The latest release in Activision’s long-running FPS series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, hits retail and digital stores today.
Despite its name, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is not a like-for-like remake of Infinity Ward’s seminal 2007 video game. Instead, it’s pitched as a “powerful experience reimagined from the ground-up”.
Powerful is certainly the word, with a depiction of modern conflict that is sometimes tough to watch, never mind experience. It’s certainly a more sober direction for a series that in recent years has been happily fetishising Nazi zombies and experimenting in the battle-royale playground.
Speaking about the game, Infinity Ward co-Studio Head, Dave Stohl, says:
“We are creating an emotionally charged experience that’s inspired by the headlines in the world today, where the rules are grey and battle lines are blurred. Players will join a varied cast of international special forces and freedom fighters in gripping and heart-pounding missions through iconic European cities and volatile expanses of the Middle East.”
This year’s game is the first in the series to support cross-platform multiplayer across PC, Xbox One and PlayStation 4. It is also eschewing a season pass for model for post-launch DLC, with a range of free maps planned. Most importantly for fans of the series is the return of a full single-player campaign, something missing from 2018’s Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII.
Much of the game’s visual impact is due to its new engine. Infinity Ward says it features a physically-based material system that results in improved art photogrammetry, as well as PBR decal rendering and world volumetric lighting. The game’s striking night-vision effects are produced by a new spectral rendering process.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The PC edition is available exclusively via Blizzard Battle.net. The console editions are available digitally via the Xbox Games Store and PlayStation Store, and physically from retailers including Amazon, Game, Best Buy and Walmart.
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