Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Developer's Response to Allegations of Rushed Development

Article Key Points

Sledgehammer Games denies that it was rushed to release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, stating that it spent "years" realizing the game's vision.

Sledgehammer also rejected the assertion that MW3 was originally planned as DLC and expressed their desire to create another Advanced Warfare, which was later influenced by Activision. This opposing view was put forth by Jason Schreier from Bloomberg, a highly esteemed gaming journalist known for providing credible insider information.

Sledgehammer Games has denied allegations that they were pressured to quickly release Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. In response to a Bloomberg report suggesting that Activision rushed the game and is therefore to blame for its subpar state upon launch, the studio issued a lengthy statement refuting these claims.

Traditionally, the popular shooter series followed a three-year development cycle, with Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer taking turns creating each new mainline installment. Since 2016, all three studios have received assistance from Raven Software, another subsidiary of Activision that leads the development of the Warzone battle royale games. However, recent reports suggest that Modern Warfare 3 represents the beginning of a new release model for Call of Duty, where future titles will undergo shorter development periods of just two years. This model aims to alternate between unique games and iterative sequels, with the latter being the sole responsibility of Sledgehammer.

Sledgehammer Denies Claim that Modern Warfare 3 Was Rushed

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Modern Warfare 3 was developed within a short span of 16 months after Activision postponed Treyarch's 2023 Call of Duty game. Following this, Sledgehammer Games, now known as X, released a statement from Studio Head Aaron Halon, which contradicted significant portions of the report. Halon stated that the company dedicated "years" to bring the vision of Modern Warfare 3 to life. He emphasized that any claims suggesting otherwise are entirely false.

The Bloomberg report, written by industry insider Jason Schreier, stated that Sledgehammer initially planned to create another Advanced Warfare game after finishing Call of Duty: Vanguard in 2021. However, Activision instructed them to work on Modern Warfare 3 instead, which Halon, the studio, disagreed with, claiming that they made the first consecutive sequel in franchise history because it is what the fans wanted.

According to Schreier, Modern Warfare 3 was originally intended to be a DLC for Modern Warfare 2, but it became a standalone game due to the delay of Treyarch's next Call of Duty installment. Activision's spokesperson had already denied this claim prior to Halon contradicting it.

A significant amount of criticism has been directed towards the underwhelming single-player campaign in Modern Warfare 3. It is unclear whether this backlash from fans will ultimately affect the future of the series. However, it is certain that Activision has already mapped out the next four years of Call of Duty.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

Scheduled for release on November 10, 2023, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) by Activision carries on Captain Price's narrative from the previous games released in 2019 and 2022.

Franchise: Call of Duty

Game Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS4, Xbox One

Release Date: November 10, 2023

Developer: Sledgehammer Games

Publisher: Activision

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Editor's P/S

As a fan of the Call of Duty franchise, I was excited to hear about the release of Modern Warfare 3. However, I was also concerned about the reports that the game had been rushed to market. After reading the developer's response to these allegations, I feel reassured that the game was given the time and attention it needed to be a success.

Sledgehammer Games has a long history of developing high-quality Call of Duty titles, and I believe that Modern Warfare 3 is no exception. The game's single-player campaign is engaging and well-written, and the multiplayer is fast-paced and exciting. I am confident that fans of the franchise will enjoy Modern Warfare 3 and that it will be a worthy addition to the series.