Potential Continuation of Call of Duty's Trophy Issue Beyond MW3

Article Key Points

The campaign of Modern Warfare 3 has faced criticism due to its significant narrative choices and brevity, leaving numerous fans feeling let down. Moreover, the Open Combat Missions have also been a source of disappointment, as they deviate from the linear structure of previous games.

Moreover, the absence of a Platinum Trophy in Modern Warfare 3 has dissatisfied certain PS5 players, and this matter might continue to prevail in upcoming Call of Duty titles.

Rumor has it that Call of Duty 2025 will bear a resemblance to MW3, potentially adopting a similar approach for its Trophy list. Furthermore, the inclusion of DLC Trophies may be indicative of Call of Duty's commitment to the unified application concept, which is unlikely to be relinquished in the near future.

Early access is now available for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s campaign, but it has received significant criticism. Fans have expressed objections to certain story decisions and have pointed out the campaign's surprisingly short length. Many fans find the Open Combat Missions underwhelming, as they resemble the newer Spec Ops modes and DMZ rather than the traditional linear, set piece-filled levels. In addition to these criticisms, the lack of a Platinum Trophy in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has left fans disappointed. It should be noted that not every player is concerned about Trophy hunting in video games. Since many Call of Duty players primarily focus on multiplayer and disregard the singleplayer mode, the absence of a Platinum Trophy may be less of a concern compared to other franchises. However, there are still players who are disappointed by this decision and use it to argue that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is simply a rebranded and overpriced DLC. Unfortunately, for those who are less motivated to collect MW3’s Trophies due to the missing Platinum, there is a likelihood that this issue will persist in future Call of Duty releases.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 May Not Be The Last CoD Game Without a Platinum

Call of Duty’s “Shared App Approach” Means New Games Are DLC

It is worth noting that the problem mentioned above is limited to the PlayStation 5 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 specifically. On the other hand, the PS4 version of the game provides a Platinum Trophy, as one would expect from a high-budget release. Some have speculated that this issue might not be attributed to Modern Warfare 3 initially planned as a DLC, but rather stems from the new approach adopted by the Call of Duty franchise.

While some Call of Duty games have presented challenging Platinums, such as Black Ops 4 due to its Blackout Trophies and World at War due to its brutal Veteran mode, most are generally considered easy to attain. This could be the reason why fans are feeling let down, as they now miss out on an easily achievable Platinum with the PS5 edition.

The size problem associated with the Call of Duty series has been a topic of extensive discussion, and it arises from the use of a single large application that houses multiple Call of Duty games. This approach may have also contributed to the controversy surrounding Platinums. On the PlayStation 5, Call of Duty is recognized as a single comprehensive app, and each app can only have one complete Trophy list with a Platinum Trophy. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the designated game for this, while Modern Warfare 3 can only offer an additional Trophy list because of this limitation. As long as Call of Duty continues to be treated as one unified app where players can access all the games through a single application, it is unfortunate that DLC Trophy lists may become the standard for PS5 users.

Call of Duty 2025 Sounds Very Similar to Modern Warfare 3

Take any leaks about a game two years away with a grain of salt, including those about Call of Duty 2025. Rumors suggest that the game will consist of remakes of maps from Black Ops 2, similar to how MW3 included maps from a previous game. This follow-up to the new Black Ops experience in 2024 could potentially have the same issue regarding Trophy achievements. If Call of Duty 2024 introduces a new shared application for the series, Call of Duty 2025 might end up being another DLC-like offering instead of a fully original project and could miss out on having a Platinum Trophy, just like Modern Warfare 3. It is hoped that Activision will take the criticism into account for Call of Duty 2025, addressing the campaign criticisms and ensuring that a Platinum Trophy is available to PS5 users.

Scheduled to hit the shelves on November 10, 2023, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) by Activision carries on with the narrative of Captain Price from the games of 2019 and 2022.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of the Call of Duty franchise, I am deeply concerned about the potential continuation of the trophy issue beyond Modern Warfare 3. The absence of a Platinum Trophy in Modern Warfare 3 has left many PS5 players dissatisfied, and the rumor that Call of Duty 2025 will adopt a similar approach is disheartening.

The lack of a Platinum Trophy may not be a significant issue for all players, but for those who enjoy trophy hunting, it is a major disappointment. It devalues the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a game's challenges and collecting all the trophies. Moreover, the fact that the PS4 version of Modern Warfare 3 includes a Platinum Trophy while the PS5 version does not adds insult to injury.

I understand that the size problem associated with the Call of Duty series has necessitated the use of a single large application that houses multiple games. However, I believe that this approach should not come at the expense of the trophy system. There must be a way to implement a Platinum Trophy for each game within the shared app framework.

I urge Activision and the development team to reconsider their stance on the Platinum Trophy issue. The inclusion of a Platinum Trophy in future Call of Duty titles would not only appease disappointed fans but also provide an additional incentive for players to engage with the single-player campaign.