Activision Blizzard’s latest installment in its celebrated Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare 3, has found itself mired in controversy and disappointment since its launch, with critics and players alike citing a rushed development cycle as a significant detriment to the game’s overall quality.
Emerging reports and insider information reveal that Modern Warfare 3, initially conceptualized as a premium-priced expansion to Modern Warfare 2, was transformed into a full-fledged sequel within a remarkably short span of 16 months, a timeline drastically shorter than the typical three-year development cycle for Call of Duty titles.
The decision to expedite Modern Warfare 3 into a standalone game appears to have been driven by Activision’s desire to maintain its annual release schedule for the franchise, particularly in the absence of other major releases slated for the year. This accelerated timeline, as reported by Bloomberg and “confirmed” by several members of the development team, resulted in a campaign that many have criticized for its brevity, lackluster content, and apparent incompleteness. The final product, which spans a mere four hours – significantly shorter than the series’ usual six to eight-hour campaigns – has left fans and critics underwhelmed and questioning the future direction of the franchise.
The rushed development has led to considerable strain and discontent among the teams at Sledgehammer Games, the studio behind Modern Warfare 3.
Following the challenging production of Call of Duty: Vanguard under similarly limited constrained conditions, promises of avoiding such a tight timeline in the future were reportedly made to the developers. However, these assurances were not honored, resulting in periods of intense crunch, where developers worked nights and weekends to meet the imposed deadlines.
Modern Warfare 3’s development troubles are further compounded by communication issues between Sledgehammer Games and Infinity Ward, the original creators of the Modern Warfare series. Slow feedback loops and the necessity for significant changes, often at the behest of Infinity Ward, added to the development challenges, exacerbating the stress and rush to complete the game on time.
While Activision has denied that Modern Warfare 3 began as an expansion, more than a dozen current and former Call of Duty developers have contradicted this claim, stating that the project’s initial scope and vision were indeed smaller and more focused. The game’s transition into a full sequel, coupled with a global setting featuring the villain Vladimir Makarov, was a directive that came midway through development, further complicating and pressuring an already tight schedule.
The result of this expedited development cycle is a campaign that has received some of the lowest scores in the series’ history. Critics have lambasted the game for its brevity, feeling of incompleteness, and a lack of the polish that many typically associate with Call of Duty titles. The reception of Modern Warfare 3 stands in stark contrast to the high standards and expectations set by previous entries in the franchise.
The situation surrounding Modern Warfare 3 raises critical questions about the sustainability of continuing the annual release schedule for Call of Duty, especially now that it’s under the Microsoft Gaming umbrella.
Now that Phil Spencer is at the helm, the industry is closely watching to see if there will be a shift in the development and release strategy for one of gaming’s most lucrative series. The hope is that future Call of Duty titles will be given the time and resources necessary to meet the quality standards that fans of the series have come to expect, without imposing unrealistic demands on the developers responsible for bringing these games to life.
As the dust settles on the launch of Modern Warfare 3, the lessons from its troubled development serve as a cautionary tale for the gaming industry, highlighting the potential pitfalls of prioritizing release schedules over development quality and the well-being of the teams behind these major gaming projects.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is currently bundled with the recently released PlayStation 5 Slim in the United States.
