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Infinity Ward and Activision streamed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare multiplayer gameplay on Twitch yesterday, allowing fans a sneak peek into, what they’re calling, ‘the ultimate multiplayer playground’.
In terms of the new gameplay features, Infinity Ward is taking advantage of modern hardware capabilities. As well as 12- and 20-player game modes, there will be battles with more than 100 players; or if that sounds daunting, matches with 64 or 40 players are a new introduction too. The standard fare for Call of Duty is that it focuses on arena style, narrow and compact maps for those down-to-the-wire finishes, especially in its 2v2 mode. In contrast, 100 players is an ambition that could make or break games, but Infinity Ward believes its ‘fresh but familiar’ approach will ground both old and new players.
Additionally, Infinity Ward has taken great care in the game environments. Realism is the backbone to these maps, keeping lane-based structure to support varied playstyles, but innovating elsewhere for firefight advantages.
The dark is a new feature in Call of Duty Modern Warfare, with nighttime maps that require night vision goggles to carry the team to success. The HUD is gone from the night vision too, heightening the tension to force players to rely on their senses, with a precarious ‘cat and mouse’ style of play.
Other gameplay changes include the ability to breach and clear doorways, which allows for varied tactical decisions and disrupts the archetypal run-and-gun approach. Also, the sprint mechanic has been very slightly changed for Infinity Ward’s commitment to realism. Sprinting gives a noticeable speed boost to the player but aiming down the sights becomes much slower, once again refreshing the fundamentals for veteran players and adapting for a new audience.
Killstreaks are back, with the additions of the light infantry tank and white phosphorus. Thanks to crossplay, players can trial these and the new guns, ammo types and projectile weapons coming to Modern Warfare on willing test subjects across PC, Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Console players won’t be disadvantaged, however, because an aim assist for PS4 and Xbox One players will be implemented.
Multiplayer beta testing will occur on two four day periods in September. ‘Weekend 1’ is PlayStation 4 exclusive, so those who bought early access to the game can play on September 12 to September 13, and the PlayStation 4 open beta will start on September 14 to September 23.
‘Weekend 2’ will allow early access players on Xbox One and PC to jump in from September 19 to September 20. The cross play open beta for all platforms starts on September 21 and ends on September 23.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launches for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 25. Watch the multiplayer reveal trailer here.
