Where in Paris is MW3? Exploring the Call of Duty Battleground
The Call of Duty franchise has taken players to countless battlefields across the globe, but few are as recognizable and iconic as the streets of Paris. For fans of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3), the question of exactly where in Paris the action takes place is a common one. The answer lies in the multiplayer map “Resistance,” which is entirely modeled after the real-world location of the Dalida square in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, specifically Dalida 75018 Paris, France. This area provides the backdrop for intense firefights as players, representing the French GIGN, battle against invading Russian Forces. The map accurately recreates the look and feel of this specific neighborhood, allowing players to experience a virtual battle amid familiar Parisian landmarks.
The Heart of the Battle: Dalida Square
The decision to base “Resistance” on Dalida Square was a deliberate one, providing a unique urban environment that balances open areas with narrow streets and tight corners. The map design captures the essence of the area, from the architectural style of the buildings to the street layouts, all in a way that is familiar to anyone who has visited the location or has seen photos of it. This provides an authentic experience for players, as they traverse the streets as virtual soldiers. Players can easily spot familiar building styles and street signs that are reminiscent of this part of Paris.
The map’s layout is designed to encourage dynamic gameplay, forcing players to adapt to a range of combat scenarios, from long-range engagements on the larger streets to close-quarters combat within the tighter interior areas of the simulated buildings. This balanced approach makes “Resistance” a popular map in the MW3 multiplayer mode. By focusing on a specific area of Paris, the developers were able to create a cohesive and immersive experience that sets it apart from some of the more generic war-torn locales found in other games.
Modern Warfare 3 Campaign Missions in Paris
While “Resistance” provides the multiplayer experience, the MW3 campaign also takes players to the city of light. Specifically, the Delta Force section of the campaign features two missions set in Paris: “Bag and Drag” and “Iron Lady.” In these missions, the player controls Derek “Frost” Westbrook, experiencing different parts of Paris as they unfold. These campaign missions, however, don’t take place in the area of Dalida 75018. Instead, they use different environments that are unique to the campaign storyline.
These campaign missions further highlight the inclusion of Paris within the MW3 storyline, showing different aspects of the city’s architecture and atmosphere. The intense moments in campaign battles contrast sharply with the structured battles within the multiplayer map. Additionally, while “Iron Lady” primarily sees the player in the role of Frost, the mission does contain a segment where players briefly take control of an AC-130 Gunner, giving another perspective of the ongoing conflict.
Why Paris? The Appeal of an Iconic Location
The inclusion of Paris in both multiplayer and campaign missions of Modern Warfare 3 demonstrates how the city is an effective setting for video game battles. Paris’s recognizable landmarks and iconic cityscape make for a highly impactful battleground, offering a sense of place that some other video game environments simply cannot achieve. The combination of familiar architectural styles and narrow, winding streets creates an intense and memorable backdrop.
By using the streets of Dalida Square as a primary setting, Activision was able to create an experience that resonates with players. The recognizable buildings, the sense of narrow, tight-quarters, and the iconic European architecture enhance the game’s realism. The idea of battling across the streets of Paris, a city known for its beauty and culture, adds a dramatic and contrasting element to the traditional war setting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which Call of Duty game is set in Paris?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) primarily features Paris. Specifically, the multiplayer map “Resistance” is set in a real-world location in Paris, and there are two campaign missions set in Paris.
2. What specific location in Paris is featured in MW3?
The multiplayer map “Resistance” is based on Dalida Square, located in the 18th arrondissement (75018) of Paris, France.
3. Are the campaign missions in MW3 set in the same location as the multiplayer map in Paris?
No. The campaign missions “Bag and Drag” and “Iron Lady”, which are set in Paris, take place in other parts of the city and do not use the Dalida 75018 map of “Resistance”
4. Why is the multiplayer map called “Resistance”?
In the context of MW3, “Resistance” refers to the French GIGN’s fight against the invading Russian forces, hence the name fitting the battle location and situation.
5. What is the GIGN?
The GIGN (Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale) is an elite special operations unit of the French National Gendarmerie.
6. What are some of the recognizable landmarks in the “Resistance” map?
The “Resistance” map captures the distinctive Parisian architecture and street layouts of the Dalida square area, with its unique building styles and street signs. Specific landmarks are not explicitly mentioned in the map, but the area is generally designed to closely resemble the real world location.
7. How accurate is the representation of Paris in MW3?
The “Resistance” map is quite accurate in terms of architectural styles and street layouts to the Dalida 75018 area of Paris, giving the player a very recognizable experience of the location.
8. Besides Paris, where else does the MW3 campaign take place?
The MW3 campaign takes players to other locations, the opening of the campaign takes place in a dark, rainy gulag, transplanted directly from Warzone’s Verdansk map.
9. Is there a “No Russian” mission in MW3?
No, the “No Russian” mission was in the original Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and it is not in the current Modern Warfare 3 (2023) title.
10. Why is the “No Russian” mission so controversial?
The “No Russian” mission is controversial due to its depiction of a mass shooting at an airport, which was considered disturbing and graphic by many.
11. Which Call of Duty game sold the most copies?
Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) is the best-selling game in the franchise with 31 million copies sold.
12. Is Call of Duty popular in France?
While exact sales figures for France are not consistently released, Call of Duty has a significant global following. The US is the biggest market for Call of Duty: Mobile, making up about 43% of revenue. Japan and China round out the top 3.
13. What is the age rating for Call of Duty games?
Call of Duty games are typically rated 18+ due to the presence of graphic violence and strong language.
14. How big is Paris in comparison to New York City?
New York City is much larger than Paris, both in land area and population. As of 2022, New York City had a population of 8.3 million while Paris had about 2.1 million.
15. What is the most recent Modern Warfare game?
The most recent Modern Warfare title is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), which is also a reboot of the original MW3 from 2011.