Revamped and Revitalized: Call of Duty's Fresh Take on Map Remakes

Over the course of its 20-year reign in the FPS genre, the Call of Duty franchise has showcased a diverse collection of multiplayer maps that have become icons in the gaming world. Recognizing the significance of multiplayer gameplay alongside the singleplayer experience, there is a growing demand for older maps to be revitalized in new releases.

In a delightful twist, Activision has consistently surprised fans by selecting a handful of revered maps to undergo modern reimaginations in recent years. With these remakes aimed at honoring loyal and knowledgeable fans of the franchise, it is only fitting for future Call of Duty titles to seek input from the community when determining which maps deserve the coveted remake treatment.

Call of Duty's Current Approach To Map Remakes

The Call of Duty franchise has a well-known tradition of switching developers for different releases, resulting in a variety of maps for sub-franchises like Black Ops and Modern Warfare that have gained popularity in recent years. For instance, Call of Duty: Warzone frequently features iconic Infinity Ward maps such as Highrise and Vacant in its large-scale battle royale mode.

This trend has also extended to the core multiplayer of the Modern Warfare reboot, where the close-quarters map Shipment appears extensively across the new games with its own dedicated 24/7 playlist. Activision appears to prioritize remaking the most recognizable maps, leaving little opportunity for the community to revisit some of the lesser-known but beloved classic maps from older games. In contrast to the popular Rust and Shipment maps, there exists a wide array of older maps that fans are unlikely to encounter in a new setting under the current approach to map remakes.

Call of Duty Map Remakes and the Community

To enhance consistency and fan reception, Activision should involve the player base in determining map remakes. This can be done by conducting polls where the community can directly vote on a wide selection of maps, resulting in a pool of the most popular choices for remakes. With a growing divide between Activision and the Call of Duty community, implementing map polls would be a great way to empower the players. As new content is regularly added in post-launch seasons, conducting these polls on a smaller scale each season can determine the map remake for the following season.

With Microsoft's impending acquisition of Call of Duty and Activision, there is a great opportunity to introduce more transparency and community involvement in the next game. While maps like Shipment and Nuketown are iconic, it would be refreshing to break away from constantly remaking the same maps and losing their appeal.

Under Microsoft's leadership, there may be more flexibility for Call of Duty studios to share map pools, resulting in exciting crossovers and new territories. Consistent content is vital for engaging the community throughout the Call of Duty life cycle, and allowing the community to have a say in high-demand map remakes would enhance the overall gaming experience. Currently, Activision tends to stick to safe choices by featuring well-known maps, but giving the community a voice is a necessary and productive step forward for Call of Duty.