Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 2 just launched, and it’s bringing with it two additional operators and some big hints at a coming battle royale mode. A couple of series favorites are returning with more on the way, along with plenty of original content.
Most discussions about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 2 are understandably dominated by the return of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s Ghost as an operator, as well as the same entry’s go-to 1v1 proving ground, Rust. That hype isn’t misplaced by any means, but those two offerings are just a delectable sample of everything that the new season is preparing to throw at players. If all planned additions make into the game over the next few months, then developer Infinity Ward’s decision to lengthen Season 1 will have paid off in a major way.
According to Activision, Season 2’s list of additions and tweaks is extensive. Joining the growing cast of operators at a later time are Talon, a First Nations-raised Canadian Special Forces member, and Mace, a former U.S. Ranger gone rogue. An even bigger tease comes from the game, itself. Players booting it up for the first time after yesterday’s hefty update are greeted with a trailer showing off Ghost investigating a ruined airport resembling Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s Terminal map, which is apparently a first look at a coming battle royale mode. Based on the minute-long teaser, players still itching for battle royale glory can likely look forward to three-player squad coordination, a massive map for looting, and possibly even vehicular combat straight out of Ground War. Even more telling is the main menu’s new “Classified” game mode that has even Razer excited, so battle royale is probably closer than most might expect.
Going by Infinity Ward’s Season 2 roadmap, that’s far from all that they have to offer. Inescapably, the new season has ushered in a new battle pass containing two free-to-earn weapons, the GRAU 5.56 assault rifle and Striker 45 submachine gun. While Rust is the only thing on most veteran players’ tongues, the Atlas Superstore is a new map set in an embattled Russian market, while Kandor Hideout, a medium-sized map set in fictional Urzikstan, will be coming later. Two new Ground War maps, Zhokov Boneyard and Gunfight, have also been added. On the gameplay front, a number of perks have been overhauled, playlists 24/7 Rust, Gunfight 3v3, and Realism Ground War are now available, and Demolition, Infected Ground War, and NVG Reinforce modes are promised as mid-season arrivals.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 2 is heavy on the content, which is a major reassurance in a post-map pack era of sparse updates and over-priced battle passes, most of which are ultimately devoid of anything new or engaging. After a slow start in the game’s first season, Infinity Ward is really picking up the pace, but it’s anyone’s guess if they’ll be able to keep up with players’ many demands and high expectations.
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Source: Activision, GameSpot/YouTube, Razer/Twitter
