Activision’s new policy on personal grooming spelt the end of West and Zampella.

Two of the key figures behind Infinity Ward’s world conquering Call of Duty franchise have been shown the door. Parent company Activision has revealed that Infinity Ward’s Jason West and Vince Zampella, studio President and Chief Executive Officer respectively, are no longer employed by the publisher. The announcement confirms aspects of the explosive story published by G4.

Earlier this week, Activision lodged an Annual Report with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, citing ‘breaches of contract and insubordination” on the part of “two senior employees at Infinity Ward”. West and Zampella have since announced a lawsuit against their former employer on a range of grounds, including wrongful termination and breach of contract.

The growing tension between publisher and developer spilled into the public arena some time ago. As Kotaku reported in November 2008, Infinity Ward’s Community Manager Robert Bowling publically ridiculed Activision Senior Producer Noah Heller. Heller’s alleged crime was name-dropping the Infinity Ward developed Call of Duty 4 while promoting a spin-off produced by Treyarch.

Almost immediately after the departure of West and Zampella, Activision announced two new Call of Duty titles, one a traditional first person shooter, the other a third-person action game. Series veterans Treyarch will create the first game, while newly formed Activision studio Sledgehammer Games will be responsible for the second. According to an Activision memo leaked to Kotaku, Infinity Ward also “remains central to Call of Duty’s future”.

The question is, just how many Call of Duty titles will Activision manage to squeeze out before they smother their golden goose?

More on this story as it develops.