There are always talented people behind big projects; for Call of Duty, David Vonderhaar, a.k.a Mr Black Ops, was one of them. He became responsible for eight Call of Duty games, including the Black Ops series, which was actually his nickname. Vonderhaar was hired as the studio’s design director in 2005 and rapidly became one of the key people that took the key decisions for the entire franchise. His creativity was affected by most of the interesting artistic choices millions saw in Call of Duty games, and now the franchise is going further without him.
Call of Duty Veteran David Vonderhaar, Mr Black Ops, Leaves Activision
Farewell to the legendary David Vonderhaar, whose discipline, creativity & innovation helped shape our games from COD 2: Big Red One to Black Ops Cold War. His iconic phrases & groundbreaking ideas will be missed. Excited for your next adventure. #ThankYouVahn
— Treyarch (@Treyarch) August 18, 2023
The news was announced on his LinkedIn account, and the comments quickly got filled by both his co-workers and fans. “Thank you to the Call of Duty community for your passion and enthusiasm,” Vonderhaar’s post says. “That energy has often fueled our determination as a studio and individuals. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to interact with so many of you directly online and in person. This energy is always a massive part of me.”
Treyarch also shared a statement claiming that an important name has left the company. The post mentions that his support started with Call of Duty 2 and ended with Black Ops Cold War. This also means that Vonderhaar wasn’t directly behind the art of Modern Warfare 3. Treyarch is a big studio; there are multiple people directing the art department. The team will continue their work with the rest of the team, but it’s also possible to see transfers from other studios for known people like David Vonderhaar.
The designer also states that he’s not retiring and has started working on an undisclosed title. That’s very interesting because his experience and talent would be a spark for any franchise in the industry. We will probably hear more details about his future collaborations.
