Apparently, Activision packs "so much content" into each Call of Duty game that every project requires 1.5 lead studios.

Every year, a new Call of Duty is released and we find out two things: how much resources Activision Blizzard poured into a single game and how it didn't meet expectations.

Last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was a bit of an exception as it set a new launch record for the franchise although we're pretty sure sales have slowed down since due to the lack of ongoing content for the game.

But, we aren't here to talk about the success of Modern Warfare 2 or Call of Duty. Rather, the topic here is Activision and how expensive every Call of Duty game is to make.

It's one thing for Activision to claim that it spends so much money on Call of Duty, but it's another when a regulatory body tells us the same thing. This is exactly what happened when the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decided to block the Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition last week. While all eyes have been on the decision, some have decided to look deeper into the final report, which has confirmed the ballooning costs of AAA games development. 

Upon further inspection, there's an interesting section in the report that says that Activision needs "almost 1.5" lead studios to release a new Call of Duty game, saying:

We have to make so much content for Call of Duty, that we can’t even lean on one lead studio anymore. Now we need almost 1.5 lead studios for each annual CoD. That kind of bandwidth pressure is forcing us to use outsourcers more and more. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

The CMA is using Activision's own words against the acquisition by saying this is the reason why Sony, among many other companies, will struggle to make an alternative to Call of Duty anytime soon.

The growing costs of video game development explain why Sony prefers this deal not to take place and why Microsoft is so motivated to make it happen (at least, outside of paying a massive fine).

In Sony's case, it can't afford to invest so much money in creating something that can compete with Call of Duty anytime soon. If it does try, it will have to allot a huge chunk of its budget to assign and/or create a studio specifically to do it while also taking on the risk of not making money out of it. This might come at the expense of its other best-selling titles. On the other hand, Microsoft stands to make back the money it spent on its investment, even if it doesn't make Call of Duty exclusive to the Xbox platform.

Activision Blizzard holds the keys to several other billion-dollar and hundred-million-dollar franchises. The systems and the properties are already in their place as well. All Microsoft has to do is give the company the budget and the green light to cook and watch as the profits come in.

Of course, with video game development budgets growing exponentially in just five years, this isn't a sustainable business move, even if you're a company that's worth trillions of dollars. 

Besides, just because you spend hundreds of millions to make a AAA game, this doesn't guarantee that your game will be a success - just ask Square Enix, and ironically enough, Microsoft.
We've have had quite a lot of casting rumors for the Fantastic Four movie in recent weeks. Case in point, we reported that Paul Mescal is slated to play Johnny Storm aka Human Torch in the film. Now, it appears that a new actor has received an offer to play Johnny Storm's brother, aka Sue Storm or better known as the Invisible Woman.

Previously leaked information from insiders revealed that Vanessa Kirby was Marvel’s top choice for the job. There isn't a word yet if Kirby has accepted the role yet but it's also believed that Marvel has reportedly extended an offer to the Suicide Squad and Barbie actor, Margot Robbie.

The rumor may surprise a lot of fans as Margot Robbie is well known for playing Harley Quinn in several DC movies.

There have been several actors linked to the role of Sue Storm like Mila Kunis, Allison William, Jodie Comer, and Kirby were rumored to be in the running for the role. Jessica Alba played the character in the previous Fox movies.

The latest rumor once again comes from well-known insider Daniel Richtman, who has provided a lot of reliable info on upcoming movies. The new rumor could be accurate given Richtman’s track record.

Another reliable insider, MyTimeToShineH, has corroborated the rumor. However, Marvel Studios and Disney have not yet made any official casting announcements for the Fantastic Four.  

But yes I heard Margot Robbie too https://t.co/Q2MuS8LYEq

— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) May 1, 2023

If the casting rumor is true, it will be interesting to see how this new MCU role will affect Robbie's future projects with DC. However, it would be a long shot for Robbie to have concurrent roles in both franchises. 

The new casting rumor comes just two weeks after Richtman shared that Adam Driver is in the final stages of negotiations for the role of Reed Richard aka Mister Fantastic for the MCU reboot.

Marvel has reportedly focused on casting Reed Richards and Sue Storm first before turning their attention towards Ben Grimm aka The Thing and Johnny Storm.

Other casting rumors suggest that Kunis could be cast as a female version of The Thing for the upcoming movie. Kunis has denied being a part of the Fantastic Four reboot.

"Apparently, if you go to lunch with somebody that is also in the industry, you then start working together according to the internet," Kunis said. "We went out to a deli and had lunch together, and the next day, I’m somehow in Fantastic Four. I am not in Fantastic Four, but I know who is."

The Fantastic Four will be coming to theaters on February 14, 2025.