Unveiling the Astonishing Parallels Between Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Its Precursor in One Crucial Aspect

Highlights

There are plans to launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on both current-generation consoles and their predecessors, aiming to extend its reach and capture a larger market share.

The Wii version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was subpar due to hardware limitations. To avoid history repeating itself, it is essential for the possible upcoming release to prioritize a high-quality experience on previous-generation consoles, or consider omitting them entirely.

Call of Duty, one of the largest entertainment franchises worldwide, has consistently delivered annual releases for the past 18 years and shows no signs of stopping. Despite initial rumors suggesting that there would be no mainline Call of Duty release in 2023, the latest financial reports from Activision seem to confirm that a full "premium" Call of Duty title is still planned for this year. According to recent rumors, this year's installment could be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

If the rumors are to be believed, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 seems poised to defy certain franchise conventions. While the series typically follows a cycle alternating between Black Ops, Modern Warfare, and occasionally an additional installment, it appears that this time there may be a departure from that pattern. Nonetheless, there are still likely elements of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 that will remain faithful to tradition. By doing so, it is hoped that the game will avoid repeating a major flaw from the original release of Modern Warfare 3 in 2011.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Last-Gen Ports Could Repeat History

In light of the latest speculations, there is news circulating that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for 2023 is primed for release on both PS4 and Xbox One, alongside their cutting-edge successors. In theory, this presents a beneficial situation for all parties involved. For avid fans still confined to previous-generation consoles, this ensures their access to the latest installment of the renowned Call of Duty franchise. Simultaneously, for Activision, it signifies a broader market reach and increased sales figures. However, the practicality of this approach might not be as advantageous as anticipated, and the original 2011 rendition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 serves as a prime example of the associated risks.

Activision consistently brought Call of Duty to the Wii console when it initially entered the market. This decision was logical and allowed the game to reach a new demographic that may not have otherwise played it. However, the quality of these Call of Duty Wii ports did not match that of their counterparts on other consoles. While Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, World at War, and Black Ops all became highly acclaimed FPS games, their Wii versions were noticeably inferior.

The most glaring example of this was the Wii version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. The Wii, which was released in 2006, was already considered to have less powerful hardware compared to the earlier released PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles. By the time Modern Warfare 3 was released in 2011, the Wii was already five years old and its hardware had significantly aged. While the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Modern Warfare 3 were technical powerhouses that pushed the limits of the consoles, the Wii version struggled to maintain a consistent framerate. Additionally, the visuals were so blurry and unclear that players had difficulty distinguishing their targets.

The release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in 2023 necessitates careful consideration to avoid repeating past mistakes. Although its predecessor, Modern Warfare 2, performed adequately on previous generation consoles, there is no guarantee that the same will be true for Modern Warfare 3. The undeniable reality is that time is running out for the PS4 and Xbox One. Major AAA franchises are gradually shifting their focus away from older consoles, such as Star Wars Jedi: Survivor releasing exclusively on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and Starfield and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 following suit later this year on their respective platforms. It is evident that the rest of the AAA gaming community is progressing forward, obligating Call of Duty to eventually do the same. Rumors suggest that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is slated for a November 2023 release.