The release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has been riddled with controversy, confusion, and a fair share of snafus, particularly concerning its status as a standalone title versus a premium-priced downloadable content for its predecessor, Modern Warfare II.
At the heart of the issue are peculiar anomalies encountered by PlayStation 5 players. Some of those who eagerly pre-ordered Modern Warfare III, anticipating seamless access to its single-player campaign, were instead met with an error message instructing them to insert a Modern Warfare II disc. This perplexing scenario, highlights a deeper confusion within the game’s identity and its relationship to the previous installment.
Adding fuel to the fire, trophies for the PS5 version of Modern Warfare III are curiously listed under DLC for last year’s Call of Duty game. A glaring absence of a platinum trophy – a coveted mark of completion for many gamers – further raises eyebrows and reignites skepticism about the game’s standalone status. This inconsistency isn’t universal, as the PS4 version maintains a separate trophy list complete with a platinum trophy. This extends to the Steam platform as Modern Warfare III’s achievements are similarly grouped under DLC for Modern Warfare II. However, the Xbox versions don’t appear to share this complication, which, you know, probably isn’t a case of favoritism, right?
The situation becomes even more intriguing in light of historical reports. Bloomberg’s earlier coverage indicated a shift in Activision’s strategy, transforming what was initially conceived as a premium expansion for Modern Warfare II into a full-fledged threequel. This evolution, while reflecting a change in commercial approach, may have left residual technical issues, as evidenced by the trophy and DLC conundrums.
These inconsistencies haven’t gone unnoticed. The internet is awash with frustrated, speculative fans, with many voicing concerns over what they perceive as a glorified DLC masquerading as a full-priced game. The community’s unrest is obvious, with calls for price adjustments and transparent communication from Activision.
In response to these technical glitches and community uproar, Activision has acknowledged the problems and deployed updates aimed at resolving them. However, the publisher has stopped short of addressing the root cause of these issues or the speculation surrounding the game’s origins as a DLC.
It’s worth noting that recent Call of Duty titles have been accessible through a unified Call of Duty HQ app, which could partially explain the trophy listing anomaly. However, this does not fully account for the diverse experiences across different platforms or the initial request for a Modern Warfare II disc.
As Modern Warfare III’s full launch approaches – it’s already available to play via early access – with multiplayer and a new co-op Zombies extraction mode on the horizon, players and industry observers are waiting for further updates. Will Activision clarify the game’s standing and address the community’s concerns? Will future Call of Duty titles face similar identity crises, or will they carve out distinct spaces within the franchise’s expansive universe?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 isn’t on Game Pass. It’s believed that Call of Duty and Diablo isn’t coming to the popular subscription service until next year.
