A map from Call of Duty’s history is coming to Modern Warfare II, according to Infinity Ward’s multiplayer design director Geoff Smith. He told Dexerto that league testers tried it out and it’s almost ready.
“We’re bringing back an older one that some [Call of Duty League] guys really liked when they were at our office,” Smith said.
There has been criticism of the Call of Duty franchise, and others in the multiplayer space, for bringing back old maps instead of creating new ones, but Smith disagrees.
As a matter of fact, there’s good, fun gameplay on that map. It would be silly to not use those strengths. I know it’s a broken record, but there’s a balance between something new and something that’s familiar.”
According to Smith, people often tell Infinity Ward that they prefer the old maps over brand-new ones when they make brand-new maps.
After a while, people say, “Oh man, Hackney Yard was a great map, but when you launched it, you were like, “That was a piece of crap.” It almost feels like it takes some time for you to get used to something new. Over time, you build these memories with your friends and eventually you see these maps in rose-tinted glasses.”
Infinity Ward has already reintroduced the maps Shoothouse and Shipment for Modern Warfare II, albeit with a number of updates. The main goal for Modern Warfare II, Smith said, is to make sure Infinity Ward creates new content rather than just remastered maps.