Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:ATVI)'s latest release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, has been met with significant criticism due to a rushed development process that resulted in a production period of under 18 months, compared to the standard three-year cycle. This development schedule was a stark departure from the norm and has led to backlash from fans and critics alike. The title was developed by Sledgehammer Games, who were initially planning an Advanced Warfare sequel but were directed by Activision towards another Modern Warfare title.
The accelerated development timeline was due to a delayed title which created a gap in the release schedule. The game, codenamed Jupiter, was initially conceived as a smaller-scale spinoff set in Mexico. However, Activision executives requested a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2 featuring global missions and focusing on the villain Vladimir Makarov. This resulted in a development time of about 16 months.
The launch party for the game took place in London with an airport theme inspired by the Terminal map. Critics have argued that the storyline feels rushed due to the shortened development period. Developers are concerned that Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT)., which recently acquired Activision for $69 billion, may judge them harshly for the negative reception.
Despite these criticisms, Call of Duty has generated over $30 billion in revenue over the past two decades, and new releases consistently top sales charts. Analysts believe that even a critical failure won't significantly impact the franchise or Microsoft's plans.
After Call of Duty: Vanguard's release, Sledgehammer had pitched Project Anvil set in the universe of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, but it was shelved for another Modern Warfare game. The new release included an update to the popular zombies mode and faced oversight from Infinity Ward, leading to inefficiencies and unwanted changes.
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