Modern Warfare 3 adds Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s cousin as new Koa King Operator

Nathan Warby
Koa King Operator in MW3

Modern Warfare 3 has added the new Koa King Operator to the in-game store, a brand-new character inspired by a real-life Navy Seal who also happens to be the cousin of Hollywood superstar Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.

The Carry Forward feature allowed CoD players to bring over most of their unlocks from MW2 to Modern Warfare 3 for the first time. This means that Sledgehammer Games’ new title has the biggest launch lineup of weapons, camos, and Blueprints in the series to date.

Modern Warfare 3 also features a number of new and old Operators for players to equip, many of which are inspired by recognizable figures. These range from content creators like TimTheTatman to musicians like Nicki Minaj and 21 Savage.

Many Operators are inspired by real people who served in the armed forces, and a new character in Modern Warfare 3 is based on The Rock’s cousin.

Koa King is part of the Warrior Pack, which plays a key role in the True Legends event in MW3 and Warzone. Shortly after the bundle was released, the WWE star-turned-actor posted to confirm he was related to the man behind the Operator.

“This is my cousin, Ben, who I consider my brother – and this is incredible,” The Rock said, before going on to list some of his family member’s achievements: “Ben is a 16 year decorated Navy SEAL, Command member of SEAL TEAM 6, Multiple Bronze Stars, Purple Heart recipient.”

The Koa King Operator celebrates Ben’s “Samoan heritage,” as Johnson explained that “KOA means WARRIOR [in] Samoan.” It arrives as part of Call of Duty Endowment, a program that looks to help former servicemen and women find work after returning home.

The Rock praised the “phenomenal” collaboration between his cousin and Call of Duty, adding: “This whole thing is very cool and bad a**.”

Modern Warfare 3 players can buy the Warrior Pack from the in-game store, which also features unique Rival-9 and MTV Interceptor Blueprints, a Finishing Move, and much more. Fans will no doubt be hoping to see even more themed bundles as we head towards MW3 Season 1 and beyond.