Randy Pitchford, the president of Gearbox Software - the company behind the successful Brothers in Arms series - said EA’s Medal of Honor is a franchise in trouble. CVG cought up with the man at a press event in London where he said “somebody really needs to get hold of that franchise.”

Pitchford: “It’s a great franchise, and a lot of people love it, but I think somebody really needs to get hold of that franchise who cares about the subject matter and understands what the real promise and the fantasy is.

“I think they’re confused right now. They’re partially speaking not as a dedicated World War II game, but just as a game. I think if you’re just going to make a shooter, there’s other subject matter you can pick that give them more flexibility to do the kinds of things that they’ve been wishing to do.

“Like upgrading weapons and things like that? That doesn’t belong in an authentic war game.”

The latest in Gearbox’s own WWII series, the long-awaited Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway, was recently pushed back and is currently expected to be released in the first few months of 2008.