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Makarov is making a big comeback in the upcoming MW3 reboot, with the iconic villain poised to wreak havoc on the world once more. The recent trailer of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 teased what we imagine is yet another suspenseful story with Makarov at its center. But are his latest nefarious activities likely to be wrapped up in a single game? I highly doubt it, and here’s why.
Makarov’s First Step in MW3: No Russian
At the end of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, we see a scene where a group of terrorists are getting ready to hijack a plane. However, a “No Russian” message is sent to them, which is a very important callback to Makarov. In MW2 2009, Vladimir Makarov attacks Zakhaev Airport an act of terrorism, only to deliver a false message that the Americans have committed this crime. Killing hundreds of civilians, Makarov uses American weapons and even kills a CIA spy unit after the attack to fulfill his mastermind plan. It seems highly likely that we’ll see the same thing in the new MW3 game.
Vladimir Makarov makes this move so that the Russian ultranationalists can control the country, which is obviously the same theme of the current Modern Warfare series. This group is referred to as Konni ultranationalists in Warzone 2 DMZ, and they are now in Al Mazrah, ready to fight the Shadow Company in Season 5. However, Makarov has far bigger plans for MW3.
The New MW3 Serves As A Story Expansion
Notably, the new Modern Warfare 3 game was originally supposed to be a DLC. MW2‘s story only covered the parts that didn’t involve Makarov. But in order to have a big event of WW3 just like the one we had in the original Modern Warfare games, Makarov’s presence is essential. He’s the mastermind behind all of the disastrous happenings in the MW storyline, something the developers are keenly aware of and likely intent on putting front and center. Would they eliminate such a crucial element of the overall plot and such a high-value target like Makarov in one single game? Surely not.
After all, audience expectations for a supervillain arc such as Makarov’s are loftier. Not to mention, it’s worth noting that there are a bunch of loose ends from the overall Modern Warfare narrative that needs covering. For example, what happened to General Shephard? What’s going on with the AQ soldiers? And most importantly, where is Khaled Al Asad? These are key plot hole that need answering before we can put an end to Makarov in MW3.
Aside from the fate of some previous characters, there are questions about Makarov himself as well. The recent videos about the MW3 reveal showed the villain in prison. Perhaps this alludes to many flashbacks to the backstory of this character we’re likely to see. It might also reveal the planning behind his shady upcoming operations. It’s important to note that Captain Price already knows about Makarov in MW3, something clearly referenced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 teasers.
Makarov Will Cause The Russian Invasion in MW3
After the No Russian operation, Makarov changes everything in Russia. He unites the ultranationalists to cry for war. And that’s how a recreation of the Russian invasion probably happens in MW3; something that also occurred way back in MW2 2009. This will mark a pursuit for Task Force 141 and General Shephard to find Makarov, which will probably end in Shephard’s betrayal once more.
Now, while Captain Price and his allies are fighting the Shadow Company, my bet is that Makarov will leave the scene until the next Modern Warfare game. He’ll form part of a wider story arc that is destined for a much grander conclusion in the future. Of course, I’m guessing here given the limited information we have to go on thus far. It’s very possible there could even be new and more powerful villains introduced by the development team. But Makarov has always been such a big deal for Modern Warfare, and I can see the intrigue of his personality carrying the Modern Warfare plot far beyond a single outing. I’m convinced that killing off Vladimir Makarov in MW3 is too much, too soon, and we’ll probably see him in MW4 in later years.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is coming out on November 10, 2023. This game will be available to play on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
