We break down the recently revealed Campaign footage from Operation 627. Also: details on this year’s Call of Duty Next on October 5, and the MWIII Multiplayer Beta.
A New Campaign to Eliminate the Ultimate Threat
Task Force 141’s rules of engagement changed to fight the ultimate threat, and it’s time to adapt or die.
Welcome to Operation 627, the first mission of the Modern Warfare® III Campaign. You can watch the campaign premiere here.
Developed by Sledgehammer Games in partnership with Infinity Ward, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Campaign is the direct sequel to the events of Modern Warfare II.
As mentioned in the full game’s Announcement, this Campaign features a seamless integration of missions built around Call of Duty’s signature, cinematic moments that have defined two decades of the franchise’s action-packed, narrative-driven, single-player experiences, and brand-new Open Combat Missions designed to give the player freedom to approach the action in a variety of different ways.
The full Campaign, of course, is available up to one week prior to the game’s official launch on November 10, and is available through Campaign Early Access, included in all digital pre-order editions of Modern Warfare III (*1). One week based on estimated access; actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.
Prepare for uneasy alliances and unfinished business: To save a world on the brink of war, the time has come to confront your past:
Operation 627, A Breakdown
As revealed earlier this week, the first mission in the Modern Warfare III Campaign is “Operation 627,” a traditional cinematic experience that introduces the next chapter of the Modern Warfare universe.
In this prelude, an elite PMC fireteam – “Alpha Team” – invades a stone fortress in an area that Call of Duty veterans know all too well: Verdansk.
While familiar, Verdansk will be seen from a new perspective in Modern Warfare III’s Campaign: in the year 2023, a new threat completely locked down this capital of Kastovia.
Those who watched the Modern Warfare III’s Worldwide Reveal Trailer and the Makarov Reveal Trailer might recognize momentary flashes of this mission – now it’s time to dive deeper into “Operation 627”:
On October 13, 2023, at 0200 hours (2 AM) local time, Alpha Team successfully infiltrates the Zordaya Prison Complex via amphibious tactics, using water suits, oxygen tanks, and diver propulsion vehicles to reach the complex’s base.
After ascending the battlements’ slope, the team follows the mission’s optimal plans, using suppressed weapons, night-vision goggles (NVGs), and stealth tactics to move along the wallwalk until they find a breach in its western section.
Alongside parachuting reinforcements, Alpha Team moves into position down off the battlements and onto the courtyard level, confirming visual on an HVT entering a prisoner transfer helicopter… But it’s not “our guy.”
Because “our guy” is deeper in the complex, Alpha Team calls in a distraction play, using an explosive outside the facility to get the first strike from behind on enemy forces.
Quickly losing its low profile, Alpha Team uses a smokescreen for cover before finding a hatch in the courtyard, which they then use to descend further into the complex via its intricate tunnel network.
Fortunately, they land right near the heart of the panopticon, the gulag’s proper prison with a central security observatory tower, which Alpha Team sees moments before they radio in for total darkness.
With only muzzle flashes, lasers, and their NVGs as their only sources for light, Alpha Team methodically rappels down the interior spine of the prison, instigating a successful prison riot by downing several prison guards who desperately try to re-establish order.
The cell gates unlock, and the inmates barge out and into the curved corridors, intent on revenge, as klaxons blare and confusion reigns. Alpha Team eventually reaches the prison’s lowest level.
As locked inmates cheer and clank their cell bars in support, Alpha Team eliminates several more guards and reaches the sub-level to “get our guy.” A sealed interior door is breached with explosives…
And the rest… Well, you’ll have to wait until Campaign Early Access (*1) for that part of the story.
Tomorrow’s Intel Drop: Open Combat Missions
In addition to “Operation 627” and other cinematic missions, Modern Warfare III’s Campaign seamlessly integrates more freeform single-player experiences into the mission structure. These are known as Open Combat Missions. Expect a detailed overview of this innovation here on the Call of Duty Blog, tomorrow on August 23.
Your Next Mission: Call of Duty Next on October 5
With a peek into the Campaign, and Open Combat Missions confirmed, let’s talk about what’s Next.
Call of Duty: Next returns on October 5, 2023, and can be watched live on the Official Call of Duty Twitch® Channel or Call of Duty YouTube® Channel.
With the help of Call of Duty developers and community representatives, Call of Duty: Next is the premier showcase for Modern Warfare III Multiplayer, a look forward to what’s coming to Call of Duty: Warzone™, as well as a livestream where updates from Call of Duty’s mobile experiences will be shared.
More intel on Call of Duty: Next will be shared in the coming weeks. However, be sure to save the date – October 5, 2023 – for this epic event.
Modern Warfare III: Open Beta Dates
Call of Duty: Next is also the prelude to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Multiplayer Open Beta. It will feature a variety of maps – both a selection of Core maps from the modernized 16 originals in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2 (2009), as well as new experiences in Ground War – modes, and a litany of new loadout options to choose from.
NOTE: Carry Forward content will not be accessible in the Modern Warfare III Multiplayer Beta.
Both Multiplayer Beta weekends will feature Early Access days (2) as well as an Open Beta period, and it will be First on PlayStation. ® A PlayStation Plus subscription is not required (3) (*4).
Internet access is required for participation.
More details are to come on the full Beta details, but start marking those calendars to include these important dates:
Weekend One – PlayStation® Exclusive
Available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the first Beta weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 6 at 10 A.M. PT and end on Tuesday, October 10 at 10 A.M. PT.
PlayStation Early Access: Those who preordered the game on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, can begin playing the Beta on Friday, October 6 at 10 AM PT.
PlayStation Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Sunday, October 8 at 10 AM PT to Tuesday, October 10 at 10 AM PT, is accessible to all PlayStation players regardless of preorder status.
Weekend Two – Crossplay
The second Beta weekend is for all platforms, and is scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 12 at 10 A.M. PT and end on Monday, October 16 at 10 A.M. PT.
PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5: This is a free Open Beta weekend for all PlayStation 4 and 5 owners, regardless of their pre-order status.
Xbox and PC Early Access: Those who preordered the game for Xbox Series X | S or on Xbox One, or who pre-purchased for PC via Battle.net or Steam, can begin playing the Beta on Thursday, October 12 at 10 AM PT.
An Xbox Live Core Subscription may be required for Xbox players, and a Battle.net or Steam (*5) account is required for all PC players.
Xbox and PC Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Thursday, October 12 at 10 A.M. PT and end on Monday, October 16 at 10 A.M. PT, is accessible to Xbox and PC players regardless of their preorder status.
WEEKEND 2 OPEN BETA NOTE: An Xbox Live Core Subscription will not be required for Xbox players, for this period only.
Ready Up – Pre-Order Now
Lock in your pre-orders now to receive immediate rewards in Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare II as well as for Modern Warfare III later in November.
Both physical and digital editions of the game can be pre-ordered on your platform of choice, with all editions detailed in our pre-order guide here.
For more details on everything coming to Modern Warfare III, read the full announcement here and stay tuned for further intel.
Plank Builders Raises $11,900 on Kickstarter
