Treyarch Corporation
Subsidiary
Former nameTreyarch Invention LLC (1996–2001)
IndustryVideo games
Founded1996 (age 30)
Founders
  • Peter Akemann
  • Doğan Köslü
Location cityPlaya Vista, Los Angeles, California
Websitetreyarch.com
Location countryUS
Locations3 (2024)
Key people
ProductsCall of Duty series (2005–present)
Num employees300 (2012)[1][2]
ParentActivision (2001–present)
Divisions
  • Treyarch Vancouver
  • Treyarch Austin

Treyarch Corporation (/ˈtreɪɑːrk/ TRAY-ark;[3] formerly Treyarch Invention LLC) is an American video game developer based in Los Angeles with additional studio locations in Vancouver, Canada; and Austin, Texas.[4] Founded in 1996 by Peter Akemann and Doğan Köslü, it was acquired by Activision in 2001. The studio is known for its work for the Call of Duty series, which it develops alongside Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Raven Software.

History

Treyarch was founded in 1996 as Treyarch Inventions and was acquired by Activision in 2001.[5] In 2005, Gray Matter Studios was merged into Treyarch.[6][7]

As part of the 2007 Leipzig Games Convention, Activision announced that Treyarch would be one of three developers behind its first James Bond-based game, 007: Quantum of Solace. The game was released on October 31, 2008, in Europe and November 4, 2008, in North America. Vicarious Visions developed the Nintendo DS version and Eurocom developed the PlayStation 2 version. Treyarch is a major developer in the Call of Duty series.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II held the record for the largest entertainment launch in history in any form of entertainment, breaking the record within 24 hours of its release until it was surpassed by Grand Theft Auto V.[8] Sales from the game worldwide reached US$650 million within five days after its release.[9] Treyarch worked on the Wii U version of Call of Duty: Ghosts, in order to optimize it for the console.[10]

Fellow Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer Games was originally slated to lead the development of the 2020 entry but encountered internal tensions and creative differences with co-developer Raven Software.[11][12] This lead to publisher Activision tapping Treyarch to take over from Sledgehammer Games as co-developer for the game alongside Raven Software.[13][14][15] This entry was later revealed to be Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Raven Software handled the game's campaign, while Treyarch lead the development of the multiplayer and Zombies mode.[16][17][18] Treyarch would continue its collaboration with Raven Software for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024),[19] and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025).[20]

Dan Bunting, who had been co-lead of Treyarch since around 2003, was named in an investigative report by The Wall Street Journal related to the lawsuit filed against Activision Blizzard by the state of California over workplace misconduct and discrimination.[21] Bunting had reportedly mistreated an employee in 2017, but was kept on by Activision Blizzard's CEO, Bobby Kotick. After The Wall Street Journal began its investigation, Bunting was let go.[22][23][24]

On August 18, 2023, studio design director David Vonderhaar announced he would be leaving the studio after 18 years.[25][26][27]

Game engines

Beginning in 2008, Treyarch uses fellow Call of Duty developer Infinity Ward's game engine called the IW engine. The studio used IW 3.0 for 007: Quantum of Solace (2008), Call of Duty: World at War (2008), Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), and Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012).[28][29][30][31] With the introduction of the eighth generation of video game consoles, Treyarch heavily modified and upgraded the engine for Call of Duty: Black Ops III in 2015.[32][33][34][35] Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 in 2018 features a new 'Super Terrain' system and can accommodate up to 100 players.[36][37][38] Treyarch heavily upgraded the engine for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War in 2020 with the introduction of the ninth generation of video game consoles.[39][40]

With the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II in 2022, Treyarch co-developed the engine with Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games to be used in future installments of the series in a unified effort to ensure that every studio is working with the same tools.[41][42][43] With the new shared engine dubbed IW 9.0,[44][45] Treyarch was able to introduce a new movement system called 'Omnimovement' for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in 2024.[46] Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 also featured audio improvements and upgrades.[47][48][49] This engine is also used in 2025's Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.[50]

Games developed

YearGamePlatform(s)Note(s)
1998Olympic Hockey '98Nintendo 64
Die by the SwordWindows
Die by the Sword: Limb from Limb
1999Triple Play 2000Nintendo 64[51]
2000Draconus: Cult of the WyrmDreamcast
Triple Play 2001PlayStation
Max Steel: Covert MissionsDreamcast
2001Triple Play BaseballWindows, PlayStation, PlayStation 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2xXboxCo-developed with Neversoft
2002NHL 2K2Dreamcast
Spider-ManGameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows
Kelly Slater's Pro SurferGameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, macOS
NHL 2K3GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
Minority Report: Everybody RunsPlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
2004Spider-Man 2PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
2005Ultimate Spider-ManWindows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
Call of Duty 2: Big Red OnePlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube
2006Call of Duty 3PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox, Xbox 360
2007Spider-Man 3PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows
2008Spider-Man: Web of ShadowsWindows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360Co-developed with Shaba Games
007: Quantum of Solace
Call of Duty: World at WarWii version co-developed by Exakt Entertainment
2010Call of Duty: Black Ops
2012Call of Duty: Black Ops IIWindows, PlayStation 3, Wii U, Xbox 360
2015Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIWindows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One[52]
2018Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
2020Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarWindows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SCo-developed with Raven Software, worked on multiplayer and Zombies modes
2021Call of Duty: VanguardZombies and Ranked Play modes
2022Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIRanked Play mode
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0Ranked Play mode
2023Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIZombies and Ranked Play modes,[53] assisted Sledgehammer Games
2024Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Co-developed with Raven Software, worked on multiplayer and Zombies modes
2025Call of Duty: Black Ops 7Co-developed with Raven Software

Ports developed

YearGamePlatform(s)Developer(s)
2000Tony Hawk's Pro SkaterDreamcastNeversoft
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
2001Spider-Man
2009Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: ReflexWiiInfinity Ward
2011Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
2013Call of Duty: GhostsWii U

References

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