Call of Duty Co-Founder Says Activision Once Pushed Idea For Game About Iran Invading Israel
A co-founder of the Call of Duty franchise has claimed that publisher Activision once attempted to push developers toward creating a storyline centered on Iran launching an invasion of Israel.
Chance Glasco, who helped establish Infinity Ward and worked on early titles in the Call of Duty series, said the concept emerged after the studio’s original founders departed to create Respawn Entertainment.
According to Glasco, the proposal surfaced during early development discussions and came from the publishing side. He described the situation as uncomfortable, saying developers felt pressured to explore the idea even though many were uneasy about it.
Glasco shared the account on social media while commenting on the growing use of video game imagery in political messaging. He later clarified that the discussions took place during pre-production meetings, where representatives from Activision Blizzard allegedly attempted to steer the creative direction toward the Iran-Israel conflict scenario.
The developer said several members of the team reacted negatively to the suggestion, believing it resembled political messaging rather than a typical fictional narrative used in video game storytelling. Because of the strong internal pushback, the project was ultimately abandoned before moving forward.
Reflecting on controversial storylines in the Call of Duty franchise, Glasco noted that governments around the world increasingly recognise the influence of entertainment media and sometimes attempt to shape public opinion through it, particularly on sensitive issues such as war and international conflicts.
He also referenced the infamous “No Russian” mission from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a level that generated global debate due to its depiction of a mass-casualty attack. According to Glasco, developers intended early Call of Duty games to highlight the harsh realities of war rather than present it purely as entertainment.
The “No Russian” mission, he explained, included options allowing players to skip the level or avoid harming civilians during gameplay. Glasco also revealed that he lost his Russian passport after details about the mission became public and is still unsure whether he remains barred from travelling to Russia.
His comments come amid wider conversations about the intersection of politics, media and gaming. In recent years, the White House has incorporated gaming references in public messaging, including the use of footage from Call of Duty in promotional clips related to military operations.
Government communications have also referenced other gaming franchises. For instance, the iconic character Master Chief from Halo has appeared in recruitment messaging tied to U.S. immigration enforcement efforts, while references to Pokémon have surfaced in discussions surrounding immigration-related campaigns.
Glasco’s recollections have reignited debate within the gaming community about how far real-world politics should influence the narratives behind major video game franchises.
