Summary
Ever since it was first rumored to be in the works, the conversation aroundCall of Duty: Modern Warfarehas been quite negative. Some initial leaks suggested thatCall of Dutywould be skipping annual releases in 2023, with an expansion instead planned that brings backcontent from the originalModern Warfare 2, as well as a new campaign experience. However, Activision then shut that idea down, with the publisher saying that a premiumCall of Dutygame would indeed come in 2023. That game isModern Warfare 3, something that fans have been quick to call an overpriced DLC - an argument that has been strengthened following the reveal of the game’s Trophy list.
Whether it was to maintainCall of Duty’s consistency or end the franchise’s PlayStation exclusive content deal sooner, many fans have argued thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is just a renamed DLC that costs the same as a full game. After all, its content perfectly matches the leaked expansion’s description, and it would make sense if map remakes from the originalModern Warfare 2were added as DLC for theMW2reboot instead ofMW3. While Activision has done its best to push back against this criticism, touting the open-world Zombies mode and original multiplayer maps coming post-launch,Modern Warfare 3’s Trophy list literally being recognized as DLC is hard to ignore.
Why Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Lack of a Platinum Trophy is a Big Deal
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Trophy List Furthers the DLC Argument
For live service games likeOverwatch 2andfrequently supported titles likeMinecraft, developers will regularly add DLC Trophy sets to their games. These extra Trophies usually offer fresh challenges tied to new content, and they are separate from the main list of the game so it is not harder for players to earn a title’s Platinum. Bonus Trophy sets do not have Platinums of their own, as only full games receive a Platinum Trophy, and each game will only get one Platinum. This is where the DLC argument forCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3comes back into play.
Instead of having its own separate Trophy list like every other premiumCall of Dutygame, complete with a Platinum to collect,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Trophy setis treated like DLC Trophies forModern Warfare 2. It is organized in the same way as every other game’s DLC sets, and while it is a full list that is packed with campaign and Zombies tasks apart from its missing Platinum, that missing Trophy stands out clearly. It’s odd to see 39 Trophies, including higher rarity ones like Golds, in a DLC set, but either way the missing Platinum makes it feel as ifModern Warfare 3was always meant to be an add-on forMW2and is not the premium game it is being touted as.
One justification for the lack of a Platinum and this DLC-like Trophy set could be the new Call of Duty application, which aims to unite multiple games under one roof. Because MW2 is technically the “main game” for the app, and players download content packs for everything else, this approach could be preventing Activision from offering standalone Trophy sets since all games will be “DLC” for the app. The PS4 version of the game having a standalone list and the next-gen version lacking one could support this theory.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’s Lack of a Platinum Hurts Trophy Hunters
Aside from reviving the arguments thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3is just an overpriced DLC disguised as a premium release, the lack of a Platinum Trophy could serve to turn away Trophy hunters. After all, those who care about getting PlayStation’s coveted achievements could have a lot less motivation to do random campaign tasks or grind out kills inModern Warfare 3Zombiesif they know they will not get a Platinum Trophy at the end of their hunt. This could extend to Veteran difficulty as well, as players may engage less with several parts of the game since there is no Platinum to justify that engagement.
Some Trophy hunters that have always seenCall of DutyPlatinums as easy and fun to collect could even avoid picking upModern Warfare 3because of this decision. WhileCall of Duty’s successis unlikely to be impacted by a handful of Trophy hunters losing interest in the game, it is still something to consider, as Activision surely does not want to alienate any potential players. Hopefully, the backlash about the missing Platinum leads to a patch that adds one in the near future, or at the very least serves as a lesson for future games.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
