PlayStation gamers, it’s almost time to crack the code with Lockpick, a PlayStation-exclusive operator* coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. As announced in Call of Duty: Next A few weeks ago, the Lockpick Operator Bundle will be available starting November 10 for anyone who pre-orders Modern Warfare III on the PlayStation Store. With the game’s release just around the corner, we wanted to share some in-depth details about the inspiration for this crafty character and a couple of tools he’ll have at his disposal.
Élodie “Lockpick” Michaux’s backstory
Like Oni in 2022’s Modern Warfare II, Lockpick was a combined creative effort between the PlayStation team and the Call of Duty development team, this time Sledgehammer Games. There was quick alignment on the type of personality each team was looking for and thus the backstory of Élodie “Lockpick” Michaux emerged.
Born in Paris, Élodie was raised by her mother and four streetwise older brothers. As she idolized them and tried to imitate them, she developed tough skin and light fingers.
He went from stealing fruit from local stalls to higher level thefts. Every time she was caught (a rarity), she was able to escape serious consequences with her charms.
Her siblings straightened out as they grew older, but Élodie kept pulling the same tricks… until her crimes (and the police) caught up with her. Élodie’s brothers rescued her and organized an intervention. Out of love for them, Élodie abandoned her criminal habits and eventually followed them into the army, where she quickly proved her worth and entered the Special Forces, specializing in demolitions.
Over the next five years, three brothers were killed in combat and one brother was severely disabled. After the death of her third brother, she became disillusioned with military life and left.
With his mother and remaining brother in his care, he turned to old friends on the streets, who asked him for help with an art heist. Élodie, an expert in disarmament, explosives and robbery, agreed. They succeeded and she became well off.
This became what he did to support his family from then on. And the more jobs you do, the more others will find out about your skills and the better the jobs will be.
The inspiration for Lockpick
As Sledgehammer Games thought about the operator they were creating, there were a few themes that definitely stood out.
As Dana Shaw, senior narrative designer, says: “We wanted to make someone who felt mischievous, playful and a little arrogant. We draw on some of our favorite heist movies to define personality and worldview. As for the backstory, we liked the idea that she had tried not to be a criminal and things just didn’t go as planned. “Everything continued around that.”
Lockpick’s visual design is based on the narrative of the art thief in a colorful camouflage suit, adorned with the tactical gear necessary to get the job done. And while his trademark blonde braid gives a clue to his identity, his mask is a fundamental part of his outfit. According to Shaw, “no thief wants to be recognized outside of work.”
From his mischievous banter while interacting with his competitors and teammates in MP, to his forceful finishing move, Lockpick’s personality comes through in various aspects of his character design. But two of the tools at his disposal also rely on the theme of art robbery. Élodie comes with the Crashed Knife Melee Blueprint and the AM Rican Gothic SMG Weapon Blueprint, also unlocked as part of the Lockpick Operator Pack and usable with any Operator in Modern Warfare III.
When stealth is key, there is no better weapon than the Knife model to take down opponents before they know you are there. But if things get tough at close range, this SMG Blueprint is the right tool for the job, as it’s lightweight but packs a punch. As Shaw emphasizes, Élodie “always knows the right tool for the job. It doesn’t matter what the job is.” Both weapons are also based on the artwork of the Lockpick itself, taking advantage of its blue camouflage with gold details. The SMG Blueprint even comes with a blue tracer effect, allowing players to colorfully progress through their objectives.
What’s next for Lockpick and Modern Warfare III?
For players who pre-ordered on the PlayStation Store, the Lockpick Operator Bundle will be playable in Modern Warfare III’s Multiplayer and Zombies game modes starting November 10, and then in Call of Duty: Warzone starting in Season 1. She will also be the inspiration for the Call of Duty: Warzone PlayStation Battle Packs that will also begin in Season 1, so look out for more information on those soon.
This benefit for MP, Zombies and Call of Duty: Warzone is not the only reason to pre-order Modern Warfare III, although. In addition to additional content benefits beyond the Lockpick Operator pack, players can play the game’s hit campaign before the game’s official release. Pre-orders on PlayStation Store unlock early access to the campaign, starting November 2**. Don’t be surprised: unlock Lockpick, play the campaign early, and get ready for the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. here.
*PlayStation players receive select additional content not available on other platforms until November 9, 2024.
**One week based on estimated access; Actual game time subject to possible interruptions and applicable time zone differences.
