Sledgehammer Games is best known for its long-running role inside the Call of Duty machine but a new rumor suggests the studio may have spent years building something completely different behind the scenes.

According to new claims tied to a former senior creative at the studio, Sledgehammer Games was working on an unannounced action RPG for a multi-year stretch, with development activity reportedly spanning from 2019 through 2025. That timeframe alone is enough to raise eyebrows, especially since the project is described as more than a small experimental side effort.

What makes the rumor stand out is the scope implied by the responsibilities listed. The work allegedly included long-term series planning, early prototyping, and building out core gameplay mechanics. Beyond that, the description leans heavily into worldbuilding: designing locations, cultures, environments, and characters plus assembling lore materials such as “world books” and even constructed languages. If accurate, it paints a picture of a studio aiming for a large-scale narrative RPG identity rather than a straightforward action spinoff.

The context is important. In recent years, Sledgehammer has often supported other Call of Duty teams, while only leading select releases. That reality naturally leaves space for the idea that a parallel project could have been in motion, especially if it required a separate creative leadership track.

Still, none of this has been confirmed publicly. No publisher has attached its name to the rumored RPG, and there’s no official reveal, platform list, or release window. Projects of this size can also change direction, get rebooted, or be shelved entirely particularly when studios are pulled into franchise production cycles.

For now, the rumor is best treated as a snapshot of ambition: a suggestion that Sledgehammer Games explored a bold new lane, potentially building an original action RPG with deep lore and a fully developed setting. Whether that effort turns into a real announcement or remains an internal chapter that never reaches players depends on what the studio and its partners choose to show next.