Those of you who have previously played a Modern Warfare port on the last-gen handheld king will probably manage their expectations accordingly. They’re not bad by any stretch of the imagination, nor indeed particularly good, they just sort of are. One thing they are apparently not, though, is on the 3DS.
The Evolution of Modern Warfare on Handhelds
Activision may have sweetened on Nintendo platform adoption with World at War, Black Ops, an extremely late Modern Warfare 1 port, and now Modern Warfare 3 on the Wii, but they’re reprising their wait-and-see approach with the 3DS. This decision highlights a broader trend in the gaming industry where developers weigh the pros and cons of new hardware before fully committing. The impressive visuals, 3D capabilities, and fancy analog sticks of the 3DS are enticing, but they aren’t quite enough to outweigh the importance of a substantial install base, at least not just yet. Age before beauty indeed.
The history of Modern Warfare on handhelds is a mixed bag. The Nintendo DS saw several Call of Duty titles, including Modern Warfare: Mobilized, which attempted to bring the franchise’s intense action to a portable format. While these games were ambitious, they often fell short of the console experience, primarily due to hardware limitations. The controls were often cited as a significant drawback, with the DS’s touch screen and button layout struggling to replicate the fluidity of a console controller.
Why the 3DS Missed Out
The absence of Modern Warfare on the 3DS is particularly notable given the system’s capabilities. The 3DS, with its stereoscopic 3D display and improved processing power over the DS, seemed like a natural fit for a franchise known for its visual spectacle. However, several factors likely influenced Activision’s decision to hold back.
Firstly, the 3DS’s user base, while substantial, may not have aligned perfectly with the typical Call of Duty demographic. The 3DS was home to many family-friendly and casual games, and while it did have mature titles, they were not its primary focus. Activision may have been concerned that a Modern Warfare title would not find a large enough audience on the platform.
Secondly, the development costs and technical challenges of porting a Modern Warfare game to the 3DS could have been prohibitive. The 3DS, despite its strengths, still had limitations compared to home consoles. Achieving the level of graphical fidelity and smooth gameplay that fans expected from a Modern Warfare title would have been a significant challenge.
Lastly, the competitive landscape at the time may have played a role. The 3DS faced stiff competition from other handheld devices, including smartphones and tablets, which were becoming increasingly popular for gaming. Activision may have decided that the potential return on investment for a 3DS Modern Warfare game did not justify the risks.
Despite these challenges, the Call of Duty franchise has continued to thrive on other platforms. The series has seen successful releases on the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, with each new installment pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a first-person shooter. The franchise’s absence on the 3DS is a reminder that even the most successful series must carefully consider where and how to expand.
In conclusion, while the 3DS missed out on a Modern Warfare title, the decision was likely a calculated one by Activision. The impressive visuals, 3D capabilities, and analog sticks of the 3DS were not enough to overcome concerns about the install base, development costs, and competitive landscape. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how developers balance the allure of new hardware with the practicalities of game development.
Source: Activision
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