With theCall of Dutyfranchise being one of the most popular in the gaming industry, each new installment is subjected to massive amounts of attention and scrutiny. For a long time, each new release was quite predictable, with annual releases formulaically changing between three development studios.
Despite this, the more recent approach byCall of Dutyis less telegraphed, with fans being unsure of what the immediate future holds for the franchise. The 2023 release for the IP is shrouded in mystery, yet is already being labeled as an extremely important release in terms of defining the futureCoDidentity. Thanks to leaks, reports, and rumors, fans can have some reasonable expectations aboutCall of Duty 2023.
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The Unique Situation Behind Call of Duty 2023
For a long time followingthe 2022 release ofModern Warfare 2, many believed that 2023 would be a year without a mainline release forCall of Duty. This would have broken a longstanding tradition for the franchise and would have givenModern Warfare 2an unprecedented two-year life cycle.
It was then reported that 2023 would see a kind of “expansion” premium release for the IP, leaving many unsure of what to expect. Supposedly, this project would be spearheaded by Sledgehammer Games, being itsfirstCoDproject since 2021’sCall of Duty: Vanguard. Many fans initially thought that this expansion would be a premium add-on to the pre-existingModern Warfare 2, although recent insider reports suggest the release is going to be much more significant. Reportedly, Activision has decided to move forward withModern Warfare 3as a proper 2023 release instead, with it developed by Sledgehammer, which is quite the game-changer.
The Recent Call of Duty 2023 Reports
On May 11, Insider Gaming published a report claiming to be from industry insiders that outlined significant details regarding 2023’sCall of Dutyrelease. According to this report,the upcoming Sledgehammer release will be calledModern Warfare 3, completing the recent reboot trilogy spearheaded by Infinity Ward. This has shocked many fans who were perhaps expecting a longer passage of time betweenModern Warfare 2and its successor, with many also finding the reduced involvement from Infinity Ward strange. Given how successful the rebootedModern Warfaretrilogy has been, it seems odd that the final two games would be released in such close succession.
These reports fall in line with the original rumors that 2023’sCoDwould be a form ofMW2DLC, increasing the validity of the information. As well as this, the leaks claim thatModern Warfare 3will possess its own zombie mode. Reportedly, this mode will act akin to Sledgehammer’s controversialOutbreak mode withinBlack Ops Cold War, being a larger-scale open-world experience. Otherwise, it’ll contain the typical campaign and multiplayer modes.
Finally, these leaks also allege thatModern Warfare 3will herald a brand-new core map forWarzone 2. This map will reportedly be Las Almas, a fictional location that features heavily within the campaign and multiplayer ofModern Warfare 2. Being located within Mexico, Las Almas will be a large thematic departure fromthe current map of Al Mazrah. If this is true, then the alarmingly close release window ofModern Warfare 3makes more sense, as the title could shrewdly capitalize on the popularity ofWarzone 2as well as its mainline predecessor.
This report is of course still unofficial, and the final product of the release may look very different. However, the details of these reports match well with some very longstanding rumors and give fans a great idea of what to expect fromCall of Dutyin 2023.
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