Summary
A much anticipated fan-developed remaster ofModern Warfare 2multiplayer has been shut down by Activision. Just one day before theModern Warfare 2remaster was set to launch, its development team received a cease-and-desist notice from the Microsoft-owned publisher.
For many players, particularly those who grew up with the Xbox 360,Modern Warfare 2is one of the greatest shooters of all time. Infinity Ward broke new ground when it brought theCall of Dutyseries into the contemporary era withCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, but truly refined its style and redefined the franchise’s identity with the bombast ofModern Warfare 2in 2009. The true legacy ofModern Warfare 2lies in its multiplayer mode, which many consider to bethe best multiplayerCall of Dutyhas ever had.
As such, many players were looking forward to the release of theCall of Duty: Modern Warfare RemasteredH2M Mod, a major project aiming to recreate theModern Warfare 2multiplayer on PC using the structure of 2016’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. Unfortunately, Activision stepped in at the last minute, stopping the release of the project with a cease-and-desist order. In an announcement posted on the mod’s official Twitter account, the team said that it will comply with the order and shut down operations “immediately and permanently.”
Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Remaster Shut Down Just Before Release
The H2M Mod was originally inspired by the fact thatActivision did not remasterModern Warfare 2multiplayer, opting instead to release a single-player-onlyremaster of theModern Warfare 2story campaign in 2020. Had it been allowed to launch, H2M Mod would have essentially imported the whole ofModern Warfare 2’s multiplayer content into 2016’sCall of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, which did include multiplayer. H2M Mod would have included all of the originalModern Warfare 2multiplayer maps, as well as expanding the progression system with new camos, calling cards, and emblems.
H2M Mod was so highly anticipated that many players boughtCall of Duty: Modern Warfare Remasteredon Steam, pushing the game near the top of the platform’s sales charts. Online reaction to the sudden cancelation of H2M was swift and fierce, with many decrying the cease-and-desist order and directing angry comments at Activision and Microsoft. Others expressed their fury by review bombingModern Warfare Remasteredon Steam and requesting refunds. At the time of this writing, the review trend forModern Warfare Remasteredsits at “Overwhelmingly Negative.”
Some calmer commentators did note that Activision is well within its rights to shut down the mod, mentioning that any fan project that attempts to recreate existing content elsewhere is at higher risk of getting shut down by a rights-holder that chooses not to look the other way. A few even pointed out thatall the multiplayer maps fromModern Warfare 2are available in the 2023 version ofModern Warfare 3, for those willing to play an officially supportedCall of Dutyentry.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
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The most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 2 features for the first time in video games, the musical soundtrack of legendary Academy Award®, Golden Globe® Award, Grammy® Award and Tony winning composer Hans Zimmer. The title picks up immediately following the historic events of Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®, the blockbuster title that earned worldwide critical acclaim, including:“Most Played Online Video Game” in history, 2009 Guinness World RecordsMore than 50 Game of the Year awards, including the Console Game of the Year and Overall Game of the Year, 2007, from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences®
