In what is fast becoming daily news, it’s being reported that an additional two Infinity Ward employees are leaving the studio to seek employment elsewhere.

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Former Infinity Ward developers Vince Zampella and Jason West have jointly announced the formation of a new game development studio by the name of Respawn Entertainment, while revealing a publishing partnership with Electronic Arts.

This follows the industry-rocking split between Activision Blizzard and Zampella/West, when Activision forcibly removed the pair from their own studio, Infinity Ward, at the beginning of March.

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[Update 2] Activision has officially responded to the lawsuit filed against it by Jason West and Vince Zampella, called the filing “meritless” and revealing the publisher’s disappointment in the action. More details follow below: [End of Update 2]

[Update 1] Released court filings from the lawsuit have revealed that Jason West and Vince Zampella are seeking unpaid royalties and damages in excess of $36 million from Activision, in addition to returning creative control over all Modern Warfare games to West and Zampella.

Furthermore, the lawsuit asks the court to rule that Activision may not release any Call of Duty games set after the Vietnam War without West or Zampella’s approval [End of Update 1]

Infinity Ward co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella have filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard following the pair’s recent forced removal from their positions at the studio, claiming that they are owed “substantial royalty payments” for their work under Activision – payments (amongst other obligations) that Activision might be trying to avoid.

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Activision Blizzard has announced that the publisher’s newly formed internal studio, Sledgehammer Games, will handle an iteration of the Call of Duty franchise in 2011, taking over the reigns from franchise stalwarts and creators Infinity Ward.

This news arrives on the back of the revelation that Infinity Ward studio heads and co-founders Jason West and Vince Zampella have been let go from their positions after an apparent breach of contract with Activision, in the wake of a worrying period at the developer on Monday that saw strong-arm and intimidation tactics resulting in panicked, “confused” and “freaked out” employees.

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