Activision sues EA for $400 million

Activision has filed suit against Electronic Arts seeking $400 million in damages as part of its ongoing litigation against two former Infinity Ward executives.

The Call of Duty publisher alleged that EA began luring Jason West and Vince Zampella away from it in late July 2009, with COO John Schappert tapping the pair up via email.

Former Microsoft executive Seamus Blackley, an agent at talent agency Creative Artists, then helped brokered a meeting that saw the duo flown to EA CEO John Riccitiello's home by private jet, according to Activision's filing.

The amended cross-complaint reiterated a lot of Activision's previously publicised beef with West and Zampella, whom it claimed were delaying pre-production on Modern Warfare 3 and preventing employees receiving additional compensation for their very successful work.

West and Zampella have always maintained that the allegations were "false and outrageous".

Having been fired by Activision bosses at the start of the year, the pair set up Respawn Entertainment and signed a deal with Electronic Arts, the fruits of which we've yet to see. According to Activision's legal action, the studio poached around 40 former Infinity Ward employees in the process.

Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said earlier this week that there's "still a lot of talent" inside Infinity Ward despite the departures.