Activision Offered Infinity Ward Big Bucks To Create A Modern Warfare Sequel.

So big in fact, Activision were willing to plough Infinity Ward with a "ridiculous" budget to develop the game.
[quote]
“Early on – when we decided to make a sequel – Activision estimated out a ridiculous budget. And we were like: ‘No, we don’t need that’,” Infinity Ward's community manager Robert Bowling told Develop.

“Much like we don’t let ourselves get distracted by hype, if you have excess you feel like you should use excess,” he said.

“So we said ‘let us design a game the way we’d always design a game. And let us focus on that.’ So we didn’t let the budget affect our mentality. We would only put stuff in the game that is right for the game, and not because we can.”</blockquote>

It's a refreshing mentality to be honest. Most companies wouldn't turn down an enormous budget. But Infinity Ward did. And while we have no clarification of the game's quality yet, it's safe to assume it's going to be pretty awesome.