opinion: GlobalESportNews editor Kevin is absolutely stunned about the Reveal of Season 2 in CoD MW2. Because especially the most loyal fans are looking down the tube.
What Modern Warfare 2 has just announced with Season 2 is a slap in the face to the loyal, paying multiplayer fans around Call of Duty. Yes, the roadmap looks bulging at first glance, but it”s mostly deceptive with unrestrained content recycling.
After the manufacturer promised “unprecedented level of live support” for MW2 in November 2022 (promised), what we now see on the roadmap seems like a joke at the expense of the core paying community.
this is what Activision said back in November about post launch of MWII
“an unprecedented level of support”
– CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) February 8, 2023
Because I know almost everything on it already! This tweet from CoD expert TheGhostOfHope makes it especially clear – highlighted in green is actually new content:
The image exposes a frightening truth: Season 2 will be thin, damn thin even. The new multiplayer maps are anything but new. I already spent hours on Valdera”s Museum in the beta. The map was completely developed back then, but was then cancelled (supposedly for licensing reasons).
To simply reactivate it now and present it to us as new content is more than questionable. Dome, on the other hand, is a remake from Modern Warfare 3 and has been part of the Battle Royale map Al-Mazrah since launch. Strictly speaking, nothing is new here either.
And even the two ground war maps can only be described as new content with a lot of good will, because they are also only excerpts from Al-Mazrah that have been ported into the multiplayer. So you could say: We”re doing a zero lap in Season 2 in terms of maps, although they would be so sorely needed!
New content = Highlighted
Recycled/Remade content etc. = not Highlighted(Did not highlight anything related to cosmetics in the bottom right as it is not technically content) pic.twitter.com/3sX9PJqQ8h
– Hope (@TheGhostOfHope) February 8, 2023
Table of Contents
We”re going round in circles
Since release we”ve been running over the same maps over and over again and let”s face it, Shipment and Shoothouse from Season 1 are firstly also both remakes from previous years of CoD and secondly pure grind mills that add pretty much nothing in terms of variety.
This also applies to all the game modes in Season 2, which we know without exception from older CoD parts and are now also served up to us as new. And there”s more: The new operator Ronin looks familiar to you? Well, we already know him from 2019”s Modern Warfare.
Why develop a sequel only to remaster the predecessor? This is calculated content recycling with the least possible effort.
On the other hand, no expense or effort is spared for the Free2Play area: the new resurgence map Ashika Island, the size of more than ten MP maps, is open to Battle Royale and DMZ players and is bursting with details.
There are new AI enemies. New bosses. New missions. Spawn updates. The list is long. Season 2 leaves no doubt as to where the developers” main focus will be in the future, namely Warzone 2.
It”s kind of clear: Activision can address a much larger target group via the free game and monetise it via Battle Pass and in-game shop than in multiplayer behind the paywall.
And that”s the crux of the matter: as a paying customer who simply wants to experience classic CoD multiplayer, I”m being dropped like a hot potato. Instead, the stated goal is now apparently to save Warzone 2, as several CoD pros are calling for
“I can”t find the words “
Of all people, it”s the most loyal long-term fans that are being sent the signal: here”s some rehashed content, that”s probably enough. Modern Warfare 2 completely loses sight of a large part of the CoD community and its identity. The classic 6v6 battles are still part of Call of Duty”s DNA and for many people the reason to spend 70 euros. And now they”re saving money right there?
That this will take its revenge can already be seen: (PrestigeIsKey), one of the most influential CoD-YouTubers, is venting his anger on Twitter and writes: “I can”t even find the words to describe Season 2 of MW2.” Well-known CoD expert XclusiveAce announced (to boycott Battle Pass) to express his dissatisfaction with the live service. And Battlefield creator DannyOnPC quips that by now even the beleaguered BF2042 has a better content schedule than CoD:
Battlefield 2042
1 new map each seasonModern warfare 2 (not wz)
0 new maps each season (some remakes that are part of the WZ map tho)Tfw BF2042 has a LESS shitty live service than the big Call of duty!
(not that BF does a good job or anything, but its better xD)
– DANNYonPC (@DANNYonPC) February 8, 2023
General info on Season 2
Release: When does Season 2 start?
Season 2 of Call of Duty MW2 and Warzone 2 will start on 15 February 2023 and thus about two weeks later than actually expected. In Germany, the new content should be available from 19:00 hrs local time. Read this overview to find out what”s included in the patch!
Insider already names date for Season 2 Reloaded: According to (Tom Henderson) the next content update will already go into renewal on March 2, 2023. On this date, Season 2 Reloaded is supposed to start. The Reloaded updates provide content updates within a season and bring balance improvements.
New weapons for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2
In total, Season 2 brings five new weapons for Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, three of which are in the Battle Pass, and two more you unlock through in-game challenges:
- The ISO Hemlock Assault Rifle (ISO Platform) is included in the Battle Pass of Season 2 right at launch.
- You can also unlock the new Shotgun KV Broadside in the Battle Pass from the start of the season
- In keeping with the Japanese theme of the season, there”s a new melee weapon: The double Kodachis let you quietly knife enemies from behind. Also included in the Battle Pass.
- You can get the new crossbow by completing all seven Ronin events in Season 2. Or you can buy it via the shop bundle. Appears during the course of the season.
- The new Marksman Rifle Tempus Torrent is scheduled for mid-season release.
So what”s left are angry and uncomprehending fans like me who are now faced with the question: Is this how Modern Warfare 2 is supposed to go on now – possibly even until the end of 2024? Are we only going to be fobbed off with second-rate content and should we have any hope at all for real innovations in the multiplayer?