Xbox Addict

EA Modernises Medal Of Honor

EA has officially announced that it is rebooting its Medal Of Honor first person shooter franchise.

For the first time in its ten year history the series will leave the theatre of WWII in favour of a modern, war-torn Afghanistan setting.

Set for release on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in 2010, Medal of Honor is in development at EALA, while EA DICE is working on the title’s multiplayer component.

The game will focus on the Tier 1 Operator, “a relatively unknown entity directly under the National Command Authority who takes on missions no one else can handle”. EA said that its development teams have been working closely with Tier 1 Operators from the US Special Operations Community since the early stages of development to create the most authentic modern war experience possible.

“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, EALA’s general manager. “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.”

The debut trailer for Medal Of Honour will be aired at Spike TV’s 2009 Video Game Awards on December 12.

A similar decision by developer Infinity Ward to move its rival WWII FPS series Call Of Duty into a modern theatre of war has reaped substantial benefits for publisher Activision.

2007’s Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare has sold over 14 million copies, while the latest title in the franchise, this November’s Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, broke box office and videogame records with a worldwide estimated five-day sale through of approximately $550 million.