Modern Warfare 4’s New Multiplayer Map Design Feels Like a Homage to Titanfall 2
Hey, you want to feel old? Well, get a load of this: this year marks the 10th anniversary of Titanfall 2. That’s right, it’s been a full decade since the game launched, and with no sign of a sequel happening, it might very well remain the final entry.
Despite the endless demand for a follow-up, Respawn has long since moved on to massive juggernauts like Apex Legends. That, and with the unfortunate passing of Respawn’s co-founder, Vince Zampella, recapturing that lightning in a bottle now would mean moving forward without the visionary who helped bring the game to life. Perhaps it’s for the best that we remember the franchise for the masterpiece it still is, but its impact on the gaming industry is undeniably massive.
Which brings us to Call of Duty. In what might be considered a “full circle” moment, Infinity Ward—a studio that was originally co-founded by Vince Zampella and Jason West—just pulled back the curtain on a new addition for Modern Warfare 4.
Announced yesterday, Kill Block is an upcoming multiplayer battleground set inside an adaptive military training facility. The twist? The entire map is built on three massive, mechanized concrete slabs that physically shift, swap, and rotate on the fly during a match. It creates an ever-evolving combat zone with over 500 configurations. It’s a pretty awesome idea, though it’s not entirely a “new” one, as anyone who played Titanfall 2 can probably already tell you that it’s a clear direct nod to one of the game’s best moments.
Even a decade later, the blueprint Zampella left behind continues to shape the biggest shooters on the planet.
Titanfall 2’s “Into the Abyss” Mission Looks to be the Inspiration Behind Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4’s Newest Map Design, Kill Block
As revealed at Fanatics Fest, Infinity Ward is shaking up one of the series’ most popular competitive modes, Gunfight, with a new map system called “Kill Block.” You can read up on the details of this new “modular map” design in our other story, but the short of it is that the Gunfight map will now evolve thanks to a slab system where parts of the map switch out with new configurations. With over 500 possibilities, the idea behind it is to keep players on their toes, as they adapt on the fly and come up with new strategies as the map shifts.
This sounds like a perfect way to make competitive even more interesting, introducing a new set of stakes that reward adaptability over map memorization. That’s not to say that memorization won’t come into play, but it does introduce variables meant to keep players guessing from one round to the next.
But watching the reveal of Kill Block, I couldn’t help but get a sense of familiarity. Have I seen something like that before? Well, that’s because I have, and as many Titanfall fans have already spotted, Kill Block seems to be inspired by Titanfall 2’s “Into the Abyss” mission.
For those who need reminding, this mission saw players separated from BT while inside a manufacturing plant. As you ventured deeper into the plant, you discovered that they are building modular platforms with structures on them. Eventually, it leads to the Simulation Dome, where players see an artificial town being built in real time. Mechanical arms lift, rotate, and snap massive, preconfigured concrete platforms, all for the sake of running various simulations. Essentially a training ground that could be swapped out with different structured platforms.
Of course, Modern Warfare 4, as its name clearly states, is a game set in the modern day. That means boots-on-the-ground combat, rather than being focused on wallrunning and grappling around the map. But that hasn’t stopped Infinity Ward from recognizing an amazing idea, as it’s clear that Kill Block draws heavily from that very mission.
It’s possible we’re reading too much into this, but given this is the studio that was founded by Titanfall’s creator, we’re sure it’s not just a coincidence. Say what you will about Call of Duty, but this does seem like a good idea for them to play around with. Let’s just hope it actually lands with players.
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