Acti: IW "will rise from the ashes"

Modern Warfare developer Infinity Ward will "rise from the ashes" after the high-profile exodus that followed the sacking of Vince Zampella and Jason West, publisher Activision has predicted.

Activision's Worldwide Studios boss Dave Stohl promised the gargantuan publisher will leave Infinty Ward alone as it rebuilds.

Activision is "supporting Infinity Ward in that rebuilding process, [but] I use the term 'support' because as much as possible we don't want to tamper with that group of people," Stohl told Develop.

"We want Infinity Ward to be Infinity Ward. It's a very specific culture."

Apparently, recruiting to replace the staff members who left over the last five months – some of whom have joined West and Zampella at Respawn Entertainment – hasn't been a problem.

And those who decided not to leave are grabbing the opportunity to shine with both hands, according to Activision.

"I'm not going to sit here and say no good talent left the studio, because obviously a lot of good talent did.

"But a lot of people who are really passionate about their job are still there.

"I'm one hundred per cent confident that the studio will come back to what it was, especially considering all the talent we're seeing rising through and also being recruited.

"There's a development philosophy that remains intact, and the studio is attracting amazing new talent. Ultimately, Infinity Ward will rise from the ashes."

Perhaps unsurprisingly for a developer that suffered the loss of a third of its staff, Infinity Ward is yet to unveil its next game.

Will it be Modern Warfare 3?