Summary
Call of Dutyhas a storied history, with the franchise covering a lot of ground in its 20 years. Players have experiencednumerous takes on World War 2, fought on modern battlefields, witnessed covert operations during the Cold War, and gotten a look at multiple possible futures. Merging all these different timelines into one game is essentially impossible, yet according to recent leaks,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3could be trying to do just that. However, this could result in a truly weird game.
Supposedly,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is set to take a slightly different approach to its post-launch seasons. Instead of every season serving as an extension of the modern theme the game is based around, each is rumored to focus on a pastCall of Dutygame. While this could be a charming way to celebrateCall of Duty’s 20th anniversary, and could attract fans of olderCoDgames, it is in danger of makingModern Warfare 3feel like a mess. Considering thatCall of Duty: Advanced Warfareis said to be the first game focused on via this tribute format, it may not take long for the latestCoDgame to stop living up to its title.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 May Not Feel Modern For Long
Considering howModern Warfare 3is already a strange game, muddying the waters with seasonal content that feels like it comes from another title could be a mistake. After all, despite being calledModern Warfare 3, the game’s 6v6 multiplayer is entirely composed of mapremakes from the originalMW2. With Zombies appearing inModern Warfarefor the first time, and all three of the majorCoDdevelopers working on the title in some fashion, there is a good chance that it will not feel like the other games in the rebootedModern Warfareseries. Beyond that, though, it is in danger of not feeling “modern” at all.
How problematic this seasonal approach is will come down to what exactly is included. For some games, adding weaponry could work fine, as theHoney Badger fromCall of Duty: Ghostscould be an ideal addition toModern Warfare 3. However, many of Advanced Warfare’s laser guns and futuristic gadgets would be a no-go, with only a few weapons like the BAL-27 being grounded enough for a modern FPS. The same can be said for skins, though withCall of Dutyembracing random crossovers that range from Spawn to Nicki Minaj, it may not be worried about tossing WW2 soldiers and exosuit-users into a modern setting. Still, if too many weapons and skins are added from other eras, it will not be long beforeModern Warfare 3feels unfocused.
The other issue with this seasonal approach is that it cannot be done every other year. While there have been severalCall of Dutygames to pay homage to, it would not take long for the series to start double-dipping, which could end up growing stale very fast. Supposedly,Call of Duty2024 will be followed up by anotherBlack Opstitle in 2025, just likeMW3is coming immediately afterMW2. This leaked game is said to be comprised ofBlack Ops 2map remakes, and with so much in common with the upcomingMW3, it may also want to borrow this seasonal approach. However, that would be a mistake, as with several seasons of content,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3can easily pay homage to every classicCoDgame that deserves a tribute.
While it is too early to judge the concept, as it is unclear what exactly these themed seasons will entail, it is hard not to be a bit concerned. Players already sawCall of Duty: Vanguard’s post-launch story go off the rails with the inclusion of Godzilla, King Kong, and random villains from the franchise’s other games. Unfortunately, it feels like a Sledgehammer-led project could be taking things too far once again. While some would have fun with a title that pays homage to past games, those feeling likeModern Warfare 3relies too much on nostalgia would be even more disappointed if this seasonal content rumor proved true. Instead of feeling likeModern Warfare 3, the game could haveCall of Duty Mobilevibes, with futuristic, modern, and historical skins littering remade maps. Ultimately, it would feel like a disservice to theModern Warfarebrand to promise modern content but lean heavily into other eras after release.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3launches on November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
