Activision pays $42m to former Infinity Ward devs, not a settlement

Christopher Grant writes: "After it finished reviewing all the evidence in the pre-trial lead up to its high-profile lawsuit against former Infinity Ward co-heads Jason West and Vince Zampella, Activision believed that the discovery phase didn't implicate the constituents of the so-called "Infinity Ward Employee Group," a source familiar with the case told Polygon. As a result, the video game publisher issued a check to the group's lawyers for $42 million dollars today, which includes 10 percent interest and is in addition to the original $22 million already paid for the promised first quarter launch bonus."

[GraveLord]

Glad to see these developers are getting payed for their hard earned work.

Justice will be made here.

[ilikestuff]

42 million eh? they'll make double that just in preorders.

[zeeshan]

To everyone who is happy, well, let me remind you that this money doesn't hurt Activision at all. It's like pocket change for Kotick let alone the whole company. Besides, they must already be planning how to recover these $42 million and guess who's going to pay for this? Yup, it is the gamers who support and purchase their games and DLC. As long as COD remains the kind of sales, they have got nothing to worry about. It's the end user who is going to pay for these $42 million and that just sucks!

[dcbronco]

So Zeeshan, I guess you're saying the developers shouldn't have gotten paid? Hope your boss doesn't monitor your online accounts.

[Pekolie]

@Gravelord

Yeh like how they said Activision tricked them into making MW2 and demanded that they be given the rights to Infinity Ward?

Both sides of this are absolutely dumb...

Once again i have to point out that we seem to love these guys as soon as they move away from COD and Activision. These guys made the broken MW2 so i have no intention of buying a game made by them if its a shooter.

[jjdoyle]

We all know Acti wouldn't pay a DIME of this, if the evidence wasn't there to show they owed it. If there wasn't evidence there to show they owed it, then this could have been paid in a "settlement" to get everything dropped, but since it's not a settlement, this could gets crazy.

[NYC_Gamer]

Smart move by Activision now the company will just focus their court case on West&Zampella...

[EeJLP-]

Congrats on reading the first sentence.

[The_Devil_Hunter]

hahaha. lol

[360GamerFG]

Well done Activision. I have no gripes with these guys cause I don't play much CoD. EA on the other hand I loathe.

[Brownghost]

Activision and EA I both extremely loathe

[MidnytRain]

Hmm... can't say I've ever felt that way about a company.

[SKUD]

Translation: I've got nothing against drunk drivers but hate drug dealers.

Related image(s)

[Man In Black]

Incredibly stupid analogy.

[NeXXXuS]

I sell propane and propane accessories.

[Les-Grossman]

Activision needs to be taken down a notch. So lets go West & Zampella

[kreate]

It needs to be more than just 'a notch'

[Prince_Dim-Lu]

Why do they need to be taken down a notch? Because they have the most popular game in the World?

LOL... love the haters.

[sovietsoldier]

Activision will lose in the end. a judge will hear and see that Activision has lost this case which involves and is directly related to West and Zampella case. those who have been paid can also be used as witnesses against Activision,and would be more likely to spill the beans knowing they will be getting paid.

[FlashXIII]

So Activision decide to pay all of the employees who jumped ship so they can focus all their attention on trying to fuck over two of the most influential people who put Activision on top of the gaming industry? How pathetic can you get? I really hope justice is done here and Activision end up having to pay them double what they are deservedly owed or something.

[Tachyon_Nova]

You don't know any of the details of the case, yet blindly assume that west and zamp are in the right. Even though people think companies like Activision are 'Evil', which may or may not be the case, they aren't in the habit of engaging in law suits and bringing about the destruction of a popular studio for no reason.

There simply must be a reason that Activison withheld payments from these guys, and no I don't think its greed. They wouldn't just randomly decided to withhold contractually guaranteed bonuses for no reason which is what the anti-Activision people seem to believe they have done. The simple and obvious reason for this is that they would obviously lose the ensuing court battle, thus costing them more than if they paid up in the first place.

There must be a reason...

[sovietsoldier]

no they paid because each case would have to be fought in court and could cost them more money then paying so that's what they did.

[momthemeatloaf]

42 mill to activision is like a gram of coke to Charlie sheen.

[Saryk]

Very good analogy!

[DJLB2115]

In the end, activision wins no matter what. They simply are TOO PAID. Whatever they lose in this case, they will make back with a DLC release lol

[perdie]

.... on release date too

[RedDead]

While it's nothing to them money wise, everyone gets to laugh at them and their respect as a company will drop too

[DJLB2115]

that may be true bro, but once again they are TOO PAID and people will still buy thier games,and they will still get thier way because they have so much bucks. It sucks and all, but its true. "Whoever has the gold makes the rules." Dont believe me? Ask anyone who has had their home forclosed on due to the financial/housing crash. Same analogy applies here

[badz149]

I think they make more money
from Microsoft just by giving a 1 month time exclusive DLC for 360!

[Dojan123]

Even if the two win they will not get paid for a long time due to the appeal process.

[Pintheshadows]

So it's turned into a vendetta against West and Zampella.

Also, Kotaku, becaue isn't a word. Surely you have spellcheck or you could proofread. I'd forgive it on a smaller site but really?

[josephayal]

Is like 42 Cents

[TheModernKamikaze]

Well deserved for West and Zampella.

[ginsunuva]

That's Bobby Kotick's pocket change from the map packs.

[TheDareDevil]

All devs should get the money they deserve, but 3 years late? Come on....

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Bout time Acti, 42 million$ huh.... ( If It Were Me) Major Shoe shopping time!!

[younglj01]

Only $42 million is that a typo?I'm sure they earned atleast $420 million.If it wasnt for the Modern Warfare brand the name CoD would have been killed.No World at War and no black ops Activision owns them alot more,this is nothing but a bigger thanks but fuck you in my eyes.

[StayStatic]

This is where all the money they make on DLC goes.

[TopDudeMan]

I'd just split it then go be rich somewhere.

[ape007]

the COD series has never been the same since IW Real Talents Left

[Wintersun616]

I don't see any difference between now and then.

/jk

[Axecution]

you guys seem to think that just cause Activation is a big company, they should throw away money...

Its kind of mindblowing. Don't ever run a company.

[Unlimax]

Was Activi$ion trying to stop West and Zampella project just because they are working in EA , with their "Money" ... It's absolute jealousy !

The rule will never end .. They will get $$$$$$$$$$$$ more than that .. someone please broke that rule and let CEO.Bobby kotick die already for the love of Gaming industry !

[upallnightgamer]

Screw Activision for trying to make itself look good in the eyes of the media without actually admitting guilt. I could see THAT without reading the whole article. I hope IWEG gets most if not all of what they're after.

[Lord_Sloth]

I wish somebody'd give me a check for $42 mil. XXXD