A new mod for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is about to bring Modern Warfare 2's iconic multiplayer experience back to life, taking you on a 2009-fueled nostalgia trip to the good ole days of CoD.

If you were lucky enough to remember Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in its heyday, you probably remember it as one of the series�high points. Upon the release of the 2020 remaster, it was shocking that multiplayer was no longer included. Sure, the single-player campaign was great, but we all know that the multiplayer is ?what we really wanted. Four years later, the community's collective wishes have been granted thanks to H2M Mod.

You might have seen a couple of posts from prominent Call of Duty creators over the last few days showing gameplay from H2M Mod. If you're a fan of Modern Warfare 2, it no doubt caught your attention. Using 2017's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, the H2M Mod team has managed to bring back that classic MW2 experience in the new engine. It's 2009 all over again - just a little shin??ier this ?time around.

The experience won't be exactly as you remember it. It'll be better, in fact. Yes, you'll have access to all of Modern Warfare 2's weapons, maps, killstreaks, and progression, but there's more going on here. All of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered maps are also included, and some of the MW2 campaign maps have been repurposed for multiplayer, too. Several fan-favorite weapons from Modern Warfare Remastered make a return, giving you the best of both world??s, and there are even a few new camos to unlock ma??de specifically for this mod.

The mod has caused waves within the CoD scene over the last few days, with a release date for the mod set for August 16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is currently among the top-selling games on Steam, perha?ps no coincidence there as gamers gear up for th??e ultimate trip down memory lane.

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Only two games this month

We're now finally into the period where Sony is dropping support for last-gen freebies on PlayStation Plus and the selection seems to be picking up. On offer for subscribers, next month, will be Jonathon Blow's The Witness and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. Both are great games that are well worth your time, even if Modern Warfare has a deluge of microtransactions in its multi??player suite.

I'm mostly surprised that the selection is limited to t??wo games. I'm not sure what I expected with Sony finally saying goodbye to the PS3 and Vita, but I figured it would want to stay on par with Microsoft's number of free games. It kind of stinks that we're only going to be getting two titles moving forw??ard, but hopefully the reduction in quantity means an increase in quality.

Both games will be available from March 5 until April 1. The current crop of games will remain available until Marc?h?? 8, just to give subscribers time to pick them up.

PlayStation Plus: Free Games for March 2019 [PlayStation Blog]

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Not my COD

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is finally not tethered to Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and all is right in the world. People can grab the game they want and move on from whatever Activision tho??ught was going to be the future of gaming's most popular series. Everyone is happy and can finally stop their eyes from rolling at consumer unfriendly business practices.

Well, not exactly. A quick glance at the Steam user reviews for MWR shows that not a lot of people are pleased. While I think $40 for a single remastered game is a bit much, price isn't even the factor that is aggravating the audience. It seems there are a? whole heap of problems that have plagued ??this port.

According to most of the comments, the multiplayer is riddled with hackers, dedicated servers have been dropped and mod support is completely absent.  General performance is also quite spotty, with microstutters, an FPS cap and poor mouse support. Couple that with a lack of players and it seems the MP is basically dead. Call of Duty 4 grew on PC thanks to its more PC friendly features, so its odd to see Activision remove most of ?those standard offerings.

A lot of people agree that the campaign mode was given proper care while the multiplayer component has been tarnished due to Activision's greed. Not having played this myself, I can't say one way or the other, but it is truly baffling how Activision shoved microtransactions into a 10 y??ear old remaster. That just reeks of money grubbing.

Then there is a litany of people that have just spammed the reviews section with curse words and little critical insight. I can understand being miffed that Activision ruined something so important to you, but witho??ut providing any thoughtful critique on the game, your words are going to get ignored. When you need y?our plumbing fixed, for instance, you don't call up the plumber and call him a fat sack of shit for screwing the pooch last time.

Whether or not this is going to have any actual impact on the Call of Duty series remains to be seen. While the last few games haven't approached the numbers that Black Ops II set for sales, the series has still been the top selling game of each year it was released. Despite all of the backlash and outrage that fans have, Call of Duty remains popular. It has become the Nickelback of gaming, though Nickelback never actually had a good album to compare with Call of Duty's great beginnings.

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I didn't need an extra 80GB

Back in October of last year when Modern Warfare Remastered was originally revealed as a pre-order bonus for Infinite Warfare, there was a bit of text that read, "game disc must be inserted to play." While it was understandable for when MWR was locked to a pre-or??der, you'd think the restriction would have been lifted when the ??game went standalone.

It turns out, Activision is just as greedy as we thought. If you nabbed MWR from the Legacy or Legacy Pro Edition of Infinite Warfare, then you're going to be keeping that game if you want to experience the "Mile High Club." This also goes for people who opted for the digital version; you'll need to have Infinite Warfare installed to even boot the remaster.

I'm not sure why this stipulation is in place. Activision has nothing to gain by forcing people to retain their copies of Infinite Warfare, but the digital version is doubly puzzling. Your platform of choice should have DRM associated with your purchase, so insisting on an install of the newer game is just plain mean. ??Since both games take up something like 120GB, that is eating away roughly 1/5th of a 500GB hard drive.

My only guess is that this inconveniences enough people that they then pony up for the standalone release, effectively buying MWR twice. I'd be angrier if I had any intention of nabbing the remaster, but the inclusion of microtransactions basically killed my desire. I can ?happily play the original without bogus additions.

Don't trade in your Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition just yet [Eurogamer]

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I do, just not enough to drop $40

As of today on PlayStation 4, you won't need to pony up for Infinite Warfare to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. It has gone standalone. More th??an half a year later, Activision f?inally did that thing some of us wanted it to do. The game costs $40 on PlayStation Network, which, yeah.

If you want everything, you'll probably also want the Variety Map Pack, which is a separate $15 charge for the multiplayer maps Broadcast, Chinatown, Creek, and Killhouse. There's also now Supply Drops to contend with. If you haven't kept up with CoD, you can earn credits in multiplayer or buy points that fund Supply Drops containing things like emblems, weapon camos, and reticles. Welcome to the new age.

As for Xbox One and PC players, y??ou'll presumably get the standalone option in one mont??h.

I want to mess with Modern Warfare -- particularly the campaign, which I haven't played in years -- but not for $40. I might've parted with that much money for it last year, but not now. It's to??o late??.

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June 27

When Modern Warfare Remastered was first announced, I had the chance to speak with one of its lead developers. The first thing I asked? If it was getting a standalone release, as it was originally tethered to Infinite Warfare. He danced around the idea but said they were open to ?it. To no one's surprise, it'??s happening.

Activision has revealed that Modern Warfare Remastered will be ready as its own standalone game on June 27, but there's a catch -- that always present "first on PS4" phrasing. Given that every Call of Duty DLC dro??ps a month later on non timed exclusive platforms it's a good guess ?that PC and Xbox One players will get it on July 27.

Is it too little too late? Well, maybe for some people, but a lot of folks that want nothing to do with Infinite Warfare ar?e probably into this. It's just a shame that all of the post-la??unch DLC wasn't free.

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Another retailer listing

We've seen listings before for a standalone Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (which is now only available packed-in with Infinite Warfare), but another o?ne has popped up on another reputable retailer -- Amazon.

According to a listing from Amazon Japan, the individual release of Remastered will arrive on June 20 on PS4, followed by July 20 on Xbox One. That lines up with the 30-day exclusivity from Sony for the game's beta, and given that Sony can probably announce it at their press conference with a "coming s?oon!" proviso, it looks likely.

Hopefully this full release (if it's real) will come with all of the DLC. Remastered was a great bonus at launch, but the add-on situation afterward has been poorly handled.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered [Amazon via Charlie Intel]

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Retailer leaks strike again

Activision's restraint has been commendable. When a Modern Warfare remaster was announced last spring, it was tied to premium versions of Infinite Warfare. Most everyone assumed that a standalone release was inevitable, probably after residual Infinite Warfare sales had completely dried up. We've gone a year without any real ind?ication from Activision that it would ever happen.

Finally, word of that standalone release is starting to kick up -- not from Activision, though. As reported by Call of Duty enthusiast site Charlie Intel, GameFly accidentally posted listings for the Modern Warfare remaster that put its release dates as June 20 on PlayStation 4 and July 20 on Xbox One. (The listings have since been taken down, but screenshots are in the gallery below.) This month-long headstart would perfectly mirror the 30-day advantage PS4 players had upon initial release.

Of course, it's entirely possible that this information could be slightly off. Retailers?? put up listings with placeholder dates all the time. But, the important thing is? that GameFly even put up pages for this in the first place. Also, those dates seem awfully likely, especially considering most everyone thought a standalone release would've happened by now.

Activision hasn't yet commented on this. It's probably just a matter? of time until we have confirmation, though. This always felt like a "whe??n" rather than an "if."

RUMOR: GameFly listing suggests Modern Warfare Remastered will be availab?le s?eparately in July [Charlie Intel]

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Broadcast, Chinatown, Creek, and Killhouse

When Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare first got the Variety Map Pack in 2008, the DLC?? was $10.

When Modern Warfare Remastered gets th??ose same maps, firs??t on PS4 on March 21, they'll cost $15.

What gives? Well, Activision can get away with it. People who were willing to shell out for Infinite Warfare to play the remaster will also ?pony up for the chance to play Broadcast, Chinatown, Creek, and Killhouse again. There's also ??"10 Rare Supply Drops" to attempt to justify the heightened cost.

Is any of this surprising? No, but it is disappointing. Those initial six free maps added to Modern Warfare Remastered wer?e the beginning and end of that line of thinking for? the publisher, it seems.

Also, if you haven?'t been keeping tabs on ??this game, it still isn't available as a standalone.

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I'm so shocked...

What many feared has now come to pass; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered has gotten an update that includes microtransactions. While nothing contained actually breaks the game balance or brings the game closer to being pay-to-win, it seems that nothing is sacred for Activision. Dubbed "supply drops," these microtransactions heavily mirror the stuff introduced in Advanced Warfare and even co?ntain "parts," which is basically the same as "sal?vage."

So far, most items are cosmetic and everything can be earned through challenges, so it doesn't lock out anybody who isn't willing to pony up extra cash. Still, for Call of Duty points to be introduced into a remaster of a modern classic is ?just kind of gross. What happened to honoring the legacy of Infinity Ward with this remake? Where does this sacrilege end?

The few good things about this update are that the rest of Modern Warfare's maps are now available in the game for free. Along with that, you can now unlock female soldiers for play in multiplayer (which first debuted with Ghosts). It looks like Raven Software is keen to give players lots of aesthetic options for the game and I've always been a fan ??of unlocking costumes through in-gam??e challenges. Hopefully this remaster eventually sees a standalone release, because I would be all over decking out my soldier in pink camouflage.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered now has supply drops [Eurogamer]

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Plus a festive take on Crash

Seeing map names like Bloc, Countdown, Pipeline, Showdown, Strike, and Wet Work brings back fond but perhaps overly-competitive memories of late nights spent with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

On December 13, Modern Warfare Remastered will get those six aforement?ioned maps, plus the Hardpoint and Gun Game modes introduced in later series entries. That's all coming for free, thankfully. Raven Software is also planning a chilly holiday ma?keover for Crash in time for Christmas.

If you'd rathe?r skip the trailer for whateve??????????????????????????r reason, here's a quick visual refresher on those maps:

With the recent discounts on Infinite Warfare, I almost went for that blasted Legacy Edition package as a way (well, the way) to play Modern Warfare Remastered. Almost. But I've got enough multiplayer shooters to keep me busy between Overwatch, Battlefield 1, and Titanfall 2 that I can and will bide my time until that?? sucker goes standalone or the bundle drops even ??lower in price.

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Or microtransactions!!!!!

Data mining is a hot craze with modern gamers. People love to pick through game files to find missing, hidden, and future stuff lurking within their game of choice. Modern Warfare Remastered isn't free from that, despite being a remake of a nine-year-old classic. It looks like there are a bunch of hidden guns within the game files for the remaster, a lot of which are from Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Reddit users Semyel and Tails found fully completed models of a shovel melee weapon, Black Ops' Galil, and Modern Warfare 2's Striker. While some people seem to be jumping to the conclusion of microtransactions, I think this has more to do with Call of Duty still using the same damn engine from the original Modern Warfare.

To me, this just looks like left over junk files that Raven didn't bother to remove. This is similar to what Rockstar did with the Hot Coffee nonsense all those years ago; the average consume??r doesn't have the means to access these types of files, so it becomes easier to hide them instead of removing them.

Then again, Semyel and Tails also found data suggesting a weapons dealer will be added to the game. That sounds more like the kind of microtransaction-laden thing I'd expect from Activision. I guess even when most of the population would rather just buy the remaster, the publish??er is thinking about how to ni??ckel and dime the people it already held at gunpoint.

More Hidden Shit - MWR Shovel Weapon + More! [Reddit]

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Back to basics

Pretty much everyone remembers the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Even if you didn't play it, many of your friends probably did, and although GoldenEye 64 and Halo had popularized console shooters far before it, it really brought things into a new era during a more reliable period of online gaming alongside of Gears of War.

Killstreaks, perks, almost everything you know and love (or loathe) in modern shooters, it's all derived from Modern Warfare, for better or worse. And if you haven't experienced it yet, Modern Warfare Remastered is a good way to do it.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Infinity Ward, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Released: November 4, 2016
MSRP: Bundled with special editions of Infinite Warfare

After booting it up, you'll get a simple choice of "campaign or multiplayer." That's it. There's no extra zombie modes or chicken love simulators, which will be a relief to many who feel the series has become bloated. It's for all of you out there who aren't keen on the constant pushing of the envelope that sends developers to the far reaches of space with Jon Snow, or for those of you who want more grounded shooters, ma??ybe with a less than annual cadence.

But let's not get too crazy here, as this is still a remaster. A lovely, stable remaster that stays at 60FPS consistently and looks great, but is still ultimately a game from 2007. Its campaign has been met and topped by its competition, but clocking in at seven hours or so at the top end, Modern Warfare's story is still worth playing. The supporting cast like Sergeant Jackson and Gaz are nothing more than warm bodies at points, but the crux of the story and the relationship between main protagonist Soap and Captain Price is worth the price of admission. There's also a sprinkling of vehicula?r warfare without overdoing it, adding in a level of mission variety that withstands the test of time.

It's not even nostalgia talking, but having entire missions centered around sneaking and sniping or tactically calling down strikes from afar balances out all of the run and g??un Michael Bay action of future installments. Subtle differences have been made with the remaster too, which are all positive and showcase how much effort Raven Software put in. Instead of just leaving things be, textures were added, some zones feel more alive, and the?re's even larger atmospheric changes like adding in more details in first-person cinematics.

Multiplayer is just as timeless. It was fun going back into Downpour and Crossfire after years of missing them, and experiencing the original designs felt much more natural than playing them in $15 DLC map pack remakes. That's partially because a lot of work went into Modern Warfare's map design to ensure that every arena feels like it justifies its existence, which impacts how you appr??oach each multiplayer match. The Perk and weapon systems aren't as detailed as later entries, sure (and I really took to the now-cemented "pick" system in later games that let you basically customize everything), but they're a comfortable middle ground between arcadey and tactical.

Call of Duty's legacy games weren't as involved as, say, old-school Rainbow Six or even some Ghost Recon titles, or as fast as any arena shooter at the time, but that's why they became the driving force they are today. There's a nice, comfortable balance between the two philosophies, to the point where it's not too alienating for folks who didn't grow up with twichy FPSes or feel like dedicating the time to learning the ins and outs of breaching and clearing each and every room, knocking on permadeath's door on every match. That's still true with the remaster, and although there's a lot of sweaty perk and build optimization online already, you really are getting in on the?? ground floor here.

Right now not every map is accessible, as the plan is to have several content drops throughout the holiday season until it's feature complete. While that's not ideal, especially since you're forced into buying Infinite Warfare on top, there's still more than enough here to keep you busy until that time comes. A lot of love and care went into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, and I hope other developers (including some of Activision's own studios, I'm looking at you Marvel Ultimate Alliance and Prototype) take note.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Buy Modern Warfare Remastered, get 'free' Infinite Warfare

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare won't be making headlines this week compared to its Battlefield 1 competition releasing on Friday. That said, you may want to buy it soon as a new offer has cropped up at GMG. If you were looking to pick up the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Legacy Edition (you know, the edition where you get a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered plus a free copy of Infinite Warfare), there's a 15% drop to $67.99 on tap.

The deals were triggered by GMG's new semi-promoted No Tricks, Just Treats sale. Like an Easter egg hunt, you can look on its site for games with a pumpkin added to their image. Add said games to your c?art and extra saving??s will be reflected magically. Hint: we've rounded up all the titles with extra savings, and they're all recent or upcoming releases that are hard to find deals on.

No Tricks, Just Treats Promotion

Note: Must add game to cart to see discount.

Use coupon COD6 for 6% off Infinite Warfare.

• Call of Duty: Infi?ni?te Warfare Digital Deluxe Edition (Steam) — 78.89  (list price $100)
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Digital Legacy Edit??ion (Steam) — $63.91  (list price $80)
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (Steam) — $47.93  (list price $60)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Digital Deluxe (Steam) — $63.99  (list price $80)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (Steam) — $47.99  (list price $60)
• Titanfall 2 (Origin) — $46.79  (list price $60)
• Dishonored 2 (Steam) — $44.99  (list price $60)
• Shadow Warrior 2 (Steam) — $31.99  (list price $40)

We're not sure when this promotion ends, but with the Halloween theme going, it surely will end before th??e month is up. In fact it may possibly close sooner, as we've come to learn through the years, publishers love to clamp down on retailers offerin?g promotions on their flagship titles before release. Those killjoys.

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All the fighting in the war room

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was a huge game-changer when it came out in 2007. Even if I believe Battlefield should be the series that gets the praise for taking things out of WWII, Modern Warfare shook up the standard FPS form?ula enough that most newer games feel ??like shallow imitations. It goes to show how restraint and careful design go a long way to making something memorable.

That being said, anyone worried that the remaster would be a crappy port can put those fears to bed. Digital Foundry has taken a quick crack at the new ver?sion and the results are very favorable. The site doesn't comment on game feel or any changes in geometry, but the frame rate is stable and generally improves qu??ality with no tearing.

Seeing this in motion just makes me wish Activision would get on with announcing a standalone release. I can't decide between Call of Duty 4 or the original as my favorite of the series, but I really do enjoy both games. This video constantly mentions how low-key Modern Warfare is, but I don't ??think that can be stressed enough.

Call of Duty started o?ut as a somewhat accurate portrayal of war (at least in terms of physics and gun handling). Somewhere along the line, Infinity Ward decided to up the ante and the series has never recovered. Each successive games puts more of an emphasis on spectacle and bedazzlement more so than creating distinctive set-pieces.

Maybe that has to do with the original team wanting to go a different route or Activision bringing on completely different studios to tinker with the franchise (something Infinity Ward never forgave it for after Call of Duty 3), but I haven't truly enjoyed a Call of Duty title since 4 (even if zombies was fun as hell in World at War).

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered PS4 Campaign Analysis + Frame-Rate Test [Digital Foundry]

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Also, you can turn off the annoying medal pop-ups

Even though it's gated behind a disc and another game entirely, I'm glad Activision (or developer Raven) isn't going into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered half-ass??ed. It'll eventually get every map by way of a free update, and will run at 1080p60.

But fans want to know more, and lead Raven Software designer Amos Hodge heeded the call over the weekend to bring several lingering questions to light. The big one? Bots will be supported in private matches, so even if one day Remastered becomes a coaster of a game with shut-down servers, you can still play multiplayer (though that won't happen for a long while, as legacy Call of Duty games are still supported).

Hodge also confirmed that there will be an option to disable the in-game HUD icon for medals (a feature some found annoying), a request that came out of the recent Call of Duty XP event. At this point people are more excited for Remastered than Infinite Warfare, and I can see why -- we already know Call of Duty 4 is good.

Amos Hodge [Twitter]

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The first mission

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered sure is a remaster. PS4 owners can play the cam?paign 30 days early starting on October 5, and I've taken some early footage of the first mission to give you an idea of what to expect.

Everything seems to be in including the tutorial drill, though annoyingly at this time you can't skip between missions -- something that will definitely turn off returning players. The entire size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered ;seems to be 39.10 GB, but you can only use the campaign portion (roughly 14GB) cu?rrently.

The post Here’s some Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered campaign footage appeared first on Destructoid.

October 5

Although Microsoft had a lock on Call of Duty timed DLC exclusivity in the past, ?Sony is going all-out this generation after snatching up their own? deal.

In addition to the same 30 day timed scheme they had with Black Ops III, they're also sponsoring the entire Call of Duty World League, packing in a free PlayStation VR game with Infinite Warfare's launch, and now, offering up the entirety of Modern Warfare Remastered's campaign a month in advance.

Starting October 5, folks who pre-order the game on PS4 will get the opportunity to play the campaign. There's a list of provisos and exceptions you can check out, but this seems to be a wide ??promotion that you're likely a part of. The gist is that if you did it digitally you're good, but you'll need to fully purchase it at a retailer to get the code.

For those who are curious and have never touched a Call of Duty campaign before, Modern Warfare Remastered?? has one of the more compelling stories, with great performances, memorable setpieces, and some nice twists. It's worth playing in some form or another.

C??all of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered Campa??ign Early Access [Activision]

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To infinity and the trade-in bin

An interesting detail about Modern Warfare Remastered has come to light; according to the official website, a disc is required to play the downloadable update. Wait, MW Remastered is being released on disc? Doesn't that kind of contradict the designation of digital dow??nload?

Well, it turns out that anyone who opts for the Collector's Edition of Infinite Warfare (to grab the remaster) will be shackled to that disc if they want to enjoy the remaster. Call it an asinine method of DRM or one of those ill-fated attempts to prevent trade-ins, but the text makes no other mentions of which disc or why ?there is even a requirement.

Obviously people who opt for the digital version of Infinite Warfare will not need some random disc spinning in their console, but what does this mean for the chances of this remaster being released as a standalone purchase? Will thos??e arbitrarily require a disc, or is this just some lame way to lock people out for going physical?

Honestly, I don't know why Activision doesn't just allow an individual purchase of Modern Warfare Remastered. A bunch of people have given up?? on the series, but would gladly drop $50 for the "remake". Hell, Activision would probably end up making more money going that route instead of shackling this to the new game that probably won't sell as well.

New legal wording on Call of Duty site suggests Infinite Warfare disc will be required to play Modern Warfare Remastered [Charlie Intel]

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Oh wait, nukes too!

Activision has pushed out a launch trailer for the Modern Warfare remaster. See, despite the fact that its proper launch isn't until November 4, anyone who pre-ordered Infinite Warfare's legacy or digital deluxe edition gets access beginning on October 5. The hope is that the extra 30 days (and, by extension, this video) will make someone say "Oh, hell yeah!" and plop down the cash for Infinite Warfare.

Conspicuous marketing practices aside, this is indeed a trailer that might make someone say "Oh, hell yeah!" It's a sizzle reel of quick cuts, high action, and big explosions. It seethes badassery. It's the movie Crank if Crank were distilled down into a video game trailer.

If that's the sort of thing that sounds good to you, well, you know what to do in order to get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered next week. For those who can wait, Activision won't say it but an eventual standalone release is prob??a?bly a good bet.

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Raven Software lives

As I was ushered into the most packed tent of the Call of Duty XP event to play Modern Warfare Remastered, I didn't know what to expect. Maybe they comple??tely revamped the UI and all of the perks, I thought. Maybe they added in a ton of wacky, out of character levels like the theme park DLC of later Treyarch games.

Nope. This is literally Modern Warfare, remastered, a???nd for most of you that's going to be fine.

There's not much I can say about Remastered that couldn't be said by watching the above gameplay video. There are people out there who still play Call of Duty 4, so it makes perfect sense to bring it back (same with Black Ops, which is one of the most-played sho?oters of all time).

It still holds up, as the basic framework for the following Call of Duty games is still intact, and because of the smoothness of current generation consoles (I was only able to test it on PS4, as Sony is sponsoring the event -- go figure) it does feel a little faster and more frantic. Not too fast and twitchy though, and I think a lot of old timers will find a good middle-ground be??tween this and the super quick ga?meplay of the new jetpack-centric games. Especially so, since the killstreaks are so basic (Radar at three kills, Airstrike at five, and Attack Helicopter at seven).

Sadly it still seems to be a pre-order bonus for premium editions of Infinite Warfare, 

_{[Disclaimer: Travel was provided to the event by Activision.]}

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With a free update in December

Activision has been pretty quiet about the Modern Warfare Remastered re-release, an??d it's pretty clear why -- they were?? saving some reveals for the XP event.

I had t??he chance to speak to developer Raven Software's Dave Pellas and clear a f?ew things up now that the veil has been lifted.

Pellas explained the content situation and sprinkled a few tidbits in for good measure. The first question I asked -- "is it 10?80p60," to which he replied "hell yes" -- good start! He explains that the entire project started as a "fan request," and Activision actually approached them (Raven) directly. "Activision came to us," he recalls, "and we were pretty stoked and couldn't hold our excitement when we found out."

So what's the delivery method? We'll be getting 10 maps in November, and six in December by way of a free update, at whi?ch point all 16 or??iginal maps will be available. When pressed for more, Pellas coyly replied "we'll see, but what I can say for now is that we will be supporting the game until spring 2017." That could mean anything, from new modes to new maps, so we'll have to sit tight for now.

I also asked about the campaign, and although Pellas states that "it's mostly untouched," there are a few changes that are mostly? done to enhance the aesthetic. "In the original there was really only one moment where you rappelled off of a chopper, and we wanted to add more of that in. More moments where you see your hands and feet and are in action. So we added in a few cinematic enhancements, and upgraded things like the mantling (vaulting) animation so it's less stiff. But technically it's the same speed...it's not faster, it just looks be?tter, which includes new lighting and contrast systems."

When I pressed him about any other changes, Pellas gave up that there will be some Easter eggs hidden in levels for fans, some of which only really old school fans might get. He was surprisingly open about the project, but one thing I couldn't pry out of him was any information regarding a standalone release. "Right now, it's still just a part of the premium editions of Infinite Warfare." I jokingly suggested a retail edition in the spring, but couldn't il?licit much more than a laugh.

My big takeaway (after having actually played it and gone through the interview) is that the remaster is in good hands, and honestly, I'm happy Raven is still in the equation (they made some really kickass games in the past, shoutout to the X-Men Legends and Origins: Wolverine&nb?sp;team). Stay tuned for tomorrow when I can share some gameplay.

_{[Disclaimer: Travel was provided to the event by Activision.]}

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Seven minutes of Crew Expendable

This footage from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is how I remember the game's Crew Expendable mission feeling the first time I played it, which is a high compliment considering the original Modern Warfare released in 2007. Gosh, it has been a while. I'm sure a side-by-side comparison between the two would be staggering. Can they show All Ghil?lied Up next? That gets ??my vote.

Like many of you feeling the call of nostalgia here, I'm disappointed Remastered is tied to Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, even if the space-faring game does seem to be doing some surprisingly cool things. I'm willing to wait as long as needed for a standalone release. $80 for both? No thanks.

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But only if they preorder

The last trailer for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare did a lot of new and innovative things for the series, but the more traditional games aren't going to go down without a fight. A new trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was shown at E3 today, and the game is looking a lot better than you?? might remember it looking ten years ago. The entire campaign is included in the remaster, but th??e game will only feature ten of the original multiplayer maps.

PlayStation users will be able to get their hands on the game a whole 30 days early, but only if they pre-purchase the Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare digital deluxe, digital legacy, legacy edition, or legacy pro edition for the PS4. Modern Warfare: Remastered comes packaged with all of those Infinite Warfare special edit?ions mentioned above and will release November 4, 2016.

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Still not available individually at the moment

Now that we know the Modern Warfare Remaster must be purchased through Infinite Warfare's $80 and above editions (for now??), our expectations can be tempered a bit. I have to say though, based on these screens, it looks like a legitimate effort and not just a cash grab. That must be why there's only 10 maps included instead of all of them.

What's next? A World at War remaster with Sledgehammer's Call of Duty next year? Remastered Black Ops for Treyarch's release in 2018? The Duty machine continues!

Modern Warfare Remaster [Reddit]

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You have to buy Infinite Warfare to get it

Here's a bit of bad news for anyone hoping to shirk this year's Call of Duty game in favor of just picking up the remaster of Modern Warfare: You can't. The absolute only place it's available is bundled with an extra-expensive copy of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare.

Activision lays this out bare in a recently-created FAQ page for the Modern Warfare remaster. One of the questions reads "Can I play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered without buying Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare?" to which the answer is "No, you must own Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in order to get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered."

What's more, Modern Warfare only comes with certain editions of Infinite Warfare -- the Legacy, Legacy Pro, and Digital Deluxe editions. The cheapest of those looks to be $79.99. That ostensibly means that the Modern Warfare remaster is valued at $20.

There are a few other details mentioned in the FAQ. For instance, Raven?? Software is developing the remaster, while Infinity Ward is simply the executive producer. Also, it'll release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. However, no stats will be transferred over from legacy systems.

It's a slick and completely expected ploy by Activision. Not only will this move some additional units of Infinite Warfare, but it'll tack an extra $20 onto the revenue for a whole bunch of the sales. It'll probably give the franchise the temporary shot ?in the arm that investors want to see. And, when all that settles down, it'll likely be released standalone next spring to bolster the publisher's first or second quarter's bottom line.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered FAQ [Activision Support]

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