Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Getting Remastered?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster 4
Credit: Activision


Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster 4
Credit: Activision

As we build up to the eventual release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, a spiritual successor to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, many are wondering about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the original conclusion to the original Modern Warfare trilogy. Is a remaster coming? Not to worry, because in this article we'll tell you everything you need to know about if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is getting remastered.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster
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Credit: Activision

There hasn't been any official word on this, but there has been a ton of leaks, rumors, and speculation going around for what has become years at this point. But beyond that, there are also strong reasons to think that a Modern Warfare 3 campaign remaster will come.

For one. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 both got remasters. In fact, Call of Duty 4 had both its multiplayer and campaign components remastered, while Modern Warfare 2 just had its campaign remastered.

Since both of the first two games in the original trilogy were remastered, that on its own makes it a pretty safe bet that we'll see the third game remastered, eventually. Plus, this would give Activision some nice moneymaking opportunities.

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They could package all three remasters together into a single purchase that costs the full-fat $70 nowadays, and most folks would probably pick that up, especially if Modern Warfare 3 wasn't remastered on its own. Beyond that, though, a bundle like that would be an easy way for fans to pick up all the remasters at once.

But, of course, this begs the question: Is Modern Warfare 3 getting its campaign remastered or both its campaign and the multiplayer?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Multiplayer Remaster

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster 2
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Credit: Activision

Call of Duty 4 got a multiplayer remaster, in part, because of when it launched. Call of Duty 4 remastered launched alongside Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. Infinite Warfare was not a boots-on-the-ground CoD, instead offering tons of complicated 3D movement.

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Accordingly, the gritty, realistic, boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty 4 wasn't really expected to pull away too much of the Infinite Warfare playerbase. Plus, Activision originally gated the remaster behind special editions of Infinite Warfare, ensuring that if you wanted to play the remaster you'd have to pay for Infinite Warfare anyways.

There was a different situation for the Modern Warfare 2 remaster, though. This came out in 2020, right after the launch of Modern Warfare (2019), a spiritual successor to Call of Duty 4. Accordingly, it didn't make a lot of sense to launch a Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer remaster alongside that because it would inevitably siphon players from Modern Warfare (2019).

This is a similar situation to Modern Warfare II (2022) and a possible Modern Warfare 3 remaster. Activision isn't going to want to launch a remastered multiplayer package anytime soon, because that would inevitably pull players away from Modern Warfare II. And it's doubly important players stay with Modern Warfare II, as it'll be the first CoD to get two years of mainline support.

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However, maps from Modern Warfare 2 did make it into Modern Warfare (2019), and undoubtedly we'll see more Modern Warfare 2 maps come to Modern Warfare II (2022). A similar situation could arise for Modern Warfare 3 maps. We could see a couple of fan favorites get put into Modern Warfare II over the course of its two years of support, and if Infinity Ward does a Modern Warfare III, they could end up in that game, too.

Modern Warfare 3 Remastered Release Date

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Remaster 3
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Credit: Activision

As mentioned above, there isn't an official confirmation of anything just yet, so we don't have any official information about release dates. However, there is some good reason to think it'll happen somewhat soon.

See, Modern Warfare II is going to be the only mainline Call of Duty out until Treyarch's CoD 2024 drops, outside of Warzone and CoD Mobile, of course. So, in 2023 or 2024 it would make sense to drop a remaster of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign.

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In 2023 in particular since there isn't a mainline CoD coming out, it would make sense for Activision to release it then, since gamers won't already be spending a bunch of money on a new CoD. Plus, it could help tide people over with more Modern Warfare content until the next game.

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