On this episode, host David Taylor sits down with Dan Bunting, the former Studio Head of Treyarch and one of the key creative leaders behind the Call of Duty franchise. With over 18 years at Treyarch, Dan helped shape some of the most iconic moments in FPS history — from the introduction of Zombies mode in World at War to the rise of the Black Ops series.

We explore how Call of Duty became the dominant FPS franchise, and how Treyarch carved out its own identity through bold design decisions, narrative risk-taking, and constant innovation. Dan shares behind-the-scenes stories from the early 2000s to the modern era, reflecting on the key audience insights, design shifts, and tech evolutions that influenced Treyarch’s approach.

We also dive into his transition from studio leadership to entrepreneurship and investing, his outlook on the next decade of Call of Duty, and what excites him most about the future of the gaming industry.

We’d also like to thank Neon – a merchant of record with customizable webshops optimized for conversion – for making this episode possible! Neon is trusted by some of the biggest names in gaming and can help you sell direct without the typical overhead. To learn more, visit https://www.neonpay.com/?utm_source=naavik 

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Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.