Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is fondly remembered as one of the best first person shooter titles ever made. One of the first examples of the series taking its single player campaign into full-blown Hollywood blockbuster territory, it also featured a multiplayer component that ranks among the series best. It spawned two popular sequels of its own.
We’re not talking about that Modern Warfare. Nor are we talking about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, the updated, high resolution version of that original title that launched in 2017. We’re talking about a brand new Modern Warfare title that uses the same title as two other existing games. We’re sure the decision to streamline the game’s title in this way won’t cause any headaches or confusion for people trying to buy the game at Christmas time, this is fine.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a soft reboot in the series developed by franchise creators Infinity Ward, a move the press release calls an “epic reimagining of the iconic Modern Warfare series from the ground up.” Today’s reveal trailer features fan favourite character Captain Pryce, now played by Revenge actor Barry Sloane who replaces The Bill‘s Billy Murray, and gives glimpses of civil uprisings in the Middle East, midnight stronghold assaults, what looks like a child soldier and more. It marks the return of a single player campaign to Call of Duty after last year’s Black Ops 4 dropped it to focus on multiplayer. Speaking of multiplayer, it sounds like all your fave modes from classic multi are back, along with a new co-operative mode called Elite Operations. The press release also says that Modern Warfare “offers a unified narrative experience and progression across campaign, multiplayer and co-op,” which sounds like the road to Prestige might have just widened up a bit.
Further information from Activision’s fact sheet on the game reveals that it was built on an entirely new engine, and will launch with a fully optimised version for PC. From the press release:
“The new technology utilises the latest advancements in visual engineering, including a physically-based material system allowing for state-of-the-art photogrammetry, a new hybrid tile based streaming system, new PBR decal rendering system, world volumetric lighting, 4K HDR, DirectX Raytracing (PC) and more, as well as a new GPU geometry pipeline. Spectral rendering delivers thermal heat radiation and infrared identification for both thermal and night-vision in-game imaging. The technical investment made provides a cutting-edge animation system and blend shape system, while the new suite of audio of tools allows for full Dolby ATMOS support, on supported platforms, along with the latest in audio simulation effects.”
Sounds speccy, but new engines have caused problems for studios before, especially if they’re ones that have been built in-house. Activision’s release does not go into this.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare releases October 25 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC.
