Activision has big plans in store for the Call of Duty franchise and series mainstay Infinity Ward is not at the center of them. According to a recently-issued press release, newly formed studio Sledgehammer Games is working on another Call of Duty installment, due for release in 2011. The studio is led by industry vets Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey.

That isn’t to say Activision is going to skip cashing in on the franchise this year. A Treyarch-developed entry is still due for release later this fall. Additionally, Infinity Ward is poised to deliver a downloadable map pack for Modern Warfare 2.

Sledgehammer’s take on the franchise will move away from the tried and true FPS formula, expanding into the action-adventure space.  No further details were provided beyond that. Additionally, Activision noted that Jason West and Vince Zampella are “no longer with Infinity Ward” without delving into specifics behind their forced departure.

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