Summary
TheCall of Dutyfranchise has experienced its fair share of highs and lows when it comes to map design. During the golden era of the series, games like the originalModern Warfaretrilogy and the first fewBlack Opstitles could basically do no wrong in this area, boasting map pools that were almost entirely beloved. In recent years, though, standout maps have been few and far between, with celebrated locations like Shoot House cropping up much less often. Still, just like modernCall of Dutygames could use someBattlefield-inspired maps, DICE could take notes from some standoutCoDlocations.
Obviously, maps would not be translated one-to-one and would have to be treated as sources of inspiration, withBattlefieldputting its own spin on memorable map layouts and locales. The franchise’s destruction could help with that, as well as its large player counts, as DICE would undoubtedly have to expand upon theCall of Dutyfranchise’s relatively small 6v6 arenas. Still, it could be worth the effort, as someCall of Dutymap ideas are deserving of a revisit, even if it were to occur in the series’ main competitor.
Favela
Recently coming back into the public consciousness thanks to a remake in 2023’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Favelatakes players to a series of alleyways in Brazil. Its unique color pallet and verticality help it stand out from other maps, with players battling on the rooftops just as often as they do in the streets. The Christ the Redeemer statue in the background of the map is some nice set dressing, though in aBattlefieldversion, perhaps players could fight in that portion of Brazil as well. Snipers could fire from the mountain where the statue sits, while attackers could parachute down to the defenders that are waiting in Rio’s slums to make for a neat “only in Battlefield” moment.
WithBattlefieldfocusing on either real-world wars or fictional battles against China and Russia, Favela would be a welcome change of scenery. An expanded version ofSlums fromBlack Ops 2would be an equally exciting prospect, as it’d stand out fromBattlefield’s usual map settings.
Standoff
A standout map that first appeared inBlack Ops 2before receiving a western makeover inBlack Ops 3and a faithful remake inBlack Ops Cold War, Standoff has long been viewed as an ideal Domination map. Offering a healthy mix of long sightlines and flanking angles, it caters to all play styles. Considering how Standoff’s setting is a border town between China and Kyrgyzstan, it could be smoothly integrated into the lore ofthe existingBattlefielduniverse. Plus, with farmland surrounding the town and tanks featured within theCoDmap, it is easy to imagine how it would be expanded for an appearance inBattlefield.
Stonehaven
An ideal example of a fun map being featured in the wrong franchise - or featured too early, as it would have been the basis for a goodGround War map inModern Warfare- Stonehaven was divisive amongCall of Duty: Ghostsfans. However, fighting in a medieval castle and a nearby old-timey village made for a fairly novel experience. With the main reason for the community’s distaste of the map being that it was far too large forCall of Duty’s usual fast-paced, 6v6 gameplay, it is easy to imagine a slightly expanded version with vehicle support thriving in aBattlefieldgame.
Nuketown
Admittedly, given how synonymous Nuketown is with theCall of Dutybrand, anything remotely similar is unlikely to be offered in another FPS game. Still, Nuketown Island’s presence within theBlackout battle royale mapis the perfect bit of proof that a larger version of Nuketown can feel good to play, as players would be free to explore other buildings in the fake cul-de-sac beyond the iconic green and yellow houses.Battlefield’s destruction could allow players to destroy these houses, too, completely changing the dynamic of the map. With Nuketown largely playing the same in its many visual makeovers, as onlyBlack Ops 3’s version felt legitimately different thanks to its wallrunning, this would make for a nice change.
Raid
Given its flashy setting, it is surprising that more FPS games have not offered a play space like Raid fromCall of Duty: Black Ops 2. One of the most beloved maps in theCall of Dutyseries, Raid takes players to the Hollywood Hills, and it is hard not to think about how fun it would be to tear up its expensive scenery within aBattlefieldmap. Much like the bright white textures made Ziba Tower stand out inBattlefield 3’s Close Quarters expansion, a Hollywood Hills map that features areas like Raid and leans into infantry-focused combat would be a fun addition to the next game in DICE’s popular franchise.
