Treyarch, the Xbox-owned studio behind the Call of Duty: Black Ops franchise, says that Mark Gordon, the studio’s head, is stepping away from his role after spending 22 years with the company.
Gordon’s work dates back to Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005), Treyarch’s first Call of Duty title. From that point on, he has been instrumental in helping reshape the studio—from a support team into one of its leading creative forces—contributing heavily to the development of World at War and the Black Ops series.
In November 2016, Gordon assumed the position of studio head, initially sharing the role with Dan Bunting and Jason Blundell. Still, Blundell left Treyarch in 2020, and Bunting departed the next November as reports surfaced about allegations of sexual misconduct.
“After an extraordinary 22 years with Treyarch, our respected Mark Gordon has decided to step back from his post as studio head so he can focus on what comes next,” Treyarch said in a statement confirming Gordon’s departure. “We’re deeply grateful to Mark for his steady leadership and his genuine care for the studio, its culture, and its people. Mark’s effect on the [Call of Duty] franchise has been immense.”
Treyarch has also confirmed that long-serving team members Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller will take over as co-studio heads after Gordon’s exit. The studio says the pair brings “decades of experience in development and leadership,” adding that both provide “an abundance of in-depth game knowledge and a shared commitment to Treyarch’s culture and creative vision.”
The timing behind this announcement raises eyebrows, especially in light of Xbox’s ongoing ‘reset’ effort and the leadership reshuffle that followed. Just this week, two major exits have already taken place—Craig Duncan and Louise O’Connor, who resigned from their respective roles as head of Xbox Game Studios and chief of staff. These changes reportedly align with Xbox preparing for wider layoffs, which could lead to the shutdown of multiple studios.