Ex-Call of Duty Developer Launches New Game Studio "//18.bravo"

Robert Bowling, the former creative strategist at Infinity Ward, has announced the establishment of a new game development studio located in Los Angeles, called //18.bravo. In a recent LinkedIn post, Bowling shared his vision for the studio, emphasizing a unique approach to leadership compensation that aligns with employee success. He introduced an employee royalty plan that aims to share profits not only with the internal team but also with external contributors such as voice actors and motion capture performers.

In an interview with IGN, Bowling expressed his concerns about the current state of the gaming industry, describing it as "over-commercialized." He called for a significant shift in how games are developed and presented to players, stating that the industry has often neglected player needs and exploited staff in pursuit of ever-increasing profit margins. "Live service is killing development teams," he remarked, pointing out the toll that perpetual content demands in free-to-play gaming models take on both developers and players. He further criticized the AAA studio system for its failures.

Bowling highlighted that while the debut title from //18.bravo will feature an online component, it will not adhere to a live service model. Instead, the game is being designed with a focus on "forever play," which incorporates optimized peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture. This design aims to foster a community-centric experience that allows players to continue enjoying the game even if the studio ceases operations.

Notably, Bowling stated that should the studio ever shut down, all assets, code, and necessary components to sustain the game (with the exception of third-party integrations and licensed music) will be made open source by default. He emphasized transparency, indicating that all legal documents and processes required to facilitate this initiative will be released publicly. This approach is intended to inspire other developers to adopt similar models with ease and at minimal cost.

Bowling's career includes a stint as co-founder and studio head at Midnight Society, which unfortunately closed its doors in February 2025 after facing layoffs the year prior. With //18.bravo, Bowling aims to revolutionize the gaming industry by prioritizing employee welfare and player satisfaction over sheer profitability.