Modern Warfare 3's Development Time Cut in Half Compared to Standard Call of Duty, According to Latest Report

Sledgehammer Games, renowned for the Call of Duty series, reportedly encountered a setback as its pitch for "Call of Duty Advanced Warfare 2" was shelved in favor of expediting "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." This decision triggered a development crunch, with the studio compressing the usual three-year cycle into just a year-and-a-half due to a delayed 2023 release of another Call of Duty title.

Originally conceived as an expansion, Modern Warfare 3 evolved into a full sequel, featuring a rebooted story centered on antagonist Vladimir Makarov. Despite being positioned as the franchise's first "true" sequel, former and current employees initially perceived it as an expansion.

The rushed development led to strenuous conditions, with Sledgehammer working nights and weekends and facing pipeline inefficiencies, seeking feedback from Modern Warfare game handler Infinity Ward. The studio, having experienced a similar cycle with Call of Duty: Vanguard, felt a sense of betrayal despite earlier promises.

Sledgehammer's pitch for a follow-up to "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare" (2014) was set aside to prioritize Modern Warfare 3, which incorporates the popular zombies mode, multiplayer maps, and a single-player campaign.

Despite the challenges, Modern Warfare 3 is set to release on November 10 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. However, the game's campaign has faced critical backlash, with IGN's review describing it as "Underbaked, rehashed, and cobbled together from multiplayer parts," diverting from the essence of a Call of Duty story mode.