Modern Warfare 3 Gets Xbox First-Party Treatment With Startup Screen That Rankles Some Fans

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is a multi-platform release, but that isn’t stopping Xbox from giving it the full first-party treatment. Xbox users booting up their console today were greeted with a large splash screen prompting them to buy it now that the new campaign is out, and some of them aren’t too happy about it.

“This is dumb. I don’t play Call of Duty; I never bought Call of Duty. I shouldn’t turn on my Xbox and the literal first thing I see be add [sic] for a game, or anything for that matter,” one user wrote.

Some users pointed out at that Starfield also received the splash screen treatment when it launched back in September, and that it was ultimately relatively brief. Others, however, expressed hope that such splash screens wouldn’t be the norm going forward, calling them intrusive.

“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal if it’s an event or 1p release but I can see why people wouldn’t like it tbh,” another user wrote.

When we tested it for ourselves, the prompt to buy Call of Duty appeared immediately with no button presses other than switching the machine on. IGN has reached out to Xbox for comment.

The splash screen wasn’t the only big promotion that Modern Warfare III received on Xbox. A dynamic background featuring Captain Price is also available for download.

Xbox’s Call of Duty marketing push follows its official acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which saw Microsoft acquire the publisher for $69 billion. PlayStation’s Call of Duty marketing deal won’t expire until 2024, but that isn’t keeping Xbox for advertising Call of Duty, which is among the crown jewels of its new acquisition.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is releasing in stages, with early access to the campaign kicking off today, November 2, for those who have pre-ordered the game. It will pick up the story from Modern Warfare II while introducing new elements such as Open Combat Missions. Multiplayer will be available November 10.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.