Originally, Shipment was designed purely as a “split-screen map, back when that was a thing,” Smith revealed. The smaller plot of land, the simpler geometry, the more basic layout, all of it was purpose-built to accommodate players as their old TV screens were sliced in half.
During Modern Warfare’s development, however, devs used this playspace for some internal tests and thus, it found its way onto the game’s broader “playlist script.” From there, it was simply never removed.
“Our MP lead at the time, when we went live, forgot to [pull] it out and there was no going back. That was truly an accident.”