Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Release Date

After months of leaks, Activision has officially unveiled the anticipated 2023 installment of Call of Duty. The upcoming game, titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, appears to be a direct sequel to last year's release and is scheduled for launch on November 10. This announcement isn't entirely surprising, given that Activision has consistently delivered a new full-priced Call of Duty game each year since the series' debut in 2003. The recent reveal was accompanied by a concise 41-second teaser featuring the rugged protagonist of Modern Warfare, Captain Price. In the teaser, Price cryptically alludes to the notion of dealing with adversaries, referencing "heads of snakes" and advising against the burial of enemies alive.

This may potentially connect to the previous game's antagonist, Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Makarov. The upcoming reboot is poised to seamlessly integrate into the established live-service platform shared with the preceding title and Warzone 2.0. The Call of Duty Twitter account hinted that players' existing operators, weapons, and cosmetic bundles would carry over between Modern Warfare II and III. Moreover, a plethora of newly introduced and returning weapons and killstreaks have seemingly surfaced ahead of the game's anticipated formal introduction, expected sometime before the end of August. 

 

In a nod to fans, a beloved gameplay mechanic seems poised for a return. Renowned Call of Duty content creator FaZe Swagg recently posted a video revealing a peculiar care package containing a "slide" sandal, a random food can, and an old cellphone. This hints at the potential revival of the "slide cancelling" feature introduced in 2019's Modern Warfare. This maneuver allowed adept players to nimbly traverse maps, granting them a distinct advantage over their opponents. While it was omitted from Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II, players have experimented with alternative strategies to replicate its effects. The most intriguing question surrounding the forthcoming November 2023 release pertains to its scope as a complete Call of Duty experience. A previous Bloomberg report suggested that Activision had contemplated skipping a new annual release this year due to the immense costs and resources required for consistent sequel production. In lieu of this, expanded downloadable content, developed in collaboration with Sledgehammer Games, was speculated to bridge the gap. The true extent of Modern Warfare III's magnitude is yet to be revealed. Uncertainty lingers over whether it will adopt the new industry standard price point of $70 for "next-gen" titles. However, what is confirmed is its availability on the PlayStation 5, despite Microsoft's impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft's ten-year commitment to supporting Activision games on Sony's platform underscores the coexistence of these titles within the Xbox Game Studios umbrella.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Preview And Release Dates

When Modern Warfare 2 comes out on Oct. 28, it won't just be developer Infinity Ward's newest entry into the long-running military shooter franchise Call of Duty. It will also usher in the next generation for the series, internally referred to as "CoD 2.0." Modern Warfare 2 continues the reboot of the Modern Warfare series released in 2019. Infinity Ward created a new, original story with players stepping into the role of members of the multinational special ops group, Task Force 141. The innovations made with Modern Warfare 2's game engine will not only power the single-player, co-op and multiplayer modes, but also the next Warzone, the franchise's battle royale game. That tells you that the game is different in terms of its subject matter and how painful it is to play for gamers and how mature the audience has to be. I think it means Infinity Ward is aware that if they make their audience feel too uncomfortable, they will lose their status as a franchise for the mainstream gamers. And that could be quite costly. But both Kelly and head writer Brian Bloom both said that doesn’t mean the story is all pleasantries. It will show soldiers who face ethical dilemmas and question themselves about how far they have to go to defeat the enemy. Based on Infinity Ward’s core pillars for the title, a Call of Duty game should not require any instructions and it should be fun for everybody, not just the hardest core players (amen to that). The team didn’t try to make the game more complex, or to change things that weren’t broken, said Kelly and senior animation director Mark Grigsby.

But it did tackle challenges in making the game better. “Is the game cool? Is it realistic? Hopefully, yes. But not over-the-top overly sensationalized,” Kelly said. “We’ve really endeavored to find the balance.” Kelly mentioned this game uses a universal engine across all of Call of Duty now, rather than separate engines for each major studio. That makes it easier for nine different studios to work on the game (compared to five for the 2019 game). And that was important because the team had to make the game from their homes during the pandemic. The developers are now spread out from Mexico City to Los Angeles to Poland. The studio also started operations in Austin, Texas. “We’re out to make the best shit we’ve ever made,” said Jeff Negus, narrative director at Infinity Ward. The first game ends with a defeat of both the rogue Russian general and the terrorist organization Al-Qatala (a possible proxy for Al-Qaeda). CIA Station Chief Kate Laswell and SAS Captain John Price began to assemble Task Force 141, an anti-terrorist strike team. Since the end of the first game, Task Force 141 has been operating around the world with intelligence from Laswell and Price in the lead role along with Sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, John “Soap” McTavish and Simon “Ghost” Riley . While Ghost is a loner veteran, Soap is a young but hard-charging rookie. Laswell was just an intelligence officer in a mission control role, but this time she will get more involved in actual missions, Bloom said. A new character is Colonel Alejandro Vargas of the Mexican Special Forces, who is based on real soldiers in Mexico who were interviewed by the team’s technical advisers. Another new character is commander Phillip Graves, the operator of a private military contractor firm. His firm can go into places that Task Force 141 or the official military can’t deploy. One of the things that carried over from the previous game was a conversation between Gaz and Price, where Gaz asked where they would draw the line on what they would do. Price said, “You draw the line wherever you need it. We get dirty and the world stays clean.” Negus said they’re running with that and asking if they need to become the thing you’re trying to defeat in order to destroy it. You may have to make unholy alliances. And Bloom said the key is making sure that you have the right team. The game will cover territories in Europe, the Middle East, and Mexico. Bloom told me that Mexico’s experience with the drug war is relevant, but the missions that take place there aren’t solely about eradicating drug lords. Rather, there is a large purpose in unraveling an international threat. Almost every mission we saw features a new advancement for the Call of Duty series. Infinity Ward was previously reluctant to take combat underwater. Only now, the team claimed, were they able to create the right visuals and physics to make the game's gunplay feel accurate and rewarding. Weapons lose their impact underwater and grenades and flashbangs behave differently if they're detonated beneath the surface. Infinity Ward team members also discussed improvements in the game's AI. Friendly or enemy computer-controlled players have more realistic behaviors. They want to "survive" so they peek around corners and generally are more aware of their surroundings. They'll also telegraph their actions, allowing players to recognize non-verbal cues from their AI-controlled teammates and enemies. These innovations are all part of what Infinity Ward calls "CoD 2.0." which will be implemented across the series including the next Warzone game, which the developer will reveal sometime in the future. Modern Warfare 2 hits PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC via Battle.net for $70 on Oct. 28. The game will also be available on Steam, a first for the series since 2017 when Call of Duty games became available only on Battle.net. Those who preorder the game will have access to the open beta when it opens later this year. Correction: 10:30 a.m. PT: An earlier version of the story listed the retail price of the game at $60. The price for the standard edition across all platforms is $70. First published on June 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. PT.

Call of Duty: Vanguard Is Two Week Free-to-Play

For those who have yet to try out Call of Duty: Vanguard, you’re now in luck: Activision Blizzard will be making the popular title free-to-play for a limited time. Announcing the event in its blog post, the developer will now be making Vanguard free to download and play for two weeks starting on March 30 and ending on April 13. Unfortunately, neither the game’s campaign nor Zombies mode will be available for free, but while only its online multiplayer aspect will be accessible, Activision reassures that you’ll still get to experience all of the first-person shooter’s latest game modes and maps, including the two Season Two additions Casablanca and Gondola. Of course, you can also expect all the other playlists and maps originally released with the game as well, such as Shipment, Das Haus, Hotel Royale, Dome, Rader, and Domination, Control, and Hardpoint. For those interested in checking out the free-to-play event, Call of Duty: Vanguard is now available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. 

During the Free Access period, players can jump right into the latest Multiplayer maps launched in Season Two: Casablanca and Gondola.

Casablanca: A shining jewel of Morocco, Casablanca is a medium-sized, three-lane-style map within a bustling marketplace. With several buildings to explore and climb upon, expect a variety of vertical engagements that invite both close- and long-range tactics.

Gondola: Don’t look down on this medium-sized, three-lane-style map. Take a trip on the Gondola to travel above a large gulch and fire watchtower, but hop off before it goes off the cliff! Operators can also take advantage of the long sightline this gondola route provides, or head through the power plant and caves for more close-quarters battle.

Drop in and compete in a new large-map objective mode set in the Alps featuring new vehicles and one major objective: capture all the bases to win.

Once a base is captured, Operators can choose to respawn at that base or at any other captured points on the map, in addition to spawning in on their fellow squad member. Bases automatically set up gates for the defending team within, allowing safe passage for allies and shutting itself when enemies are nearby.

Every friendly base contains several Buy Stations for additional armaments and abilities, including vehicles to help you traverse the map more quickly. Here, you can use Cash earned by capturing objectives or picking it up from enemy players to purchase weapons, equipment, Killstreaks, and Field Upgrades, or you can even use your Custom Loadouts.

In addition to the latest maps and modes, Free Access players will also be able to jump into a diverse Multiplayer Playlist featuring Vanguard’s most popular maps, such as Shipment, a Call of Duty® classic, and Das Haus, another small map that favors plenty of action. For Free Access players who want to be in the heat of the action every second of the match, this is the Playlist for you. Vanguard also includes other maps popular with the community like Hotel Royale, Dome, and Radar, which can be played on modes like Domination, Control, Hardpoint.

Vanguard Multiplayer Free Access begins on March 30 and ends on April 13.

 

 

Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard

Microsoft is acquiring Activision, the troubled publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The deal will value Activision at $68.7 billion, far in excess of the $26 billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. It’s Microsoft’s biggest push into gaming, and the company says it will be the “third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony” once the deal closes. Microsoft plans to add many of Activision’s games to Xbox Game Pass once the deal closes. With the acquisition of Activision, Microsoft will soon publish franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush. “Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog,” says Microsoft’s CEO of gaming Phil Spencer. Xbox Game Pass now has 25 million subscribers, as Microsoft continues to acquire studios to boost the subscription service. “We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all,” says Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Microsoft’s deal comes after months of sexual harassment claims against Activision Blizzard. Last July, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) sued Activision Blizzard for promoting a culture of “constant sexual harassment.”

More employees have come forward with more allegations of sexual misconduct ever since, and the company reached an $18 million settlement with the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in September. That settlement is being appealed, and reports indicate that nearly 40 Activision Blizzard employees have reportedly “exited” the company since last July. Microsoft doesn’t detail exactly how it will approach solving these issues, and the company says Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard for now. It looks like Kotick won’t remain once the deal is fully closed and after the transition period to Microsoft, though. Spencer, formerly head of gaming at Microsoft, is now CEO of Microsoft Gaming, and the company says the Activision Blizzard business will report directly to Spencer. “As a company, Microsoft is committed to our journey for inclusion in every aspect of gaming, among both employees and players,” says Spencer. “We deeply value individual studio cultures. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand-in-hand with treating every person with dignity and respect. We hold all teams, and all leaders, to this commitment. We’re looking forward to extending our culture of proactive inclusion to the great teams across Activision Blizzard.” Microsoft’s huge Activision Blizzard deal comes nearly a year after the company acquired Bethesda (ZeniMax Media) for $7.5 billion. At the time, that acquisition bolstered the company’s first-party Xbox game studios to a total of 23 and was seen as a huge boost for Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft now expects the Activision Blizzard deal “to close in fiscal year 2023,” which means we might not see this deal approved for up to 18 months. That’s a long period of time for a deal to close, but Activision Blizzard operates in a number of markets which could make regulatory approval more complicated for Microsoft.

Call of Duty: Warzone Might Come to Mobile, Activision Job Listing Suggests

 Call of Duty: Warzone may be coming to mobile phones, a job listing on Activision's website has suggested. The position listed on the website had the title ‘Executive Producer, Features (WZM)' where WZM might stand for Warzone Mobile. The job description also states “a new AAA mobile FPS” which is another hint at Warzone coming to mobile platform. Call of Duty: Warzone is currently free to play on PC and consoles. It is a battle royale game that has become highly popular since it launched back in March this year.

The position at Activision, which has already been filled, was for someone to work on “a new AAA mobile FPS” game in the Call of Duty franchise. The job title stated ‘Executive Producer, Features (WZM)', where the WZM could perhaps stand for Warzone Mobile. Further, the job description also stated, “Harvest, adapt, and deliver the essential features from Warzone console and PC into their best mobile instantiation”. Adding more fuel to the fire is the part that mentions “Serve as a primary point of contact on Warzone Mobile leadership team…”

All these signs point towards a mobile version of Call of Duty: Warzone currently in development. As of now, we cannot expect a release timeline for the game, the name for which has also not been confirmed. The game might not even launch this year, or towards late December.

The job listing is not visible on the Activision website anymore and was first spotted by Charlie Intel.

Call of Duty: Warzone released in March as a free to play battle royale experience that took the gaming scene by storm. The developers have kept the game updated and interesting for players to stick to it. The team has also used Warzone as a platform to promote their upcoming Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War game with Easter eggs and teasers.

With PUBG Mobile facing scrutiny in India and its fate uncertain, people have started looking for alternatives and while there is already a Call of Duty: Mobile game with a battle royale mode, Activision seems to be wanting to add another option in the mix.

Call of Duty 2020 Reveal Teased by Leaker

A new report about Call of Duty 2020 -- believed to be called Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War -- has COD fans less excited than ever for the reveal of the PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC game. There's been rumors and reports for awhile suggesting the development of this year's Call of Duty has been rocky. As a result, some Call of Duty fans are worried about the game. In fact, some speculation suggests it will get delayed. Despite this, fans are still excited for a reveal, or at least they were.

According to Call of Duty insider and leaker The Gaming Revolution, Call of Duty 2020 will be revealed via Call of Duty: Warzone. This isn't the scoop though. We've -- unofficially -- known this for a while. The scoop is that the leaker notes his sources have told him that the reveal is going to "seem unofficial," which suggests it may not be great, or at least not anything like usual COD reveals.

"Unofficial" does indeed have some fans worried, but just because it will be unofficial doesn't mean it will be bad. However, it's interesting -- why would Activision mess with a winning formula? It's not clear, but it seems like it may simply be a ploy to further promote Call of Duty: Warzone.

Of course, like always, everything here should be taken with a grain of salt. While The Gaming Revolution has proven reliable many times in the past, nothing here is official. Further, even if the information is correct right now, it doesn't mean it will stay correct. Things are constantly changing in video game development.