Another year another CoD

Good Afternoon. 2023 has been one major game release after another. If you thought that was ending now that we’ve hit the tail end of the year, you’re mistaken. Activision’s Modern Warfare 3 releases today, the latest installment in the record-setting Call of Duty franchise. Keep reading for a look at the game’s early reception from fans.

— Jason Liu, Derek Neville, Tim Rhyne

MAIN QUEST: Full effort?

In a release that marks yet another year in Activision's unwavering commitment to annual launches (and printing money), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has officially been released to the general public today. For over a decade, Activision has maintained a steadfast pace, delivering title after title in the blockbuster franchise that has become a cornerstone of the first-person shooter genre. Yet, while the arrival of a new "Call of Duty" game is typically a cause for celebration, the atmosphere this time around is tinged with a sense of déjà vu, as long-time fans and newcomers alike boot up with a familiar, if not obligatory, sense of ritual.

However, this year's release has been met with a lukewarm response, with early impressions suggesting that "Modern Warfare 3" might not live up to the explosive legacy of its predecessors. Critics and players are voicing concerns that Activision may have "dialed it in," with the general consensus being that the game lacks the groundbreaking innovation or the meticulous refinement expected from a series with such a storied history. Some are saying that the new campaign is simply “Warzone with cutscenes” as the game emphasizes more non-linear playing styles in open environments.

The rough delivery may have something to do with Sledgehammer getting 180’d by corporate as they were originally planning on developing an Advanced Warfare title when word came that they would instead be working on MW3.

Step back: CoD fans are extremely (and perhaps begrudgingly) loyal. How many times can the titles flop before fans turn away? Perhaps the campaign games will increasingly become second fiddle as revenue share shifts to live service transactions in Warzone.

HUD

• ⚖️ The Epic Games vs. Google trial has revealed that Epic was offered $147 million to launch Fortnite on the Google Play Store. This would have allowed Epic to bypass the App Store and in-app purchasing fees. The deal was not accepted by Epic, who launched Fortnite’s Android app directly through their own website instead.

• ✂️ Sony is cutting back on its 2022 plan to release 12 PlayStation live service games by March 2026. The company has told investors only 6 live service games will be out by that March 2026 timeline, with the remaining 6 delayed with no exact release date in sight.

• 💿 Snoop Dogg and his son Cordell have launched Death Row Games. The development studio will serve as an arm of the iconic Death Row Records. The studio aims to support minority creators develop and publish games in the Fortnite ecosystem, using the Unreal Editor.

MAJOR W

• 🔋Valve announced the Steam Deck OLED, set to release next week. The upgraded Steam Deck boasts a larger picture, better battery life, and faster WiFi, all with an OLED screen bringing sharp contrast to your on-the-go gaming experience.

• 🦈 Netflix announced that Arcane season 2 is on the way. Unfortunately, fans of the League of Legends series will have to wait until November of 2024 for its release.

• 🗣️ GTA 6 would not be in danger of delays due to a voice actor strike against the gaming industry.

F IN THE CHAT

• 👋 With the majority of teams reportedly voting to leave the league, Activision Blizzard confirmed the Overwatch League will not return in its current form, and they are transitioning competitive overwatch in a different direction.

• 😕 Prior to the launch of Modern Warfare 3, Activision released a massive update for their new “Call of Duty HQ” launcher, which in theory creates one central point to launch all of your Call of Duty content from. The update has not been well received by players, who call it confusing.

• 📆 Zynga delays Star Wars: Hunters until 2024, specifically stating they are still looking to add new elements like “Ranked Mode” and “updates to core gameplay mechanics.”

CAREER CORNER

• 🎨 Art Lead, Legends of Runeterra — Riot Games (Los Angeles, US)

• 🐍 Senior Backend Software Engineer, Python — Humble Bundle (Remote, US)

• 🎧 Audio Designer — Midnight Society (Remote, US)

HIVE MIND

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