Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the latest installment in the popular first-person shooter franchise, has been facing a lot of criticism from its loyal fanbase since its launch in November 2023. Many players are feeling “demoralized” and losing interest in the game due to various issues that affect their gameplay experience.
One of the main complaints from the MW3 community is the alleged use of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) in the game. SBMM is a system that matches players with similar skill levels, rather than random opponents. While this may sound fair, many players argue that it makes the game too competitive and stressful, and reduces the variety and fun of the matches.
Some players have even resorted to reverse boosting, which is intentionally performing poorly in matches to lower their skill rating and get easier opponents. This practice not only ruins the game for themselves, but also for other players who have to deal with unbalanced teams and unfair matches.
SBMM has been a hot topic in the CoD community for a long time, and many players have been asking the developers, Sledgehammer Games, to either remove it or make it optional. However, the developers have not officially confirmed or denied the existence of SBMM in MW3, and have remained silent on the issue.
Warzone woes
Another major source of frustration for MW3 players is the game’s integration with Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale mode that was launched in 2020. Warzone is a separate game that shares the same engine and weapons as MW3, but has its own progression system and updates.
Many players have reported that Warzone has a negative impact on MW3, such as causing crashes, glitches, and performance issues. Some players have also accused the developers of prioritizing Warzone over MW3, and neglecting the core multiplayer modes and features of the latter.
Warzone has also been plagued by cheaters, who use hacks and exploits to gain unfair advantages over other players. Cheaters can ruin the game for everyone, especially in a competitive mode like Warzone, where the stakes are high and the rewards are scarce. Many players have called for stricter anti-cheat measures and harsher punishments for cheaters, but the developers have not been able to curb the problem effectively.
Movement mechanic backlash
A recent change that has sparked outrage among MW3 players is the addition of a new movement mechanic in the game. The mechanic allows players to hang from ledges with one hand, and shoot their pistols with the other. This feature was shown in the campaign trailer that was revealed at Gamescom 2023, and was confirmed to be present in the campaign mode.
However, some players have discovered that the mechanic is also available in the multiplayer and Warzone modes, and have expressed their displeasure with it. They claim that the mechanic is unrealistic, unnecessary, and annoying, and that it gives an unfair advantage to players who abuse it.
Many players have urged the developers to remove the mechanic from the multiplayer and Warzone modes, or at least make it optional. They fear that the mechanic will ruin the balance and flow of the game, and make it less enjoyable for everyone. The developers have not responded to the feedback yet, and have not explained why they added the mechanic in the first place.
Fan fatigue
All these issues have taken a toll on the MW3 fanbase, and have made many players lose their passion and interest in the game. Some players have even decided to quit the game altogether, or switch to other games that offer a better and more satisfying experience.
MW3 is not the first CoD game to face criticism and backlash from its fans, but it seems to be one of the most divisive and disappointing ones. The game had a lot of hype and expectations before its release, but it failed to live up to them, and instead alienated and frustrated many of its loyal supporters.
The developers have a lot of work to do to fix the game and regain the trust and respect of the fans. They need to listen to the feedback, address the issues, and improve the game. Otherwise, they risk losing more players and damaging the reputation and future of the CoD franchise.
