New Medal Of Honor Announced, Set In Present Day

Today EA announced their return to the 10-year-old Medal of Honor franchise, set for PS3, 360, and PC. Simply being called “Medal of Honor,” the new title forgoes the traditional war-torn, Nazi-infested 1940’s setting in exchange for a fight on today’s Afghani sand.

EA has been working with Tier 1 Operators from the US Special Operations Community to create the most “authentic modern war experience.” The Tier 1 Operators which the game revolves around are an under-the-radar military taskforce called upon to embark on impossible missions. Medal of Honor will be based on true events and will strive to pull back the curtain on what makes a real soldier tick.

“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," said Greg Goodrich, Medal of Honor’s executive producer. "The Tier 1 Operator is the most disciplined, deliberate and prepared warrior on the battlefield. He is a living, breathing, precision instrument of war. We are honored to have the rare opportunity to work closely with these men to create a game that shares their experience.”

Originally devised as a videogame counterpart to Steven Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan, the first Medal of Honor stood as a respectful but entertaining look into war. EA’s sensitive perspective of warfare could act as a breath of fresh air in today’s war-torn gaming landscape.

Single-player isn’t the only facet receiving dedicated attention, because EALA has enlisted EA DICE as reinforcement for Medal of Honor’s multiplayer. No strangers to the horrors of war, EA DICE is known for their work on the popular, multiplayer-focused Battlefield series. The two developers are striving to reboot the franchise with the current generation’s sensibilities in mind.

“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 and VP. “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.”

More on the game is set to be announced at Spike TV’s 2009 VGAs on December 12, but you can rely on us for more news on Medal of Honor as it’s revealed.

Who thinks a modern-day Medal of Honor could deliver a bunker-buster to the deeply entrenched Call of Duty franchise?