TheCall of Dutyfranchise is one of the most prestigious and long-standing first-person shooter series in games. While attraction to the series was initially based upon the intense allure of its dynamic and immersive single-player campaigns,Call of Dutyquickly became known for its multiplayer, containing some of the best close-quarters shooter gameplay in the genre.
With the acclaim of the multiplayer experience thatCall of Dutybegan to offer, an equal interest was placed upon theiconic maps that the golden-era ofCall of Dutyboasted within its roster. Plenty of classic multiplayer maps have even made a return through remastered or reimagined designs in newerCall of Dutytitles, most prominently with 2019’sModern Warfare. However, one classicModern Warfare 2map still needs its resurgence as well.
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The Golden-Era Goldmine — Modern Warfare 2
Of those classicCall of Dutytitles that are fondly remembered for its multiplayer maps, not many hold the same level of consistent quality asModern Warfare 2. The sequel was hailed by many to be thegreatestCall of Dutytitle of all time, due to its groundbreaking campaign, its refined multiplayer, and addictive “spec-ops” mode.Modern Warfare 2had an array of iconic multiplayer maps to help solidify this opinion. Amongst its launch maps,Modern Warfare 2had the close-quarters franchise-staple map Rust, the dynamic and layered Highrise, and a trick-shotters paradise in Terminal, all of which quickly rose to become fan-favorite maps.
While subsequentCall of Dutytitles and their respective maps couldn’t quite compare, it has become an increasingly popular trend within the series to reimagine the most well-received maps of previous titles. For example,Terminal has already been re-released for bothModern Warfare 3and even inInfinite Warfarewith a futuristic re-skin, as well as appearing onCall of Duty Mobile, like so many other classic maps. Rust is another good example of a returning map, making a deserved comeback in 2019’sModern Warfare. However, among these maps that are so often fondly remembered, lies a comparatively hidden and underrated gem: Estate.
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Modern Warfare 2’s Estate
Estate is a map from 2009’sCall of Duty:Modern Warfare 2, stemming from the setting of theinfamously melancholic single-player mission"Loose Ends." The map is unique in how unconventional it is, ditching the three-lane formula that can be found in mostCall of Dutymaps for a more organic and open-ended map structure that fosters more unpredictable gameplay.
The outskirts of the map encourage more long-ranged and calculated gameplay, consisting of open-ended wide expanses with densely packed woodland and vegetation, set in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia. The centerpiece of the map however, is the expansive double-story estate house, atop a hill at the map’s highest elevation. Control of this namesake building is key to combat superiority within Estate, given its high-ground situation and large scope of vision over the map, leading to intense close-quarters combat within the house itself.
With the unique gameplay and iconic setting that Estate offers, it is a genuine wonder as to why it has not returned in subsequent titles. While it is true that Estate has returned in thewhacky and China-exclusiveCall of Duty Onlineas the re-skinned Estate Tropical, it is yet to make the mainline series return that it truly deserves.
Where and When Estate Could Make a Comeback
With Estate surprisingly not having made its return in mainlineCall of Duty,the perfect opportunity for its comeback may lie right around the corner. With Activision confirming thatthis year’sCall of Dutywill be a sequel to 2019’sModern Warfare, now is the perfect time to re-introduce the Estate map to multiplayer.
With this upcoming title serving as a sequel to the reboot that began with 2019’sModern Warfare, it just makes sense that neglected but adored maps such as Estate be given their time to shine once more. This is only given further validity with the precedent that 2019’sModern Warfareset with classic returning maps.
Despite 2019’sModern Warfarelaunching with 10 original maps, its post-launch content saw a slew of returning maps to maintain the focus of the player base. With the subsequent seasons of its multiplayer,Modern Warfaresaw the return of Crash, Vacant, Shipment, Rust, Killhouse, Hardhat, Backlot, Scrapyard, and Broadcast.
With all of these maps being fan-favorites of priorModern Warfaretitles, it almost seems unavoidable that Estate will eventually return in the upcoming sequel. WithCall of Duty: Warzone 2reportedly in development, Estate would also be a perfect map that could translate to the larger map that this battle royale sequel will most likely have. Most of the maps ofModern Warfare(2019) appeared inWarzone’sVerdansk map, so it’s not too far-fetched. Whether it’s at launch or via post-launch DLC, Estate is a fantasticCall of Dutymultiplayer map that should return.
