Call of Duty: Black Ops designer turns to mobile after months of funding rejections
Brian Douglas, a veteran game designer who previously worked on Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 at Treyarch, has shifted to mobile game development following a difficult fundraising journey. After departing Treyarch in 2014 and a subsequent stint at Free Range Games, Douglas was laid off in March 2025. He then spent approximately six months attempting to secure capital for an ambitious PC/console project called Project Lich, building a vertical slice solo before assembling a small team of industry contacts to strengthen the pitch.
The fundraising effort ultimately proved unsuccessful, prompting Douglas to pivot toward mobile development. Under his company Mystic Realm Games, he developed and shipped Rift Raider Extraction, an offline extraction shooter for Android, in just seven weeks. The rapid development timeline reflects both his extensive experience and resourcefulness in adapting to market realities.
Douglas noted challenges specific to venture capital practices, observing that it was evident which investment groups relied on AI for automated pitch screening versus those who provided personal attention. His experience reflects broader industry trends in which independent developers and experienced veterans face increasing obstacles securing traditional funding, despite holding substantial credentials from AAA studio work.