Bethesda Softworks (a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media) has informed Gamespot that “Wolfenstein: The New Order,” which was announced on Tuesday, won’t include multiplayer mode.

Many games stay relevant because of their multiplayer and/or modding communities. "ArmA II" sales skyrocketed once the DayZ zombie survival horror mod was made for it. The "Left 4 Dead" games continue to be supported by a strong community that puts out multiple fan-made maps and campaigns for them daily. With these facts in mind, we question the wisdom behind Bethesda’s and MachineGames’ decision.

It’ll be interesting to see how much replay value “Wolfenstein: The New Order” will have now that we know that it won’t include a multiplayer component. “Wolfenstein: The New Order” better have strong longevity, especially if it ships with a price tag in the $45-$60 range. We expect it to, considering that “Wolfenstein” is a brand that sparked the FPS revolution in the early 1990s and has a legacy that spans more than 20 years.

What do you think of this decision? Do you feel that it’ll help or harm “Wolfenstein: The New Order” overall? What direction would you have gone in? Sound off in the comments below.

“Wolfenstein: The New Order” was officially announced on Tuesday and is slated for release in Q4 of this year.

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