Development is underway for what will be one of 2022’s biggest titles.
The Modern Warfare series is one of Call of Duty’s namesakes. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, for instance, sold 4.7 millions copies in its first day of launch and a total of 25 million copies worldwide; it was the best-selling video game of its time. The installment met universal acclaim from both fans and critics alike, and still maintains a consistent player base 12 years after its initial release.
It is because of this wild success that Activision decided to revamp the series, providing players with the setting of previous games but with a new engine and gameplay mechanics.
In comes Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), or as it is colloquially called, MW19. This reimagination was as much of a success as its predecessors, beating records and becoming the most popular video game in Call of Duty history. Less than a year into its lifecycle, it had sold over 30 million copies.
So, it comes as no surprise that Activision desires to have the game’s developer Inifinity Ward have another go at recreating the Modern Warfare brand that made the franchise so popular in the first place.
The announcement came on Feb. 11 via Activision’s Twitter page.
Tied in with the announcement of the upcoming Call of Duty was a new and improved Warzone experience. Call of Duty: Warzone launched a few months after the release of MW19, offering players a battle royale experience unlike any other, featuring classic Call of Duty weaponry at no cost.
This free-to-play experience has served well over 100 million players worldwide and has also dominated Twitch, the gaming-focused livestreaming platform, as well as TikTok, most recently.
Despite its monumental and global success, the developers have hit creative limbo with the game mode. Since it was created along with MW19, it was intended to serve as a complementary mode to that game’s campaign and multiplayer experiences. Yet, because new installments have been integrated into the Warzone experience, players claim that it lacks identity, is a buggy mess and is in dire need of rejuvenation.
Recently, Pat Kelly, co-studio head of Infinity Ward, told CharlieIntel that the studio “f**ked stuff up” in regards to the most recent Warzone update, adding that patches are coming as soon as possible. The studios are “determined to fix the issues with the game,” according to CharlieIntel.
With a new Call of Duty title coming in the fall, fans are looking forward to this revamped experience.
The Beat @APU 