A veteran developer is leaving the studio behind with this move, a studio that has spent the past few decades working almost exclusively on Call of Duty.

Treyarch head Mark Gordon is leaving the company after 22 years to focus on the next phase of his career. Gordon joined the Call of Duty developer in May 2005 as chief technology officer. He became studio head in November 2016. Gordon’s role at Treyarch will be taken over by Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller as co-presidents, both of whom have decades of development and leadership experience.

Thank you, Mark. 🧡 pic.twitter.com/ZhgY5mXeWc

– Treyarch (@Treyarch) June 15, 2026

“After an extraordinary 22 years with Treyarch, our Mark Gordon has decided to step down from the studio-head position to focus on the next chapter of his career. We are incredibly grateful to Mark for his steady guidance and deep care for the studio, its culture, and its people. Mark’s impact on the franchise has been immeasurable, from Call of Duty 2: Big Red One and Call of Duty 3 to World at War and the entire Black Ops series. Looking ahead, we are pleased to announce that Treyarch’s Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller will step into the roles of co-studio heads. Kevin and Yale are franchise veterans with decades of development and leadership experience, and both bring rich, deep game knowledge and a shared commitment to Treyarch’s culture and creative ambitions. On behalf of the entire studio: thank you, Mark, for your leadership, your friendship, and everything you achieved to make Treyarch such a wonderful place to call home” – Treyarch wrote.

Gordon has worked on games in the Call of Duty franchise since Call of Duty 2, which means he is taking years of experience with the series with him. It is sad to see such a veteran talent leave the place where he has worked for years, but in this case it suggests that something much worse may be coming in the future. With the shadow of upcoming layoffs hanging over Xbox studios, the timing cannot be accidental. Treyarch’s position as one of the most important Call of Duty studios will likely protect it from closure, but headcount may still be reduced there as well.

It looks as though the face of the industry is about to change: further mass layoffs and studio closures are expected, and some of the most iconic studios in gaming history could also be shut down if the situation ultimately becomes even worse than expected.

Source: Gematsu