Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Is Being Remastered Without Multiplayer

Rumor of a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered edition has been confirmed, but Activision appears to be passing on including multiplayer with the game.

It's a bittersweet day for old school Call of Duty fans. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, one of the shining beacons of the entire series, has been confirmed for a remastered release on current-generation systems by multiple sources. All well and good, except for one glaring detail: it seems multiplayer will be left out of the equation.

CharlieIntel first reported on confirmation of the rumor, via undisclosed sources, which were also backed up by Eurogamer. A Modern Warfare 2 remaster has almost been an given since the successful launch of of the original Modern Warfare remaster alongside Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in 2016.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was bundled alongside COD: Infinite Warfare before a standalone release and arguably had a heavy hand in boosting Infinite Warfare's overall success and sales.

The decision to leave out multiplayer from the equation for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered is a bizarre one. Multiplayer has almost always been the biggest draw to the series. However, there may be reason for it's exclusion at this time. It would appear that Raven Software, who developed the remastered game are not involved in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remaster's development this time out. Speculation points to Beenox, who worked with Raven on campaign elements for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare remaster, as the sole developer this time around.

If this is the case, it may be that Beenox is not, or does not feel, equipped to approach multiplayer at this time, though it would be odd for Activision to leave it at that. It also may simply be that Activision would rather focus resources on the current Call of Duty multiplayer arenas and have no interest in diverting attention elsewhere with Call of Duty: WWII's recent esport events building steam for the competitive COD scene.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is considered by many to be the peak of COD form in both campaign and multiplayer elements.

Despite this, there is most certainly something to be said for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's campaign as well. It was one of the most highly regarded, yet controversial first-person shooter campaigns in the genre's history with moments like the No Russian mission (in which you participate in shooting civilians in an airport) drawing widespread criticism and debate.

That said, is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's campaign enough to sell a remaster on by itself? Perhaps Activision intends to bundle the game alongside a new Call of Duty game as they did with the original remaster. Whatever the case, it would appear that those looking to throw down against their friends (and enemies) in a new version of a beloved classic are going to be disappointed for now.

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