The upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is generating huge amounts of buzz in the run-up to its fairly imminent release, with the huge intended scale of the title providing a large array of topics and points of discussion. The Beta for the game that was recently available for preordering customers has now concluded and may shed light on an inherent benefit that the upcoming title will have over the original.
As expected, the recent Beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 showcased a litany of core gameplay features that are already being critiqued by the community. Given the more vocal nature of contemporary gaming demographics and the increased feasibility of post-launch changes to titles, the upcoming game may have a huge benefit over the original Modern Warfare 2.
The Basics of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is set for a release date of October 28, being the latest iteration of the mammoth FPS shooter franchise. The game will carry on from 2019's extremely popular Modern Warfare, being the second game in the ambitious reboot of the original fan-favorite Modern Warfare franchise.
The upcoming title will feature an expansive and bold campaign that will seemingly blend narrative elements of the first two original MW titles, while of course firmly stamping its own identity via entirely new plot points such as the introduction of the Mexican Special Forces as a core allied faction. The game will of course also introduce its own built-upon version of core CoD multiplayer, while additionally launching in close succession with Warzone 2, which is billed for a November 16 release.
While also possessing a return of the fondly-remembered Spec Ops mode from the original Modern Warfare 2 and a brand-new scavenging mode akin to Escape From Tarkov, it is clear that the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 are truly expansive projects. While the newer title will inexorably be compared to the franchise-defining original Modern Warfare 2, the recent and somewhat controversial Beta for the upcoming game may have demonstrated an inherent advantage that MW2 may have over the original.
The Imbalanced Nature of the Original Modern Warfare 2
As previously mentioned, the original Modern Warfare 2 is widely considered as one of the best installments in the entire history of the Call of Duty franchise. Releasing in 2009, the title arguably came at the peak of excitement regarding the multiplayer gameplay offered by Call of Duty and boasted a comprehensive amount of improvements over its predecessors to truly earn the positive reputation that the title maintains to this day.
That being said, it is undoubted that nostalgia plays a somewhat significant role in coloring how long-term fans reflect on the gameplay experience of the original Modern Warfare 2. Despite the fact that many will be thinking back to generally simpler times in their lives when thinking about their initial experiences of Modern Warfare 2, it must also be considered that the general franchise expectations and gameplay metas of competitive shooters were entirely different in 2009 to what they are today.
For example, online titles during the era of the original Modern Warfare 2 were rarely updated post-launch, save for patching extremely game-breaking bugs and exploits. For example, many will remember the longstanding presence of overpowered metas such as using One Man Army to essentially fire limitless grenade-launcher projectiles across the map, or the ludicrously overpowered melee lunge of the Commando perk. These aspects of Modern Warfare 2, among many others, were essentially left unchecked for most of Modern Warfare 2's life cycle, and definitely had a negative impact on the game despite some fans looking back on these gameplay elements as charming and character-building features in hindsight.
Fan Feedback and Continual Updates in Modern Call of Duty
It will clearly be difficult for the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 to match the prestige and reputation of the original. Infinity Ward will have to use everything within its disposal to deliver an experience that can match the preceding title while adhering to the expectations of the modern gaming space. With this in mind, the largest advantage that the newer title has is the way in which it can interpret and deliver fan feedback in a much more sustained and direct way that was not possible or expected in 2009.
It is no secret that the contemporary gaming industry is dominated by post-launch updates. While this can be a source of controversy, these updates are imperative to the reputation of online games and modes. The recent Modern Warfare 2 Beta perfectly demonstrated this, with its players offering an extensive array of feedback that they wish to be implemented before the title officially launches.
While not every piece of identified feedback will be implemented, Infinity Ward has already outlined changes that will be made to Modern Warfare 2 following the Beta, setting a precedent for the importance of fan engagement within the title. In addition to this, the new Modern Warfare 2 is bolstered by an unprecedented two-year life cycle, meaning that it will be able to truly fine-tune and balance its weapons and perks over a long and sustained period. Despite the legacy of the original Modern Warfare 2, the more broken elements of the title's multiplayer are a factor that the upcoming game will easily be able to avoid replicating over the course of its own journey.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launches on October 28 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.