Summary
Though there are some gamers who miss the days of season passes and map packs for theCall of Dutyfranchise, when done right the seasonal approach has several benefits. The most obvious is that all the meaningful, playable content is free, like maps, modes, and weapons, with only cosmetics being paid for. Additionally, seasonal content is supposed to provide a regular drip of content to make it feel as if there is something new to do every week. WhileCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2struggledto make good on this promise, it seems likeCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is getting off to a great start.
Call of Dutyseasons usually offer two bursts of content, with a bulk of the maps, modes, and updates coming on launch day and a smaller batch of features arriving in the mid-season Reloaded update. While fans can usually expect consistency acrossCall of Duty’s seasons once the game hits its stride, first impressions are important, and 2022’sModern Warfare 2did not leave a good one with its inaugural season. Fortunately, when looking at the roadmap forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Season 1, the difference is night and day.
Why MW3 Season 1 is So Much Stronger Than MW2
MW3 Season 1 Keeps Multiplayer Fans in Mind
While both roadmaps focus heavily on thefree-to-play hitCall of Duty: Warzone, and offer a similar spread of content via a new full-sized map and fresh features for the battle royale game,MW2’s first season made multiplayer an afterthought. This has been a major criticism of theCall of Dutyfranchise in recent years, with fans feeling as ifWarzonetakes priority over the actual paid games. InMW2season 1, there were only two 6v6 maps, with one coming in-season and both being remakes. InMW3, there are two original maps available at season 1’s launch in addition to a third that will come with the midseason update.
However,Modern Warfare 3is getting exciting multiplayer content beyond 6v6 maps, as 2v2 Gunfight is making a return. Not only are Gunfight maps fromMW2carrying forwardto allow for a deep map pool at launch, but a fresh map has been added with more to come in future seasons. Headquarters and Infected are coming as part of the midseason update, as is ranked play, which is great news for fans of competitive games. Two fan favorite killstreaks, the EMP and Swarm, have also been added to multiplayer.
WhileModern Warfare 3’s launch map lineupbeing composed of remakes saw it criticized as being a filler game that banks too much on nostalgia, it likely allowed for this strong first season, asMW3can now drop bigger batches of original maps each season. Perhaps future games will adopt a similar approach of prioritizing original content after launch instead of in the base game.
MW3 Zombies Is Season 1’s Secret Weapon
The existence ofModern Warfare 3Zombies instead of the reboot’s bland Spec Ops mode (which received one mission inMW2season 1 and was quickly forgotten in favor of raids) allows for an even better debut season. In addition to Zombies-specific content like fresh schematics, another Wonder Weapon, a story mission, and an exciting endgame area within the Dark Aether, Zombies has inspired a multiplayer mode. Called Vortex, the free-for-all experience not only has players fighting over aRay Gun, but also features three maps that get Zombies-themed visual overhauls to better suit the mode’s vibe. Even the seasonal cosmetics are a step-up, withMW2’s soccer crossover overshadowed by collaborations withDuneandThe Boys.MW3is understandably controversial and deserves criticism about things like its campaign, but its first season is a great sign for its post-launch support.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
