The next entry in Activison’s ultra-popular military shooter franchise is a direct sequel to last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Set for release Nov. 10, 2023, for PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has some interesting plans for the single-player campaign alongside multiplayer as Sledgehammer Games takes over development duty.
According to Sledgehammer Games creative director David Swenson, the team recognized the unique opportunity of creating a direct sequel in back-to-back years, following the events of the previous game in the COD subseries. Collaborating closely with Infinity Ward during the development of Modern Warfare 2 allowed them to craft a narrative that seamlessly spanned both games, introducing a new storytelling dimension to COD.
They aimed to evolve the campaign experience by introducing Open Combat Missions, offering players the freedom to choose their playstyle and enjoy the game at their own pace. Open Combat Missions adapt to various playstyles, whether stealthy or run-and-gun, and feature smarter enemies to provide a challenging and enjoyable experience. Swenson says that inspiration between the single-player campaign and multiplayer flows both ways.
“Campaign helps us understand the world that the game is built in, and the stakes that are involved,” Swenson tells CNN Underscored. “In this way, the campaign is the heart and soul of the game.?Once players jump into multiplayer, they carry with them an understanding of the world we’ve built. On the flip side, this year’s campaign also takes a lot of inspiration from multiplayer.”
Those interested can preorder the game now, and there are two main editions to choose from — in addition to exclusive extras from specific retailers.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 preorder bonuses and retailer exclusives
All preorders of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 come with early access to both upcoming Open Beta for multiplayer and the single-player campaign. The bonus also comes with the Soap Operator Pack, which includes a few skins for popular character Soap and a weapon blueprint for the Shadow Siege M13C.
The standard edition of the game will cost $70. Preorders from GameStop come with a free steelbook while supplies last, while those who buy the game from Walmart will get a free pair of KontrolFreek thumbsticks.
The Vault Edition of COD: Modern Warfare 3 is priced at $100. Standard edition owners will also have the option to upgrade to the higher-edition tier for $30.
On top of everything from the standard edition of COD: Modern Warfare 3, the Vault Edition comes with the Nemesis Operator Pack; two Weapon Vaults; BlackCell, which features the Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more; and 30 additional tier skips. PlayStation owners will also get five additional Battle Pass tier skips as well. This edition is perfect for anyone looking to get a nice head start for multiplayer.
