, has been in charge of making sure it’s being done right. (See more of our Call of Duty XP coverage here.)