After 2019's Modern Warfare essentially restarted the hype surrounding new Call of Duty releases, it's no wonder that the gaming community is eagerly awaiting a proper Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer reveal. Currently slated for a late October release, the game is slowly but certainly ramping up its marketing efforts, and the reveals are only just getting started.
In fact, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 just received its very first multiplayer map reveal: the Marina Bay Grand Prix level. Taking inspiration from cutting-edge Formula 1 racetracks, Marina Bay will afford players an opportunity to shoot at one another while there's an actual race taking place close by, making this one of the more interesting and dynamic multiplayer setups for a Call of Duty game.
Though COD: Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer modes remain a mystery at this time, it's good to see Activision Blizzard has started releasing dedicated promotional videos for the game, highlighting some of its content and features. Granted, precious little is known about the Marina Bay Grand Prix multiplayer map, aside from the fact that it's a dedicated 6v6 map with many inner and outer sections to fight over. From the pit stop lane all the way to the restrooms, Marina Bay packs loads of variety if this initial video is anything to go by.
Since this is just a flythrough showcase, it's worth pointing out that Marina Bay is an almost total unknown when it comes to gameplay mechanics and its combat flow. While some feel that Modern Warfare 2 should look at its predecessor for inspiration, it remains to be seen if this ends up being the case in the final product, and map design will be a crucial element in this regard.
A relatively easy way for the developer to score a win with this release would be to include classic maps in COD: Modern Warfare 2, which is bound to happen sooner or later. At this time, however, all-new levels such as the showcased Marina Bay Grand Prix may be the primary focus of the promotions, with classic experiences either brought in later on or downplayed for the sake of newer, fresher content.
Of course, it's also worth pointing out that some recent reports suggest that there might be paid DLC in production for Modern Warfare 2, which would be a significant change of pace compared to 2019's release. While there's a wealth of microtransactions available for the game, actual expansion packs are something else entirely and may suggest a longer shelf-life for this particular COD title. Multiplayer maps such as Marina Bay, too, are likely to be included if this ends up being the case.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launches on October 28 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.