Summary
The release date forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is just around the corner, with a wealth of information now being available regarding its campaign, core multiplayer, and ambitious Zombies mode. Just recently, the official multiplayer trailer for the title was released, giving fans a concrete overview of the maps, pacing, and core game mechanics of its online experience.
While these new details were fascinating by themselves, they were boosted by the clear respect thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is paying to 2009’sModern Warfare 2. The multiplayer reveal trailer really stressed the similarities that it shares with the online modes ofMW2, and there were several key elements that will be huge points of interest for fans of the classic 2009 game.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Multiplayer Trailer: A Love Letter To Modern Warfare 2
The reveal trailer forModern Warfare 3’s multiplayerwas full of the high-octane energy that the franchise has built itself on over the past two decades. Of course, a huge focus of the trailer was placed on the map roster ofMW3, which is set to be entirely composed of remakes of the firstMW2’s maps. The trailer confirmed thatMW3will feature 16 ofMW2’s maps at launch, immediately showing how the game is being set up to appeal to veteran fans of the franchise.
The way these maps play inMW3will be a bit differentto how fans remember, with the trailer showing how doors have been added in some areas as well as featuring bodies of water that players can swim in. Despite these differences, the promotional material forMW3has also stressed the faster pacing of its multiplayer, with things like reload canceling making a reappearance. This should mean that the overall feel and movement ofMW3will be much more fitting for the maps of 2009’sMW2, especially compared to the notoriously slower movement of 2022’sMW2.
As well as making the movement ofMW3more reflective of 2009’sModern Warfare 2, the multiplayer trailer showed fans that the upcoming game is aiming to maintain the charm of the original maps. This was best evidenced in the trailer’s portrayal ofthe classic Highrise map, where it confirmed thatMW3’s take will feature the same out of bounds jump-spots and secret ladders as the first.
Away from the gameplay itself, the multiplayer trailer forMW3even went as far as to use Eminem’s song “Till I Collapse,” which famously appeared in the multiplayer trailer for the originalModern Warfare 2. This essentially confirms the deep connection between both titles, and it is clear that Sledgehammer Games is significantly leaning into the legacy of the 2009 game in the promotional and execution of the upcoming release.Eminem was a staple of manyCoDtrailers between 2009 and 2013, making his appearance inMW3’s trailer a bold statement of intent.
Overall, the clear appeal to nostalgia within theMW3multiplayer trailer is great news for the franchise’s older fans. With that being said, there is a clear risk in catering so much to fans of a much older title, with newer players not possessing the same lovefor older maps and their style of play. Either way, the community should gear up for a multiplayer experience that shares deep ties to one of the most iconic multiplayer titles in the franchise’s history.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3launches on November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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