Modern Warfare 3 Took Half the Time to Develop: Report

A recent update in the Call of Duty franchise has revealed that the development time for Modern Warfare 3 was significantly shorter than the typical cycle for such games. Sledgehammer Games, which was reportedly planning to create a sequel to Advanced Warfare, had to pivot to developing Modern Warfare 3 in just a year and a half, as opposed to the usual three-year cycle. This shift in plans came about because another Call of Duty title was delayed, leading to a crunch time for the developers.

The report indicates that Modern Warfare 3 began as an expansion to Modern Warfare 2, but Activision later decided to make it a standalone game. The title now features a rebooted storyline with the antagonist Vladimir Makarov. Aaron Halon, the head of Sledgehammer Games, has stated that despite the rushed process, the game was always intended to be a premium experience and that the game's development was a labor of love.

Modern Warfare 3 has been dubbed as the first "true sequel" in the series because it allows players to carry forward their operators and skins from Modern Warfare 2. Unfortunately, employees initially believed they were working on an expansion rather than a full game, which contributed to the need for extended working hours to complete the game.

There were challenges in the development process, including having to coordinate with Infinity Ward for feedback and feeling betrayed over repeating a similar condensed development cycle that they experienced with Call of Duty: Vanguard. Additionally, the team's planned project, codenamed Anvil, was put aside for the studio to focus on Modern Warfare 3, which includes zombies mode and multiplayer maps.

The reception of Modern Warfare 3's campaign has been negative, with critiques pointing out its lackluster quality compared to expectations. Sledgehammer Games pitched an innovative concept but ended up having to produce another Modern Warfare installment. The game launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on November 10.