"Sometimes I feel a franchise loses something when it's shifted off to another shop," Bleszinski told , speaking of the alternating development used in the Call of Duty series. "You get the primary studio that really understands the franchise, and sometimes the other studio that takes over can do well, but there's something lost in translation, like the game's soul has gone."

Bleszinski's comments come as Activision popularizes the trend of relay development, in which two studios develop sequel installments of a franchise in alternating years. Beginning with Call of Duty 3, Treyarch has gotten the nod to develop odd number sequels (World at War is number 5), while Infinity Ward, the original developer of the series, handles even numbered sequels (including next year's Call of Duty 6).

Call of Duty: World at War arrives on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, DS and PC on November 11. Bleszinski's Gears of War 2 arrives on Xbox 360 four days earlier (Nov 7).