Two common criticisms of Call of Duty is that the franchise hasn't brought innovation or "newness" in their last few titles and that they charge way too much for DLC maps. Modern Warfare 1 & 2, along with last year's Black Ops have remained mostly the same. Normally, if it's not broken, one would not have to worry about fixing, but with growing competition and the threat of Battlefield 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and its lack of a new game engine will have to deliver something special for fans.

Fortunately, it looks as if Modern Warfare 3 is set to deliver a substantial amount of multiplayer content, with 20 standard multiplayer maps and more for its two Spec Ops modes.

In addition to revealing details on the story, characters and setting of Modern Warfare 3, part of Kotaku's onslaught of exclusives today lists all of the multiplayer maps to be feature in the game although it's possible that they may intentionally remove content to sell it later as DLC. How awful would that be?

There are 20 standard multiplayer maps, 5 Spec Ops survival maps but only 7 Spec Ops Mission maps which is disappointing. Although, from the names of the 'Mission' maps, they might not be what you expect.

Multiplayer Maps

  • Alpha
  • Alps
  • Bootleg
  • Bravo
  • Brooklyn
  • Carbon
  • Coast
  • Dome
  • Exchange
  • Hardhat
  • Interchange
  • Lambeth
  • Meteora
  • Mogadishu
  • Paris
  • Plaza 2
  • Radar
  • Seatown
  • Underground
  • Village

Here are a pair of images of the new 'Carbon' multiplayer map:

[gallery columns="2" exclude="84188,84191"]

Spec Ops Modes

Survival

  • Carbon
  • Dome
  • Radar
  • Seatown
  • Village

Mission

  • Civilian Rescue
  • Flood the Market
  • Invisible Threat
  • Little Bro's
  • Out of Africa
  • No Fly Zone
  • Wing Man

"No Fly Zone" and "Wing Man" - what does that sound like to you? Could these missions involve vehicles that... fly? Or is that wishful thinking from watching the Battlefield 3 teasers? Kotaku was told that the missions are designed like the were in Modern Warfare 2 and that the 'Mission' maps involve players fighting off waves of enemies, a la Gears of War Horde Mode.

We can only hope that the Spec Ops mode allows more players to get involved as two-player isn't enough.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is expected to release on all major platforms on November 8, 2011.

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Source: Kotaku