Gearbox Software was offered to develop a Call of Duty game

[Carlos]

Gearbox Software, the creative minds that brought highly successful shooters such as Brothers in Arms, and Borderlands to PC and consoles did an interview with a dutch website called KGN. Gearbox's Founder and C.E.O., Randy Pitchford has gone on the record to say that Activision approached Gearbox Software to develop a Call of Duty title, and he has rejected the offer. His reasoning; restrictions may hinder development of the game....

Randy Pitchford: I did not know what there was to reach there. For me, there are two scenarios in which a project makes sense for Gearbox: First, if there would have been the game without us ever. Or two, when we can contribute to an existing brand something new, a kind of unique perspective and a new approach. But that was not the case here. I think about the people delivering the "Call of Duty", which they want, you have to play by the rules of the series. You have to do what is expected of a "Call of Duty". In this I see but no real challenge for us. It would strengthen our reputation as a studio no further, it would not be really motivating for our team.

Source: Krawl'l Gaming Network (KGN)

[It's a Deutsch website, so google's translating what's being said.]

It would have been nice to see a Call of Duty title from Gearbox Software!

 

[BasicallyiFSU]

It would have been interesting to see what Gearbox would have done with it, especially with the coop.