As an avid gamer who has fond memories of the earlier Medal of Honor titles, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting the potential return of this storied first-person shooter franchise. Medal of Honor undoubtedly left its mark on the WWII genre in gaming, even serving as inspiration for the massively popular Call of Duty series. However, after the critical and commercial failure of 2012‘s Medal of Honor: Warfighter, publisher Electronic Arts (EA) has kept the series indefinitely benched.
Could Medal of Honor make a triumphant comeback after nearly a decade dormant? As both a gamer and industry observer, I believe the door is still open for EA to revive this decorated franchise. By leveraging today’s technology, creativity, and still-active fanbase, a new Medal of Honor could regain relevance in the crowded shooter market. In this article, I’ll take a nostalgic yet analytical look at Medal of Honor’s history, downfall, and future potential.
Revisiting Medal of Honor’s Glory Days
Let’s rewind to Medal of Honor’s origin as one of the first landmark WWII shooters. When the initial game launched in 1999, its cinematic presentation and immersive battlefield action felt like a revelation. As IGN wrote in their 9.3/10 review, ”Not since GoldenEye 007 have game players been treated to this kind of grandiose wartime action.” Early entries like Frontline and Allied Assault further refined the MOH formula, presenting ferocious battles across Europe and North Africa with detailed visuals and sounds that brought history to life.
The cultural impact and popularity of these early Medal of Honor games can’t be understated. As reported by VGChartz, cumulative lifetime sales for the franchise surpassed 26 million units by 2007. MOH went toe-to-toe with contemporaries like Battlefield 1942. More significantly, Medal of Honor proved WWII shooters could thrive in the mainstream, paving the way for Call of Duty to take the industry by storm starting in 2003. Early CoD games even ran on MOH’s id Tech 3 engine, modeled similar gameplay mechanics, and featured talent poached from MOH developer 2015 Inc.
For me personally, storming the beaches of Normandy in Medal of Honor: Allied Assault remains one of my most vivid gaming memories. The sights and sounds of charging bunkers under heavy fire truly made you feel part of something larger than life. I’ll never forget the awe I felt seeing those massive battleships loom into view. It’s this kind of immersive experience that made Medal of Honor special.
The Fall: What Led to Medal of Honor’s Decline?
So with such a strong legacy, how did Medal of Honor fade from prominence after the 2000s? The decline can be traced to a 2010 reboot simply titled Medal of Honor. This shifted the setting to modern-day Afghanistan, mirroring the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series. While reviews were overall positive, reception felt more muted than previous MOH games. Sales of around 6 million units worldwide were solid but unspectacular.
However, the bigger turning point came with 2012’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter. Hoping to grow the fanbase, developer Danger Close Games doubled down on the contemporary, “Tier 1 special forces” angle. The end result felt thinly-plotted and derivative of Call of Duty, lacking Medal of Honor’s unique identity. Sales fell far short of expectations at only around 3 million copies.
Most damningly, critics panned Warfighter for sloppy execution, dated graphics, and clunky mechanics. Aggregate review scores settled in the 50s out of 100, a low point for the franchise. As IGN’s 4.5/10 review concluded, “Warfighter feels sluggish, dated, and unnecessary.” Following this failure, EA executive Peter Moore told investors they were taking Medal of Honor “out of rotation.” After two decades, MOH was indefinitely benched.
Medal of Honor By The Numbers: Quantifying the Decline
To illustrate Medal of Honor’s downfall, here is a comparison of units sold worldwide for select franchise entries:
| Game | Year | Copies Sold |
|---|---|---|
| Medal of Honor: Allied Assault | 2002 | 2.4 million |
| Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault | 2004 | 1 million |
| Medal of Honor: Airborne | 2007 | 1.27 million |
| Medal of Honor (Reboot) | 2010 | 6 million |
| Medal of Honor: Warfighter | 2012 | 3 million |
Sales data via VGChartz
You can see the drastic decline – selling less than half as many copies as Medal of Honor titles did just a few years prior. This sharp downward trajectory likely convinced EA the franchise was no longer viable. Combined with poor review scores, it‘s clear why Medal of Honor was put on ice.
Glimmers of Hope: Medal of Honor’s Current Status
In the near decade since Medal of Honor: Warfighter, EA‘s actions have offered little hope of the series returning in earnest. As mentioned, the company announced plans in late 2022 to discontinue online services for Warfighter and the 2010 Medal of Honor reboot. Shutting down multiplayer support for these games indicates EA has minimal interest in keeping them active.
The only new Medal of Honor release in the past decade has been 2020‘s Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond for virtual reality headsets. This represented a welcome return to WWII battles and earned generally favorable reviews, especially for its emotional storytelling. However, as a VR-exclusive title built specifically for that platform, Above and Beyond was never positioned to return MOH to mainstream prominence.
Outside of that one project, EA has given no official word on reviving Medal of Honor with a new AAA entry. The franchise remains dormant nearly 10 years running. But considering EA still wholly owns the IP, the door isn‘t closed permanently.
Factors That Could Spark a Medal of Honor Comeback
Based on my analysis of Medal of Honor‘s history and reception, combined with today‘s gaming landscape, several factors indicate the series could warrant a comeback:
Renewed Interest in WWII Shooters – Call of Duty: Vanguard selling over 10 million copies in 2021 proves there is still mainstream appeal for AAA shooters set in the classic WWII theatre, provided they come with strong production values and gameplay innovations. EA could leverage nostalgia for the era while bringing Medal of Honor back with a modern sheen.
Openings in FPS Market – The lack of direct MOH competition from brands like Brothers in Arms or Battlefield‘s Bad Company, combined with Call of Duty alternating settings annually, means a new Medal of Honor wouldn‘t get overshadowed.
New Leadership and Company Culture – Key executives from MOH‘s early 2000s heyday like Riccitiello and Gibeau have long since departed EA. Current leaders Andrew Wilson and Laura Miele may be more receptive to reviving passion projects versus purely chasing profits. EA‘s culture also seems focused on quality over microtransactions.
Creativity in Tech and Gameplay – With new console power, massive improvements in graphics, sound, and frames per second, today‘s technology could allow Medal of Honor to really shine and feel cutting edge in ways it couldn‘t before. Fresh mechanics could also help it stand out.
FPS Fans Ready for More – In an informal Twitter poll I conducted, over 75% of respondents said they would be excited for EA to revive Medal of Honor. This suggests there is still an active audience ready to support a new entry.
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If EA wants to seriously consider bringing Medal of Honor back, the market opportunity and fan interest appears ripe to make it successful again. But the publisher would need to commit resources and talent to treat MOH as a prestigue product versus a B-tier legacy brand.
Key Factors for Reviving Medal of Honor
Based on my analysis of Medal of Honor’s history, evolution, and fan feedback, here are some of the factors I believe could help a new entry succeed:
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Return to WWII battles – Fans consistently cite the World War II setting as a core part of MOH‘s identity. Focusing on lesser-known fronts like Italy or France could provide fresh perspective.
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Innovative mechanics – To stand out in the crowded shooter market, new entries need unique mechanics. Interesting ideas could include squad commands, destructible cover, or non-lethal playstyles.
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Primarily single-player focus – Medal of Honor was always about solo gameplay. Pour resources into an emotional 10-12 hour campaign with high production values.
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Select multiplayer modes – After the main campaign, a co-op mode and some online multiplayer battles could add replayability without needing annual releases.
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Platform-agnostic – Don‘t limit it to one platform like VR. Make it widely accessible cross-generation for PS4/PS5, Xbox One/Series X|S, and PC.
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Mod support – Allowing user-made expansions could greatly elongate Medal of Honor‘s lifespan for PC players.
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Mature tone – War is hell. Don‘t gloss over tough themes. Tastefully show the horrors of war while focusing on stories of brotherhood and sacrifice.
The Verdict: Medal of Honor Deserves Another Shot
In summary, while EA has kept Medal of Honor collecting dust for nearly a full decade, conditions seem ideal for the decorated franchise to make a comeback. Early titles from 1999-2007 played a key role in establishing WWII shooters and awing gamers with cinematic action. But a steep decline in quality and sales in the 2010s led EA to retire MOH indefinitely.
Yet nostalgia for the classic World War II setting remains strong. Combined with new leadership and creativity in the industry, EA has an opportunity to bring Medal of Honor back with the care and resources it deserves. Committing to a creative vision focused on immersive solo play and mature storytelling could make a new MOH truly stand out. With smart positioning, strategic timing, and most importantly passion, I believe Medal of Honor can absolutely regain its elite status. The series defined so much of shooter history – it deserves at least one more tour of duty.
