Highlights
- The new trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 features requested Warzone map locations, exciting fans.
- The return of Makarov is confirmed as the primary threat in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, adding to the anticipation.
- There are speculations that Verdansk, the iconic map from the original Call of Duty: Warzone, might make a comeback in Modern Warfare 3.
The new trailer announcing the return of Makarov in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has fans of the franchise hyped for a different reason, as the video features locations from a Warzone map that players have requested for a long time. Accidental revelations or player discoveries are commonplace for the fan-favorite FPS franchise and have spawned several unconfirmed mysteries that ended up as a narrative tool in later instances, such as Bunker 11 in Call of Duty: Warzone.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third installment of the rebooted Modern Warfare subseries that follows in the narrative footsteps of 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and its sequel, Modern Warfare 2. While the ending of the Modern Warfare 2 put a definitive end to the campaign's antagonist, the following cutscenes and subsequent developments in the seasonal stories of Warzone have indicated a more significant threat looming in the background. The conclusion of Call of Duty's Atomgrad Raid storyline also pointed at a dangerous adversary rearing its head. Finally, after months of rumors and unconfirmed leaks surfacing, Activision officially announced Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Barely 24 hours after the announcement, the publisher confirmed Makarov as the primary threat for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and teased an upcoming trailer to herald the antagonist's arrival. The highly-anticipated Makarov Reveal Trailer showcased snippets from the upcoming campaign, with Captain Price providing insight into Makarov's goals. Some eagle-eyed fans, however, have spotted familiar locations in this short cinematic. According to the screenshots provided by WZStatsGG on Twitter, several spots from Call of Duty: Warzone's Verdansk map have been featured in the cinematic, mainly the outskirts of the infamous Zordaya Prison Complex and both the exterior and the underground parking lot of Verdansk Stadium. The trailer showcases several other locations, including a burning aircraft wreckage and a frozen body of water, but with no discernable features to tie those to Verdansk, even though the map does have matching points of interest.
There is no official confirmation of Verdansk's return, but that hasn't stopped fans from speculating regarding the changes and improvements made to Call of Duty: Warzone's most iconic map. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 introduced Al Mazrah as the featured battle royale map for Warzone, later expanding the map roster with Ashika Island and Vondel. However, with many persistent problems with map design and balance, the community's demand for Verdansk's return to Call of Duty: Warzone has remained steady.
The arrival of Verdansk, if true, will be extremely timely as the original Call of Duty: Warzone is shutting down on September 21, mere months before Modern Warfare 3's release. With an improved layout and a largely renewed playing field, the iconic battle royale map can occupy a more prominent part in the narrative of a new title while improving the current Warzone's longevity in the process.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10.