Is this the first stirrings of a Call of Duty movie?

Call of Duty movie, anyone? Activision is rumoured to have set its very own film studio into motion.

The rumour comes via The Information, as reported by Engadget as it's behind a pay wall.

According to the report, Activision is "tentatively planning" to open a studio to produce both movies and TV shows based on its properties.

Activision hasn't commented on the rumblings, but it makes sense. Transmedia's increasingly important to gaming IP, and we know Activision is very, very wary of licensing its properties. Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has gone so far to say that a Call of Duty movie would "taint" the brand, for example.

(Activision Blizzard did sign off on the World of Warcraft movie, but that was done very, very carefully and in close collaboration with Blizzard - indeed, former director Sam Raimi blamed the developer for his decision to leave the project.)

A publisher-owned studio is a great solution, though. Activision wouldn't be first to take this drastic step to protect its properties against the evils of cinematic adaptations; Assassin's Creed publisher Ubisoft did it in 2011.

Assuming Activision's plan is similar, the publisher wouldn't exactly be making the films itself, because that would be and insane undertaking. Instead, it'll probably put together a creative team to work closely with established studios and production houses. For example, Ubisoft is working with New Regency on the Assassin's Creed film.

That way, the publisher would be intimately involved in the process, but could drawn on the expertise of Hollywood veterans and wouldn't have to front the resources required to make movies. Nice.

So! Would you watch a Call of Duty movie? I would. I mean, it's practically a movie already. Ohhhh yeah, I went there.