Activision’s upcoming title, Modern Warfare 3, seems to be flying under the radar for now. However, for the dedicated fans eagerly awaiting the next instalment, there’s some exciting news to share: according to a recent report, the game has officially entered the alpha testing phase.
Insider Gaming has revealed that Modern Warfare 3, which is internally referred to as “HailStröm,” is currently in the advanced playtesting stage. An image of the internal alpha, weighing around 20GB, was provided to Insider Gaming by @PlaystationSize. Unfortunately, due to copyright concerns, the image cannot be shared at this time.
After the memorable incident during the FTC hearings where confidential information about the game’s release date was unintentionally leaked, Activision is expected to officially unveil the game, codenamed ‘Jupiter,’ in the coming weeks.
Initially, Modern Warfare 3 was anticipated to be a premium DLC expansion for Modern Warfare 2. However, it has now been confirmed that the game will be a new standalone title featuring remastered maps from previous games in the franchise.
The lack of excitement surrounding the upcoming title can be attributed to the issues experienced with Modern Warfare 2. Gamers have been particularly disappointed with the multiplayer mode, primarily due to lacklustre maps and unsatisfying progression. PC players have faced constant bugs and crashes, and many have noticed reduced hit detection and aim assist after performing well in previous matches. Furthermore, the unoptimized RICOCHET anti-cheat software has led to wrongful bans for some players.
Given these concerns, gamers are understandably sceptical that the same issues will persist in Modern Warfare 3. This raises an important question: why would one spend $70 or more on microtransactions and battle passes for a game they already own, albeit with a different name?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question remains unclear. Additionally, the impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft is not expected to have an immediate significant impact on game quality, if any, until much later.
For those interested, here are the key dates to keep in mind for Modern Warfare 3:
- Official reveal: August
- Beta weekend 1 (PS4/PS5): October 6 – October 10
- Beta weekend 2 (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X/S/PC): October 12 – October 16
- Campaign Early Access (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X/S/PC): November 2
- Full Release (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X/S/PC): November 10
- Season 1 Launch/New Warzone Map: December 5