Highlights
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 received low ratings due to a lackluster campaign full of unpopular Open Combat Missions.
- The multiplayer in Modern Warfare 3 was well-received, however, with its risk regarding multiplayer map remakes paying off.
- Launching MW3 with map remakes allowed for more exciting post-launch content, making the game's seasons more thrilling than its predecessor. Perhaps future Call of Duty games offering a mix between map remakes and new maps at launch could be a healthy compromise that allows for some new content at launch, while keeping MW3's deep post-launch seasons.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has undoubtedly been one of the most controversial entries in the franchise. A brief campaign full of confusing story decisions and hugely unpopular Open Combat Missions led to MW3 being one of the lowest rated Call of Duty games of all time, and though the open-world Zombies mode has won many naysayers over, old school fans are still wishing that round-based content was included in the game. However, the response to multiplayer in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been quite positive, with its risk regarding multiplayer maps paying off.
While the reason for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s launch map lineup is likely a mixture of limited development time for Sledgehammer and MW3 reportedly starting its development as just an MW2 expansion, the focus on nostalgia has had a surprising benefit for the game. Alongside many of the classic Modern Warfare 2 maps still playing well and appealing to those who played the original versions, launching with a suite of map remakes has allowed MW3’s post-launch content to be top-notch. As such, there may be a case to be made for more remakes at launch in exchange for busier seasons packed with original content that come after release.
One Possible Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Addition is Too Good to Pass Up On
If Treyarch wants to keep players coming back to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies, it needs exciting content, and one option is a no-brainer.
More Call of Duty Games Like MW3 May Not Be a Bad Idea
The Case For Future Call of Duty Games to Borrow MW3’s Approach
As concerned as some players may have been about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s launch map lineup, leaning heavily into map remakes has allowed its post-launch content to be genuinely thrilling. Season 1 of MW3 outperforms MW2 Season 1 in several ways, with a holiday event full of special game modes joined by three new 6v6 maps and more. Perhaps this comes down to Modern Warfare 2 going all-in on original maps at launch, as Infinity Ward had less original content to spread throughout its post-launch seasons.
With the Call of Duty franchise having fully embraced the live service model, having strong post-launch support is key, and this is an area where MW2 struggled. Modern Warfare 3, on the other hand, seems to be thriving. Perhaps this difference in seasonal content is due to Sledgehammer Games having a clear vision for how it wants to support the project, but the likeliest cause for the strong first season is how the game’s launch maps were handled. By going all-in on remakes at launch, Call of Duty’s developers can then release more brand-new content in the post-launch seasons. MW3 players technically had a full lineup of maps to enjoy with the base game, even if they weren't truly “new,” and then the game’s seasons were free to be more exciting than they normally would be if the launch maps weren’t remakes.
With Call of Duty 2025 rumored to be a Black Ops 2 sequel that takes players back to the near future, while also featuring BO2 map remakes for its multiplayer, Call of Duty may already be going this route. If Call of Duty 2025’s launch maps are just BO2 remakes, its post-launch seasons could be full of new maps, with bigger content drops just like MW3 is getting.
Making Sure Not to Go As Far As MW3 Will Be Important For Call of Duty
However, it is important to note that not everyone loves what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has done with its multiplayer. Some players believe MW3 relies too much on nostalgia, wishing that the game had more original content than it currently does. This is a fair argument, as a new game should feel new, with it being odd that all the never-before-seen content comes after release. Plus, if every Call of Duty game takes the MW3 approach, all the old maps will be remade before long, and the series will stagnate. Using this approach sparingly will be key, such as having an MW3-like game full of map remakes release every other year to make sure that each fully “new” Call of Duty game delivers. Alternatively, a middle ground like what Black Ops 4 provided could be ideal, with 1/3 or half of the day-one maps being remakes and the rest being original. This way, the game could have content-heavy seasons without feeling lazy at launch, a criticism that is regularly thrown MW3’s way.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
Released in November of 2023, Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) continues Captain Price's story from the 2019 and 2022 games.
