Ex-Call of Duty Director Teases New Co-op FPS Game

Former Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer design director, David Vonderhaar, has teased his next game and it sounds nothing like Call of Duty.

David Vonderhaar, the former Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer design director, revealed in an interview with Bloomberg that his upcoming game will be a departure from the military shooter genre. Described as a co-op experience with a unique twist, Vonderhaar likened it to something that would result if David Lynch were to create a shooter game.

The game will focus on cooperative gameplay where players work together to overcome environmental challenges while engaging with other players. Despite his history with Call of Duty, Vonderhaar emphasized that this new project is not meant to compete directly with the popular franchise. The title of the game is yet to be unveiled.

Vonderhaar parted ways with Treyarch in 2023, just before the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, surprising many fans who valued his contributions to iconic titles like Black Ops 2. Following his departure, Vonderhaar founded a new studio called BulletFarm, which initially started developing a game in 2024. However, recent reports suggest that this original project has been set aside in favor of the new co-op FPS game.

BulletFarm recently announced a partnership with GreaterThan Group, a holding company that also supports Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic. Founded by former NetEase executive Simon Zhu, the firm aims to leverage the expertise of talented individuals from projects like BulletFarm and Fate of the Old Republic. Although BulletFarm has not disclosed specific details about their upcoming game, they have expressed confidence in delivering a fresh first-person multiplayer and cooperative experience with intense action and cinematic immersion.

Vonderhaar expressed regret over the loss of two years of work on the previous project but remains optimistic about the future game. The BulletFarm team is targeting a release within three years, with a focus on quality over quantity in development. With fewer than 50 developers currently involved, the game aims to captivate a discerning gaming audience with its innovative approach to the FPS genre.