Modern Warfare 3

Modern Warfare 3 is a 2011 first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, and published by Activision. It is the third and final installment in the original Modern Warfare series, which is a sub-series within the larger Call of Duty franchise. The game's narrative continues directly from the events of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, depicting a full-scale global conflict between allied forces and the rogue Ultranationalist faction led by Vladimir Makarov. Upon its release, it achieved significant commercial success and received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

The gameplay builds upon the established mechanics of its predecessors, featuring a cinematic single-player campaign with varied mission structures across global locations like London, Paris, and New York City. Players control several characters, including returning Task Force 141 operatives like John "Soap" MacTavish and John Price, engaging in missions that involve infiltration, vehicle combat, and sniper sequences. The cooperative Spec Ops mode returns, introducing a new Survival mode where players fend off endless waves of enemies. The multiplayer component retains the Create-a-Class system and introduces new features like the Pointstreak reward system, which replaced Killstreaks, and the Weapon Leveling progression for perks and attachments.

Plot

The plot resumes immediately after the climax of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, with Russia continuing its invasion of the United States and Europe under the command of Vladimir Makarov. The narrative follows the parallel efforts of the Delta Force squad Metal defending the U.S. East Coast, and the remnants of Task Force 141 pursuing Makarov across Europe and Africa. Key events include a terrorist attack in London, a submarine-launched assault on New York Harbor, and a climactic battle in a hotel in Prague. The story culminates with Captain Price and Yuri, a former associate of Makarov, confronting the villain in Dubai, ultimately concluding the story arc that began with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Development

Development was led by Infinity Ward alongside significant contributions from Sledgehammer Games, following internal turmoil at Infinity Ward that led to the departure of founders Jason West and Vince Zampella. The project utilized an enhanced version of the IW engine and was overseen by Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. The narrative was crafted by writer Paul M. Haggis, aiming to provide a conclusive chapter to the trilogy. The audio design featured an original score by Brian Tyler and voice performances from actors like William Fichtner and Billy Murray. The development cycle was notably condensed, with the teams working to integrate the ambitious global scale of the campaign and refine the multiplayer systems based on feedback from Modern Warfare 2.

Release

The game was officially announced in May 2011 and was released worldwide on November 8, 2011, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and later for the Wii. Its launch was accompanied by a massive marketing campaign, including partnerships with Mountain Dew and Microsoft for Xbox Live promotions. The release set numerous entertainment industry records, generating over $400 million in sales in its first 24 hours in the United States and the United Kingdom alone. Post-launch content was delivered via downloadable content packs, which added new multiplayer maps and Spec Ops missions over the following year.

Reception

Upon release, it received generally favorable reviews from publications like IGN, GameSpot, and Eurogamer, with praise directed at its satisfying conclusion to the story, polished multiplayer, and the addictive Spec Ops Survival mode. Criticism was often aimed at its perceived lack of innovation and short campaign length. Commercially, it was a monumental success, becoming the fastest-selling entertainment product in history at the time, surpassing records held by Avatar and Call of Duty: Black Ops. It won several awards, including Ultimate Game of the Year at the 2012 Golden Joystick Awards, and its success solidified the Call of Duty series as a dominant force in the video game industry.

Category:2011 video games Category:Call of Duty Category:First-person shooters