Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Video Outlines Changes to Modern Warfare 2 (2009) Multiplayer Maps

The development team relied on variable-rate shading and runtime systems for better enemy visibility while retaining the maps’ feel.

Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches this Fall, with an open beta set for early October. While it’s the next chapter of the modern reboot’s story, with Vladimir Makarov as the antagonist, the appeal for many is in multiplayer. This year’s title differs from previous entries as 16 multiplayer maps are from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

In a new post showcasing all the maps, art director Matt Abbott and design director Zach Hodson discussed modernizing the maps while staying true to the original versions. Hodson said the team asked, “We [asked], ‘What was good about the movement of older games? What was good about the gunplay of older games?’ And the same with the newer games. So we tried to marry those things.”

Abbott added, “How are we going to make the best versions of those maps that people have ever played? Because that’s what we want as fans.”

Some of the changes made to maps include variable-rate shading, which makes them look better, while runtime systems improve enemy visibility. While some areas are “adjusted” to fit more “modern gameplay,” Hodson noted, they will feel very familiar. “The biggest changes are in a fidelity sense.”

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. The open beta kicks off on October 8th to 10th for PlayStation players, with pre-orders gaining access on October 6th. All platforms can start playing on October 14th to 16th, as pre-orders again start early on October 12th.