A reboot to the Medal of Honor franchise has been rumored for a few months, and today EA made it official by announcing a new Medal of Honor game with a planned fall 2010 release. Players will take control of the Tier 1 Operator, an elite soldier handpicked to face challenges that no other soldier can manage. The game is set in modern day Afghanistan, which probably has nothing at all to do with the success of a modern war game from another publisher.
The development of this new Medal of Honor game is being split between EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. EALA is handling the single player while DICE is responsible for the multiplayer. Logistically, this sounds like a nightmare, and I’m concerned that the finished game will lack cohesion between the two modes. But there’s no denying the talent at both of those studios, so hopefully they’ll communicate well and put together a solid product.
It’s risky for EA to go up against the Modern Warfare juggernaut, but I think there is room for two war game franchises set in modern day. However, EA has to bring something new to the table, and the picture of a soldier sporting a huge beard is a start. Did any characters in Modern Warfare 2 have such impressive facial hair? Maybe EA plans to set its modern war game apart with best-in-class facial hair animation. I’d play that game.
“When we first set out to reinvent Medal of Honor, we wanted to stay true to its roots of authenticity and respect for the soldier but bring it into today’s war. The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war.” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer, Medal of Honor. “We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”
“EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames,” said Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA. “We are so proud to bring together two powerhouse development teams to make this game a reality; EA Los Angeles and EA DICE. Medal of Honor promises to be an unforgettable entry in the modern shooter genre.”
