The single-player campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, released by Activision, has faced criticism from gamers and fans of the series. This disappointment seems to stem from the alleged rushed development process that the game underwent. The campaign of Modern Warfare 3, when compared to its predecessors in the original Modern Warfare trilogy, was found lacking in several aspects, including depth, storytelling, and overall engagement.

Critics and Call of Duty content creators, such as TheGamingRevolution, have expressed dissatisfaction with the campaign’s writing, citing it as lacking tension, stakes, and originality. This discontent led to an unusual situation where some players began review bombing the original 2011 release of Modern Warfare 3, although the reasons behind targeting the original game remain unclear.

The Alleged Rushed Development According to Bloomberg

Bloomberg’s report sheds light on the development timeline of Modern Warfare 3. It suggests that Activision, aiming to fill a gap in their release schedule after the delay of a sequel to 2014’s Advanced Warfare, accelerated the development process of Modern Warfare 3. The game, initially intended as a smaller Modern Warfare spinoff, was repurposed into a full-fledged sequel to Modern Warfare 2.

This decision significantly reduced the development time, leaving the team with approximately 16 months – notably the shortest in the series’ history. More than a dozen developers, both former and current, reportedly viewed Modern Warfare 3 as more of an expansion to its predecessor rather than a standalone title. There were mixed messages during development, with some developers initially believing they were working on an expansion, only to later find out it was a standalone game. This reportedly caused feelings of betrayal among some team members, particularly in light of promises made after the development of Call of Duty: Vanguard.

Impact on the Game’s Campaign and Reception

The constrained development timeline likely affected the length and quality of Modern Warfare 3’s campaign. Typically, players could complete the campaign in 5 to 8 hours, a duration influenced by difficulty settings and pursuit of collectibles. Despite these variables, the game’s reception, as reflected in critic and player reviews, highlights the potential consequences of the rushed development process.

The reaction from the gaming community and the scores from critics illustrate a clear disconnect between the expectations for a Call of Duty title and the final product delivered in Modern Warfare 3. Whether Activision will take these criticisms into account for future projects, particularly the sequel to Modern Warfare 3, remains an open question.

Final Thoughts

The development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 highlights a critical issue in the video game industry: the balance between meeting release schedules and ensuring game quality. The revelations from Bloomberg’s report and the subsequent reaction from the gaming community provide valuable insights into the complexities of game development, especially for AAA titles. The impact of these revelations on Activision’s future projects and the broader gaming industry will be closely watched by developers, players, and industry analysts alike.

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