Call of Duty Modern Warfare III Receives Harsh Criticism Over Rushed Development

The latest installment in Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty series, which was released on November 10, has gained a lot of criticism because of its shortened development time, according to insiders. The game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, was created in less than a year and a half, whereas most Call of Duty games typically have a three-year development cycle. Critics have specifically highlighted the rushed storyline as a major drawback. The condensed production schedule placed significant stress on the development team involved.

Call of Duty is a highly profitable franchise, generating over $30 billion in revenue. It holds significant importance in Activision's portfolio and involves thousands of developers worldwide. While new Call of Duty games often achieve chart-topping success, some of the creators of Modern Warfare III express hopes that the negative reception won't be overly criticized by their new corporate owners. They believe that the unfavorable outcome stemmed from a constrained development cycle that was beyond their control.

The development of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III was expedited to fill a gap in the release schedule caused by the delay of another Call of Duty title planned for 2023. Originally conceived as an expansion to the previous year's title, it evolved into a full sequel during development, leading to a dispute between an Activision spokesman and several current and former Call of Duty developers regarding its original concept as an expansion or a "premium game."

The change in direction and the tight timeline caused frustration among the development team at Sledgehammer Games. Initially planned as a smaller-scale spinoff set in Mexico, the game, codenamed Jupiter, was later transformed into a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2, featuring missions worldwide. With a development period of approximately 16 months, it became the shortest timeframe for a new Call of Duty game in years.

Unfortunately, the game's story received negative reviews, with critics noting its rushed feel and failure to meet expectations. Despite these challenges, the studio head of Sledgehammer Games expressed that the development process was a "labor of love", and his team worked diligently to deliver on their creative vision.

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