Call of Duty: Black Ops Designer Turns to Mobile With Rift Raider Extraction

Following months of failed funding attempts for a PC and console project, former Treyarch level designer Brian Douglas has built and launched the offline extraction shooter Rift Raider Extraction for mobile devices. Douglas, who left Treyarch in 2014 after working on Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2, was laid off from Free Range Games in March 2025. He subsequently spent roughly six months trying to raise capital for a PC and console project codenamed Project Lich, building a vertical slice and bringing on a small team to pitch the concept.

However, the fundraising process proved challenging. Douglas noted that many groups used artificial intelligence to vet pitches, while others failed to play the demo. Faced with persistent rejections, Douglas paused Project Lich and borrowed $10,000 from his parents to pivot toward a smaller, faster idea. Working as a solo founder, he took Rift Raider Extraction from concept to ship in seven weeks using Unreal Blueprints, Photoshop, and modified visual assets from the Unreal Fab Store.

The title launched exclusively on Android partly due to hardware necessities, as shipping on the iOS App Store requires a Mac computer, whereas Douglas only had a PC laptop available. Google Play's larger share of the mobile market also influenced the decision, though an iOS version is planned. The game monetizes through in-app purchases for currency and cooldown tokens, opt-in rewarded video ads, and interstitial ads introduced after launch. Douglas is also exploring a branded tie-in with an unnamed comic book series.

Rift Raider Extraction has surpassed 8,000 downloads, maintaining around 1,200 active players despite some technical difficulties. Douglas attributes user acquisition success primarily to app store optimization, noting that the unmarketed indie title draws about 1,500 page views daily with a 12% store conversion rate. While continuing to support the mobile release, Douglas is also applying for design roles at studios, though he has encountered feedback that he is overqualified for mid-range and senior positions.