Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a first-person shooter developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision. It is the direct sequel to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) and part of the Call of Duty franchise. Released on November 10, 2023, it continues the story of Task Force 141, featuring enhanced gameplay with new features and innovations.
The Modern Warfare III campaign picks up immediately after the events of Modern Warfare II. The story focuses on the ongoing conflict with the antagonist, Vladimir Makarov, a ruthless Russian ultranationalist. The game delves into the personal struggles of Task Force 141 members such as Captain Price, Sab MacTavish, Ghost, and Alejandro Vargas, as well as introducing new characters. The story relies heavily on action-packed missions and global settings, with a focus on counter-terrorism and high-stakes warfare.
Modern Warfare III's multiplayer mode is one of its standout features, building on the success of Modern Warfare II. Players gain access to new maps, weapons, and modes. Key features include:
New Maps and Modes: A new set of multiplayer maps with dynamic weather, destructible environments, and interactive elements. New modes like Hardpoint, Search and Destroy, and Domination have been improved and include new tactical touches.
Weapon Customization: The Gunsmith system has been expanded, allowing for deeper weapon customization with a wider range of attachments and more customization options for weapon handling.
Movement System: New movement mechanics, including smoother roll, slide, and traverse options, improve the speed and flow of combat.
The game also ties into the popular battle royale mode Call of Duty: Warzone. The Warzone integration continues with updates to Warzone 2.0, which include features like cross-game progression and unified progression systems. Warzone’s vast open-world battles are designed to offer more tactical options with new gameplay mechanics like vehicular combat, AI-controlled enemies, and terrain changes.
Modern Warfare III introduces a robust Zombies mode, which was absent in the 2022 release. This mode features co-op play against waves of the undead with an expanded story that ties into the game’s broader narrative. Players can work together to survive increasingly difficult hordes, and the mode includes special abilities, new weapons, and dynamically changing objectives.
Modern Warfare III is powered by the IW 9.0 engine, and continues to deliver stunning visuals, including realistic character models, environments, and effects. The graphics and engine improvements allow for smoother gameplay, with more detailed textures and realistic lighting, bringing the world to life with greater realism than previous titles.
Special Ops returns with co-op multiplayer missions. These missions require coordination, and offer rewards that can impact the larger multiplayer experience. Missions often vary in difficulty and objectives, offering replayability and strategy.
The game continues to feature the Battle Pass system, which allows players to earn cosmetics, weapons, and other content through a seasonal structure. New content is released regularly, including limited-time events, new maps, and ongoing story content.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) was widely praised for its polished gameplay, engaging campaign, and expanded multiplayer offerings. Critics highlighted the smooth progression of the story, while the return of Zombies mode was a welcome addition. However, some pointed out issues with the microtransaction model and the balance between different weapons and equipment in multiplayer modes.
