Is Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Before 3? A Deep Dive into the Timeline
The simple answer is yes, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) comes before Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) in terms of the narrative timeline. However, the relationship between these two games is a bit more complex than just a simple sequential order. It’s crucial to understand the rebooted Modern Warfare universe to fully grasp their connection. Let’s break it down.
The Rebooted Modern Warfare Universe
The Modern Warfare series, beginning with the original in 2007, was a massive success. However, the 2019 title, simply titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, marked a soft reboot of the franchise. This meant that while familiar characters like Captain Price, Soap MacTavish, and Ghost were present, their stories and the world around them were different from the original trilogy.
Modern Warfare II (2022) is a direct sequel to this 2019 reboot, continuing its narrative and introducing new threats and situations. The campaign takes place in late 2022 and focuses on Task Force 141’s fight against a global terror network. This entry is not a remake or remaster of the 2009 Modern Warfare 2; it’s a completely new story within this rebooted continuity.
Modern Warfare III (2023) directly follows the events of Modern Warfare II and its post-launch seasons. The campaign picks up where its predecessor left off, with the central antagonist being the infamous Makarov. This makes MWIII a direct continuation and the next chapter in the narrative. Therefore, playing Modern Warfare II before Modern Warfare III is crucial to understanding the story.
Understanding the Technical Side
It’s also essential to grasp that Call of Duty HQ serves as the main launcher for both Modern Warfare II and III. This isn’t a standalone application for each game but rather a unified experience that houses both titles. Think of it as a hub, where switching between the two games isn’t like switching game modes; it involves moving between two separate (but interconnected) titles under one launcher. This structure emphasizes the interconnectedness of the two titles from a technical perspective as well.
While you can jump into MWIII without playing MWII, the story and character motivations will be less impactful without the prior context provided by Modern Warfare II’s campaign. Essentially, MWII lays the narrative foundation for the events of MWIII.
The Interconnected Gameplay
Beyond the narrative, there’s gameplay connectivity as well. All weapons and blueprints from Modern Warfare II are accessible in Modern Warfare III. However, you have to complete specific challenges to unlock them in the latter. This continuity of items provides a sense of progression and carryover from one title to the next, further solidifying the idea that Modern Warfare III is a direct continuation rather than a standalone game in its own right.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is, without a doubt, the predecessor to Modern Warfare III in the game’s narrative and experience. Understanding the storyline of MWII is vital for a full appreciation of the events and motivations within MWIII. Both are part of the new Modern Warfare timeline, and they’re designed to be experienced in sequential order.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions to help clarify the relationship between the two games and provide additional useful information:
1. Is Modern Warfare 3 a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2?
Yes, Modern Warfare III (2023) is the direct sequel to Modern Warfare II (2022), continuing the narrative of Task Force 141 and the ongoing conflicts in the rebooted timeline.
2. Is the new Modern Warfare 2 a remake of the old Modern Warfare 2?
No, Modern Warfare II (2022) is not a remake of the original Modern Warfare 2 from 2009. It is a new game with a completely new story and characters within a rebooted timeline. The 2009 version got a single-player remaster in 2020.
3. Where does Modern Warfare 2 fit in the timeline?
Modern Warfare II (2022) is a continuation of the 2019 reboot and takes place in late 2022 within the new timeline.
4. Are Modern Warfare 2 and 3 part of the same app?
Yes, both Modern Warfare II and III are launched from the same application, Call of Duty HQ. This is not a separate app for each game, but a central hub.
5. Do you need to play Modern Warfare 2 before 3?
While not technically mandatory, **playing Modern Warfare II before Modern Warfare III is highly recommended** to fully understand the story, characters, and their motivations.
6. Are the timelines of the original Modern Warfare and the new ones the same?
No, the **new Modern Warfare (2019), Modern Warfare II (2022), and Modern Warfare III (2023) exist in a separate timeline from the original Modern Warfare trilogy** despite sharing characters.
7. Who is developing Modern Warfare 3?
**Sledgehammer Games is the primary developer of Modern Warfare III (2023)**, while the 2022 entry was developed by Infinity Ward.
8. Does Modern Warfare 3 have Zombies?
Yes, unlike Modern Warfare II which focused on Raids and Co-op, **Modern Warfare III sees the return of the popular Zombies game mode**.
9. How are the weapons linked between Modern Warfare 2 and 3?
**All weapons from Modern Warfare II are available in Modern Warfare III**. However, players must complete unlock challenges to use them in the latter.
10. Is there a campaign for Modern Warfare 3?
Yes, **Modern Warfare III has a full campaign mode**, which continues the story directly after Modern Warfare II.
11. Does Modern Warfare 2 have a 3rd-person mode?
**Yes, Modern Warfare II (2022) reintroduced a 3rd-person mode**, which was previously present in the original 2009 Modern Warfare 2.
12. Is Call of Duty: Warzone free?
Yes, Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play and is integrated into the Call of Duty HQ launcher alongside Modern Warfare II and III.
13. Does Modern Warfare 2 have a campaign?
Yes, **Modern Warfare II (2022) features a single-player campaign** which sets the stage for the events of Modern Warfare III.
14. Are the original Modern Warfare games connected?
The original Call of Duty games, including **World at War, and WW2, are connected with their own narrative**, but the Modern Warfare reboot exists in a different timeline.
15. What year did the original Modern Warfare 2 come out?
The original **Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was released in 2009.**