Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

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This article is about the remastered version of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. For
the original version of the game, see Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Call of Duty - Modern Warfare Remastered.jpeg
Developer(s) Raven Software[a]
Publisher(s) Activision
Director(s) David Pellas
Designer(s) Amos Hodge
Series Call of Duty
Platform(s) Microsoft Windows
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Release
WW: November 4, 2016[b]
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is a first-person shooter video game
developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. A remastered version of
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, it was released worldwide on November 4, 2016 for
the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. It is available by purchasing
either the Legacy, Digital Deluxe or Legacy Pro editions of Call of Duty: Infinite
Warfare, with physical versions requiring the Infinite Warfare disc inserted to
access the remaster. A standalone edition of the game was released on June 27, 2017
for the PlayStation 4, and July 27, 2017 for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows.

Modern Warfare Remastered builds upon the original by featuring extensive graphical
and rendering enhancements, lighting upgrades, updated animations, remastering
original sound effects as well as adding new, and offers numerous small
improvements while retaining the original core gameplay. Extras such as new
multiplayer content and additional achievements and cheats are also included. The
game received positive reviews from critics, who lauded the improved graphics,
sound, and range of amendments from the original game, to the point that some found
it more akin to a remake. However, it was criticized for its dated narrative and
AI, with split opinions given to other aspects that were seen as both dated and
refreshingly simplistic. Activision also generated controversy for not initially
releasing Remastered as a standalone game, among other criticized business
decisions.

Contents [hide]
1 Gameplay
2 Plot
2.1 Characters
3 Development
4 Marketing and release
4.1 Reveal
4.2 Release
4.3 Downloadable content
5 Reception
5.1 Infinite Warfare bundling
5.2 Inclusion of microtransactions
5.3 Pricing of DLC and standalone version
5.4 Technical issues on Windows version
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
Gameplay[edit]
See also: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Gameplay
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered features the same core gameplay as the
original version, but includes several minor modifications.[1] While in the prone
position, the player's equipped weapon is now visible, and during the act of
crawling, the gamepad will give feedback as the gun makes contact with the ground.
The game utilizes "dual render technology" for sniper rifle scopes when aiming,
providing the player with a view of the scope and blurred surroundings, as opposed
to a black screen representing the scope interior present in the original.[2]
Throughout the campaign, new first-person animations are present on a few
occasions, for example, when removing a character's bonds during one of the levels.
[3][4] Pressing down on the gamepad's D-pad in multiplayer when a weapon is
equipped will initiate a brief animation to "taunt" opposing players, such as
allowing the player to inspect the side of a gun that is otherwise hidden in the
default position.[3][5]

The campaign keeps the same collectibles and cheats as before, with the addition of
several new cheats.[6] The game offers full PlayStation Network trophy and Xbox
Live achievement support (trophies of which had been absent from the PlayStation 3
version of Modern Warfare, due to it releasing before trophies were introduced[7]),
with the inclusion of several new challenges.[8] The multiplayer features the same
weapons, killstreaks, perks, and game modes.[9] Existing game modes present in
other Call of Duty installments such as "Kill Confirmed", "Gun Game" and
"Hardpoint", as well as new modes like "Prop Hunt", in which players hide as
inanimate objects from the opposing team, are also included.[10][11] A number of
original weapons not featured in Modern Warfare were added.[12][13][14][15] The
multiplayer also offers a greater variety of customization options for profile
personalization, character skins, and weapon camouflage, which can all be unlocked
through experience points. Supply drops allow players to receive these same items,
but exclude weapons and attachments from the original.[16] A firing range is
present in the multiplayer lobby, allowing the player to test out different weapon
loadouts.[17]

Plot[edit]
See also: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Plot
Modern Warfare Remastered features the same plot as the original game. The player
acts as a member of American and British military soldiers and takes on missions to
fight against a separatist group in the Middle East as well as an ultranationalist
group in Russia.

While the United States invades a small Middle Eastern country following a coup
d'tat by the extremist Khaled Al-Asad, a British Special Air Service (SAS) squad
infiltrates a cargo ship found to be carrying a nuclear device. The ship is sunk by
enemy jets, but the SAS team escapes with its manifest, and then heads to Russia to
rescue their informant, codenamed "Nikolai", from the Ultranationalist party. The
intelligence from these operations indicate Al-Asad has a Russian nuclear device.
The U.S. military launches an assault on Al-Asad's palace, but the nuclear device
is detonated, wiping out most of the city along with 30,000 marines.

The SAS team tracks down Al-Asad in Azerbaijan, and discover that he was working
with Imran Zakhaev, the leader of the Ultranationalist party. The mission then
flashes back to 1996, where Captain Price, who was a Lieutenant at the time, is
sent alongside his commanding officer, Captain MacMillan, on a failed assassination
attempt on Imran Zakhaev. After killing Al-Asad, the SAS team, with support from
U.S. Force Recon and Russian loyalists, attempt to capture Zakhaev's son and learn
his whereabouts. They ambush him, but he commits suicide. In response, Zakhaev
seizes control of a nuclear launch facility. A joint operation is launched to take
back the site, but Zakhaev launches intercontinental ballistic missiles at the U.S.
eastern seaboard. The joint teams are able to breach the facility and remotely
destroy the missiles before fleeing the area.
Zakhaev's forces trap the escaping joint force on a bridge, and during the fight
many are killed. Zakhaev arrives and begins executing wounded soldiers, when a
loyalist helicopter arrives and distracts him. The player uses their pistol to kill
Zakhaev.

Characters[edit]
The player mainly controls British Special Air Service (SAS) recruit Sergeant John
"Soap" MacTavish for most of the game, starting with his enrollment in the 22nd SAS
Regiment. The player also controls United States Marine Corps (USMC) Sergeant Paul
Jackson during five of the levels on Act 1. Captain John Price (voiced by actor
Billy Murray) is an SAS officer who is playable in two flashback missions from 1996
in which he is still Lieutenant. The player also assumes the role of an American
thermal-imaging TV operator aboard a Lockheed AC-130 gunship during one level, and
a British SAS operative infiltrating a hijacked airliner to save a VIP in a secret
level titled "Mile High Club". Finally, the player may control Yasir Al-Fulani, the
president of the unnamed Middle Eastern country in the game before he is executed,
although he has no freedom of action beyond turning his head.

Development[edit]

A comparison of Modern Warfare (top) and Remastered (bottom). The latter features
higher-resolution textures, and other graphical enhancements.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was developed by Raven Software, who had
developed multiplayer modes for several Call of Duty titles in the past, and
executive produced by Infinity Ward.[18] Development of the game began in early
2015, as a result of an online petition signed by fans of Modern Warfare. After it
was brought to their attention, Activision approached Raven Software to remaster
the game, to which Raven's studio director David Pellas recalled that "not a single
person at Raven turned away and said no. It was a universal, "yeah, were
there.""[19]

The developers had pledged to focus on four key areas throughout development:
respecting the original game, modernizing the visuals and audio, improving the
overall experience with new technology, and redefining what the term "remaster"
meant.[4] The majority of Modern Warfare was consequently "rebuilt from the ground
up" for Remastered[20] through the revitalisation of the original's source codes,
materials, layouts, and effects that Raven were given access to from Infinity Ward.
The game runs in full 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second and uses the latest
iteration of the series' game engine.[21]

Raven wanted the game to provide a nostalgic experience for fans of the original,
[4] while introducing it to newcomers by connecting them to a world that they were
used to in recent Call of Duty games, albeit one that mirrored reality.[19] Pellas
noted that the risk of negative fan reactions resulting from any small changes made
to the original and the desire to meet high expectations was daunting for Raven,
saying "There was a realization that this is freaking terrifying, because it's not
just important to us". To assist in their decision-making, he recalled that they
reviewed a large number of internet forums where active players of Modern Warfare
could be found in order to understand what they would want from a re-release of the
game. Raven were encouraged by their principle of keeping the core gameplay
unchanged, a decision that remained consistent throughout the process as respecting
the experience of the original was essential. Subtle improvements were made to both
the controls and timing of existing animations, such as the transition between
aiming a sniper rifle and the scope overlay appearing, but were designed to be as
close to identical as possible.[1]

Much of the focus was spent on updating Modern Warfare's visuals in order to bring
them up to modern standards. Enhancements of the environments and vistas were
achieved using a procedure called "Paint-over", with a larger amount of onscreen
objects and effects being integrated into them. Raven also wanted to give the
environments a sense of place and history to avoid feeling generic.[3] The vast
majority of objects were remodeled, with the game using improved texture depth,
physically-based rendering, and light-reflection, and additional features such as
realistic joints and physics employed for character models. Raven paid close
attention to improving all guns in the game because, as a developer explained, "We
needed to take the weapons up to the same level of personality as the characters";
each received better dynamics, alterations made to their firing mechanisms, and a
new feature in the series that allowed each type to eject shell casings unique to
that weapon.[3][4] However, issues arose during the remastering of the game's
graphics as the remaster used a heavily upgraded version of the series' engine. As
a result, this meant that several of the original's visual assets were not
compatible with the new technology, so the developers were necessitated to remake
them.[1] Most of the existing motion capture animation was redone for the same
reason, as well as to provide further story exposition.[22][23] The campaign saw a
number of new first-person animations added for further immersion and emotional
responses from players, and to improve how the camera made use of the player
character's body, enhancing the "body sense". Pellas said, "I think that for [the
single-player] campaign, we were definitely more liberal with our animations and
additions, as long as they enhanced the true intent of the moment." The artificial
intelligence of non-player characters was also improved to respond more
realistically with the environment, and vice versa, such as long grass reacting to
the player character's presence.[3][1]

The existing audio was remastered using reverberation, depth, and spatial effects
to enhance the overall ambiance of the game;[22] one example a developer from Raven
made note of is that "Layering out multiple sounds now makes a big difference".[3]
Other sound effects that were not present in Modern Warfare were also used,
including unused audio channels that had been created for the original, but due to
restraints had not been included during development.[4] The original music and
voice performances were retained, with the exception of the campaign dialogue
spoken by Al-Asad which was amended and re-recorded.[24]

In addition to the graphical updates, the game received an array of new features. A
few new cheats were incorporated into the game's campaign, while keeping the same
cheats and intel file collectibles from the original.[6] The multiplayer initially
remained largely unchanged in terms of content from Modern Warfare. Ten of the
original maps were featured at launch, while the remaining six were released as a
free update several weeks later,[25][10] due to the developers being unable to meet
the proposed deadline.[21] The multiplayer began to receive support over the
following months, during which a wide range of new content was released to bring it
more in line with recent Call of Duty installments. From December 2016, a supply
drop system was introduced along with an expanded array of customization items such
as emblems, calling cards, and character skins, in addition to new varieties of
weapon camouflage.[16] Further guns and melee weapons were also introduced in the
time since release.[12][13][14][15] Some of the content, including new game modes
and variants of existing maps, were exclusive to the game's temporary playlists and
seasonal events held since launch.[26][27][28][29]

Marketing and release[edit]

Reveal[edit]
News of Modern Warfare Remastered was leaked on Reddit on April 27, 2016 prior to
its announcement. The leak revealed a screenshot of a reservation card for the
online store Target that included the Legacy Edition of Infinite Warfare and the
bundled remaster.[30] Call of Duty's official Twitter account responded with an
emoji tweet later that day, seemingly confirming that a remaster of Modern Warfare
existed.[31]
Remastered was officially announced at E3 2016, showing an extended trailer for its
campaign, following a gameplay reveal for Infinite Warfare.[32] After the trailer,
it was revealed that PlayStation 4 users who pre-purchased (as opposed to pre-
ordered) an edition of Infinite Warfare that came with the remaster would be able
to play the game's campaign 30 days earlier, as part of Sony's exclusivity deal
with Activision.[33][34] A gameplay video for the game's "Crew Expendable" mission
was released on July 14, 2016, displaying the improved graphics, lighting, and
textures, as well as upgraded models and animations.[35][36] The game's multiplayer
mode was revealed during the Call of Duty: XP 2016 convention,[37][38] and
attendees of the convention were able to play it first with others.[39] In
September 2016, official trailers were released for the campaign and multiplayer.
[40][41]

Release[edit]
Modern Warfare Remastered was released worldwide on November 4, 2016 for the
PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, alongside Call of Duty: Infinite
Warfare. At the time, the game was only available by purchasing either the Legacy,
Digital Deluxe or Legacy Pro editions of Infinite Warfare, with physical versions
requiring the Infinite Warfare disc inserted to access the remaster.[42][43]
Remastered was later released standalone for PlayStation 4 on June 27, 2017, and
for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows on July 27, 2017.[44] Activision confirmed that
premium versions of Infinite Warfare must be permanently installed in order to use
the included remaster.[45]

Downloadable content[edit]
On March 8, 2017, it was announced that a remastered version of the Variety Map
Pack, originally released for Modern Warfare, would be made available for
Remastered. It includes the same four maps, "Killhouse", "Chinatown", "Creek", and
"Broadcast", as well as 10 rare supply drops. The map pack was released as a
separate purchase on March 21, 2017 for PlayStation 4,[46] and on April 20, 2017
for Xbox One and Microsoft Windows,[47] not being included with any retail versions
of Remastered.[48]

Reception[edit]
Reception
Aggregate score
Aggregator Score
Metacritic (PS4) 83/100[49]
(XONE) 89/100[50]
(PC) 86/100[51]
Review scores
Publication Score
Destructoid 8/10[53]
IGN 8.5/10[52]
Push Square 9/10[54]
Metro 8/10[55]
Hardcore Gamer 3.5/5[56]
Award
Publication Award
IGN Best of 2016 Awards Best Remaster[57]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered received generally favorable reviews
according to review aggregator Metacritic.[49][50][51] The game was awarded the
accolade for "Best Remaster" of 2016 from IGN.[57]

Joey Thurmond of Push Square wrote how playing through the campaign from Modern
Warfare reminded him of its sheer memorability and how it had long endured with
fans compared with other games in the series, saying "there's tension and gravity
shot through the experience, as if the world is on your shoulders to push past
every enemy line with explosive bravado or exacting stealth. [...] There's a
grounded feel to player characters that make you another cog in the machine with
the abilities and limitations of an ordinary soldier, not a supernatural saviour."
He praised the game's graphical enhancements, saying "Modern Warfare Remastered
looks and sounds like a fresh game on par with today's graphical and aural
standards" and calling it a "ridiculously faithful remake", but wrote that the game
still showed some slight signs of age, such as artificial intelligence problems and
pacing issues. In short, he commended Raven Software "for arguably delivering the
most substantial, masterful remake we have ever experienced", and that "Modern
Warfare Remastered celebrates this legacy with updated visuals and sound that
really go above and beyond the call of duty, sprucing up an old care package for a
more modern age to near-perfection."[54]

Kallie Plagge of IGN remarked how the remaster wasn't as revolutionary a game when
compared with the original, and that certain aspects, such as the pacing and level
design, felt notably dated. She praised the range of visual and technical
enhancements compared with other remasters, but criticized some minor shortcomings
with regards to both graphical and design elements, saying "there are cracks in the
facade; a checkpoint-triggered cloud of smoke near the end of the campaign was
jarringly rough around the edges, for instance, and there were times when I'd get
momentarily stuck on the geometry of a door and unceremoniously shoved to the side
by a scripted ally charging through." Despite this, she complimented the gameplay
as having held up remarkably well and which felt more gratifying as a result of
being unaltered, stating how it left her "feeling relatively weighed down,
encumbered, and more desperate in the fray. [...] It feels urgent, and it's still
really satisfying even next to a contemporary, faster CoD." She thought the game
felt more classic rather than outdated, saying that "It might not have the same
effect it did the first time around, but it works as both a great embodiment of
what shooters used to be and one that still plays well."[52]

Destructoid's Chris Carter was positive of all the changes made to the original
that showcased Raven's considerable efforts, but stated that the game was still at
its core one from 2007. He cited the story as an example, saying that the game's
campaign was still worth playing despite being topped by its competition. Carter
further noted that the cast were "nothing more than warm bodies at points", but
opined that the crux of the story and the relationship between main protagonist
Soap and Captain Price was "worth the price of admission". Alternatively, he found
the multiplayer to be timeless, and that the design of each map held up well and
felt justified. He compared the multiplayer to those offered by other first-person
shooter games, such as the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six series, stating "There's a
nice, comfortable balance between the two philosophies, to the point where it's not
too alienating for folks who didn't grow up with twichy FPSes or feel like
dedicating the time to learning the ins and outs of breaching and clearing each and
every room, knocking on permadeath's door on every match."[53]

Metro complimented the visuals of the remaster, saying that "The game still doesn't
look quite as good as the last couple of Call Of Duty's, but it's extremely close.
And whatever else you say about it, on a presentational level this is an excellent
remaster." The multiplayer they praised for being more pleasingly simple than
recent Call of Duty games and pointed out how it was sure to bring considerable
nostalgia to players of the original, but nonetheless criticized it for feeling
limited and shallow. They also noted that the remaster inadvertently felt clichd
and overfamiliar, due to the original having inspired numerous sequels and
imitations, but praised the modern-day setting as feeling surprisingly fresh again.
Metro summarized their review by saying "One of the most influential video games of
all time gets the remaster it deserves, and is still impressively entertaining
after all these years."[55]

Kevin Dunsmore of Hardcore Gamer wrote that the plot was much more grounded and
realistic than other recent titles in the series and echoed Push Square's review by
commenting on the gameplay, writing "You're not a super soldier stuck in the middle
of out-of-this-world set piece, but rather a regular soldier working with a squad
to complete objectives." However, he stated that the decision to keep many of the
design choices intact from the original was both refreshing and a hindrance. He
highlighted examples from the campaign, such as infinitely-spawning enemies, and
similarly condemned infamous perks and a lack of killstreak-countering in the
multiplayer that had not been removed or fixed, finding it "extremely outdated".
Despite this, he complimented the multiplayer as feeling fresh, saying "After years
of over-the-top killstreaks, wall-running, and other crazy antics, it's nice to get
back to the basics". He heavily praised the visual enhancements on display, saying
"Modern Warfare Remastered is the most extensive visual upgrade any remaster has
ever received yet, being more in line with a remake than an actual remaster. [...]
It's a stunning overhaul." He concluded by saying "What Raven has accomplished is
impressive, but it has its limits. A few tweaks would have gone a long way to
fixing some balancing issues, but for those looking for a blast from the past, this
works just fine".[56]

Infinite Warfare bundling[edit]

Before its standalone version was announced in June 2017, many criticized the
decision that Modern Warfare Remastered would only be available through purchasing
a premium version of Infinite Warfare, with Activision being accused of anti-
consumerism practices and coercing fans into paying more than necessary. Joey
Thurmond disagreed with how a re-release of a classic that had shaped both the
series' formula and first-person shooter genre in general had been coupled with a
new, poorly-received title, calling the choice "preposterous" and "a bullet in the
face to consumers". He argued that selling Remastered separately would actually
benefit Activision, forecasting an eventual influx of pre-owned copies of the
bundle being sold, devaluing Infinite Warfare's worth in the process.[58] Forbes'
Paul Tassi described the bundling as being "a way to essentially blackmail players
into picking up a more expensive version of a base game they may not have even
wanted (Infinite Warfare) in order to get something they desperately wanted (Modern
Warfare Remastered)", but understood why Activision had made the choice due to it
being "pro-money".[59]

However, others found that the bundling of the games was a sensible business
decision, most highlighting the risk that the sales of Remastered could overshadow
those of Infinite Warfare and result in direct competition between the two.[60][61]
Stephen Wright of Gamespresso, meanwhile, agreed with Activision based around the
impulsiveness of the Call of Duty fanbase, writing that due to the series'
popularity, many of the individuals who felt discontent towards a new title would
still choose to buy it regardless. As such, Activision had released the bundle with
the knowledge that fans would certainly purchase Infinite Warfare in order to
obtain a remaster of Modern Warfare, a game that was held in such high regard.
While Wright did disagree with having to pay for an unwanted game in order to
obtain another, he expressed faith that the bundle would be good value for money.
[62]

Inclusion of microtransactions[edit]
Further controversy arose several weeks after the release of Remastered when
Activision incorporated the use of microtransactions into the multiplayer, along
with further new content, which had been absent from Modern Warfare.[63][10]
Evidence of micropayments had first been raised some days after release when data
miners uncovered hidden content within the game's files that pointed to its
inclusion.[64] The choice was quickly rebuked by fans, who accused Activision of
defiling the memory of Modern Warfare and exploiting their feelings of nostalgia
for profit.[65] Connor Murphy at Beyond Entertainment wrote that its release
"comparatively blows open Pandoras Box as to what players may encounter".[63]
Gaming journalist Jim Sterling slammed the "ludicrous" decision to include
microtransactions in a re-release of a nine year-old game, and compared it to
"something a parody of the industry would come up with". He felt that having first
used Remastered as leverage in order to sell more copies of Infinite Warfare,
Activision's move was "a masterstroke of sliminess".[66]

Pricing of DLC and standalone version[edit]

Following the announcement of the Variety Map Pack in March 2017, Activision was
condemned for deciding that the downloadable content would not be available for
free. Common complaints were that the publisher had already generated additional
revenue for Remastered by bundling it with Infinite Warfare (increasing its cost to
more than an individual game) and by including microtransactions; and that as a
remaster, which often includes all previously-released DLC, the map pack should
have been released alongside it. Many also argued that selling the DLC for a higher
price than its original release was an unprincipled move.[67][68][69] Sterling
further slated Activision for charging for the DLC, stating that it was
"incomprehensible" and that to increase its cost highlighted "just how far
[Activision] can mock its customers and get away with it", labeling it as the
latest scam to befall the game.[70] Erik Kain of Forbes similarly argued that the
DLC should have been available free of charge, maintaining his belief that charging
for map packs "[was] a huge mistake".[67] However, he felt he could sympathize with
Activision, writing that it was easier for them to set price points for early and
late buyers. He also noted that the remaster was cheap in its contribution to the
overall price for two bundled games and so further costs for the DLC were
justified.[71]

Activision faced further criticism upon revealing that the Variety Map Pack would
equally not be sold alongside the standalone version of Remastered. Fans also took
offense to the fact that both the cost of the base remaster and that of the DLC
amounted to an almost full-price game. Kain was understanding of the cost of the
standalone as selling it cheaply would have affronted those who had bought a
premium version of Infinite Warfare for the remaster, but had been "almost certain"
that the game would have included the DLC. Subsequently, he wrote that doing so
would have been "a gesture of good will to the community" and "a smart move for the
company".[72] Mic's Jason Faulkner condemned Activision's previous business
practices involving Remastered and found the standalone version to be "a bad deal",
criticizing that it was being sold for double that of its cost when bundled with
Infinite Warfare, and found it "ridiculous" that with the DLC it amounted to almost
full-price. As a result, he advised that fans should wait for the game to be
reduced in price before buying.[73]

Technical issues on Windows version[edit]

From the time of release, the Windows version of Remastered was criticized for
suffering from a number of technical issues in the multiplayer, with players also
being dissatisfied with the game's available settings for PC. On Steam, it received
mostly negative user reviews, with complaints including poor performance, a locked
90 frames per second, inadequate mouse support, numerous hackers, and a low player
count. Some users suggested that the multiplayer of Modern Warfare would be a more
suitable alternative, which still attracted a respectable amount of players and
offered better options for performance, modding and customization.[74][75][76]