The anticipated release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 2 looks to be a very exciting, content filled season for its players. There's a host of new weapons and maps to dig into, but players are having more pressing issues.
Despite the recent release, players are having trouble finding games on newer maps, and it's leading to a lot of frustration in the community. There's a lot of good and a lot of bad happening in Modern Warfare right now, but does one outweigh the other?
Obviously, the new guns are great, like the lightweight GRAU 5.56 and the Striker 45 long-ranged SMG. There are also new maps added to the Multiplayer, 2v2 Gunfight, and Ground War game modes. This includes Rust, Bazaar, Zhokov Boneyard, and Atlas Superstore. Tie this all together with their season's new battle pass and it really does feel like Infinity Ward is taking care of both the game and its players. The season's battle pass will split between paid and free game content. This includes the two new guns, new operators, cosmetics, and blueprints.
Rust is a call back to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and is a classic battleground for players to go against each other in the new 1v1 mode, effectively preserving the good old days for the 17-year-old franchise, while Atlas Superstore is an entirely new map for players to out-gun their opponents. And if players want something a little more tactical, the new NVG Reinforce is just the game mode to play. It's a blend of Domination and Search & Destroy with intensities set to the maximum level by implementing the night vision goggles mechanic. Players were granted the ability to test their skills in the limited time Gunfight Tournaments, as well as the Flotation Oxidation that featured a mix of Rust and Shipment in a 5v5 Mosh Pit. And yet although these new features and game modes may look cool, a lot of players still seem to have trouble getting into the new season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Being angry because you've had a streak of bad teammates or because there is always that one guy pitching a tent and camping somewhere on the map is one thing, but there seems to be some genuine dissatisfaction when it comes to how Season 2 feels. Two of the new maps, Atlas Superstore and Zhokov Boneyard, have no dedicated playlists, meaning it may take a long time before players actually get into a game featuring the new content. Without dedicated playlists, there's no direct way for players to check out the new maps. In fact, Infinity Ward recommends players to join games of Team Death Match as the maps are more frequently appearing in those game modes. This is strange considering that adding new maps to the map rotations actually gives less of a chance for the map to show up. Problem is, not everyone likes to have to play multiple games just for a chance to see what was featured so prominently in the season trailer.
Unlike other FPS games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare does not have a map voting system, and it's players are very split when it comes to the game modes they play. After all, different game modes were created for players with and to have different styles of play. Someone who would prefer the slower style and tactical feel of Search and Destroy might not enjoy a fast-paced 10v10 team Death Match. This is why some players are confused as to why they have to play for hours in different maps before finally experiencing the new ones.
It's interesting that the map issue is present now, given that the previous major problem with Modern Warfare was a lack of good maps. It does have engaging gameplay, a decent variety of guns, and a clean 60 FPS performance and yet its maps were a bit of a letdown. One of the objectives of these new maps and playlists was to bring players back into the game. How were the new maps supposed to accomplish bringing players back or interesting new players to join when they do not have easy access to them on their favorite game modes?
Still, this doesn't completely ruin the game, just makes for a bit of a headache. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is still a great game all by itself with plenty of content and incredible performance. It has only been the second season and although players are split on the good it does for the game, the good surely outweighs the bad. The game is still fun, the community is still toxic, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is still an excellent game for the franchise. Be it fixes with player collision, more new maps and game modes or a pink gun skin, Season 2 is only the beginning.