Treyarch Replaces 22-Year Veteran Mark Gordon With 2 Co-Studio Heads

Q: Is Mark Gordon’s exit part of a larger Xbox shake-up at the legendary Call of Duty studio?

There is no solid evidence that Mark Gordon’s departure is part of a broader Xbox-led shake-up at Treyarch. What is confirmed is that Gordon is leaving after 22 years and says he wants to “focus on his next chapter.” Treyarch’s public statement frames it as a respectful leadership transition, praising his role in shaping the studio and the *Call of Duty* franchise. The replacement plan also looks orderly rather than abrupt: Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller, both long-time internal leaders, are taking over as co-studio heads. It is true that Gordon’s exit comes amid wider change around Activision Blizzard under Xbox ownership, and Treyarch has seen other notable veteran departures, including David Vonderhaar in 2023. That has fueled outside speculation that Xbox is “cleaning house.” But the available reporting does not directly tie Gordon’s move to layoffs, restructuring, or a forced management overhaul. The timing also matters. Treyarch leadership changes have been happening for years, including departures that predate the latest Xbox strategy shifts. Gordon himself had already moved from shared leadership to sole studio head after earlier exits by Jason Blundell and Dan Bunting. So the careful answer is that Gordon’s exit fits a broader period of transition at Treyarch and across Xbox’s gaming business, but based on the evidence available, it appears to be a personal departure and planned succession, not a confirmed Xbox shake-up.

3 articles · Updated · Gematsu · Jun 15

Kevin Hendrickson and Yale Miller will take over as Treyarch co-studio heads after Mark Gordon retired from the Call of Duty studio.
Gordon is stepping down after 22 years at Treyarch to focus on his next chapter, ending a tenure that included nearly a decade as studio head.
Mark Gordon joined Treyarch in May 2005 as chief technology officer and became studio head in November 2016.
Treyarch said Hendrickson and Miller are franchise veterans with decades of development and leadership experience, positioning the pair to lead the studio’s next phase.