Modern Warfare 3: Exploring Map Strategy
Highlights
Community reception to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been mixed, with fans divided on the launch map lineup as it consists entirely of MW2 remakes.
Fans of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are also concerned about the absence of its DLC maps in Modern Warfare 3.
While the DLC maps may come after launch, 12 new maps have already been confirmed for the game’s seasons, so it seems unlikely. Unfortunately, fans should only expect to see the 16 launch maps being modernized.
Community reception to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been all over the place, and understandably so. On one hand, the Carry Forward system seems like a great way to reward Modern Warfare 2 fans while filling the next game with content, but some are worried it will mean fewer new Operators and weapons in the sequel. The campaign’s Open Combat Missions sound dangerously similar to Spec Ops, while Zombies’ open-world map could be an ambitious success or feel like a boring wasteland. Multiplayer has led to perhaps the most mixed response of all due to its map lineup.
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While the rumored returns of Ninja and a traditional mini-map were met with excitement, fans were split when it was revealed that the launch map roster would be filled entirely with remakes. Nostalgic players are thrilled by the prospect of these remasters, as the OG Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 map lineup was beloved. Newer players are less enthused, arguing that Modern Warfare 3 sounds more like an MW2 DLC than a premium release since it’s filled with old content. Regardless of where players fall, one question remains, as fans are wondering what will happen with the original Modern Warfare 2’s DLC maps.
To date, players know that all 16 of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s launch maps will be remade for MW3. This means players will soon be flanking around the main building in Estate and battling around an airplane in Terminal once again. However, with 16 maps being a solid enough launch lineup, it seems Sledgehammer Games has left fans of MW2’s DLC arenas concerned.
Admittedly, the most iconic maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 were found in the launch lineup, as the very nature of DLC maps meant that they failed to reach the entire player base. However, that doesn’t mean the maps were bad. In Modern Warfare 2’s DLC packs, players visited a trailer park, oil refinery, junkyard, and apartment complex. A Carnival map was also featured, joining the Trailer Park as a standout from the game’s DLC offerings.
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Unfortunately, by leaving these maps out of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, they remain trapped in a game that’s well over a decade old. While players can still hop back into the original Modern Warfare 2, with MW2’s servers recently being improved, not everyone is willing to dig out an old console to play a game that’s outdated from a visual standpoint. Remakes could have brought Carnival and Trailer Park to an entirely new audience, and including them in a launch lineup could have given them the spotlight they never had.
While one obvious solution to this problem is to include the map remakes in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s post-launch seasons, Sledgehammer Games already has that content planned out. MW3 will be taking a backwards approach to map releases, with map remakes completely dominating the launch lineup and the seasons providing original locations instead. With 12 brand-new maps planned as seasonal content, there may not be enough time and resources to justify Modern Warfare 2 DLC remakes.
While there’s a chance that these remakes could come as a surprise seasonal addition or in a paid DLC like Modern Warfare Remastered did with Call of Duty 4’s post-launch locations, it seems fans of the original MW2 could be out of luck. It would be a real shame if these maps never got a second chance, as a few of them were real standouts. Beyond that, Black Ops Cold War has proven that DLC maps can feel great in a modern release, as BO1’s Drive-In played wonderfully in that game. For now, fans can simply hope that Sledgehammer Games will take the extra time to fully complete Modern Warfare 3’s collection of OG MW2 maps.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.