Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – everything we know

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is due out later this year, and we’ve got a ton of news about it in the last few months that have gotten us seriously hyped for its release. We know that Modern Warfare 2 picks up after the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot and will bring back a ton of fan-favorite characters from that game and the franchise at large like Price, Ghost, Gaz, and Soap. 

We also know that Infinity Ward is developing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 alongside Warzone 2.0 (so expect them to be somewhat related, even if just loosely), and that they’ll launch on a unified engine along with all future Call of Duty titles.

 Modern Warfare 2 is set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, and other platforms on October 28, 2022. Shortly after we went to a MW2 premiere event at Infinity Ward a trailer launched where we learned even more about Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, which looks to be shaping up to be absolutely wild. 

Modern Warfare 2 had a big showing at E3 2022, giving us trailers and a ton of great footage of its impressive new water tech. Infinity Ward wants the campaign to find a balance between pleasure and provocation, so we don’t think there will be as controversial of a mission as Modern Warfare 2019’s Clean House. 

We know a lot about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from the beta to campaign details and more, and we’ve gathered it all here for you.

Modern Warfare 2 release date

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

(Image credit: Activision)

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 release date is October 28, 2022. While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Vanguard launched in mid-November, it would appear that Activision is taking advantage of a leaner autumn release window to get Call of duty: Modern Warfare 2 out into the world a little earlier than anticipated. 

We heard rumblings back in January that Call of Duty 2022 would launch earlier than normal, owing to the underwhelming sales of Call of Duty: Vanguard. In fact, Activision has claimed that Vanguard “didn’t meet expectations” because players don’t like World War 2. With Modern Warfare 2 rumored to be set in modern-day Latin America, perhaps that can re-energize the franchise as it enters its 19th year. 

Modern Warfare 2 platforms

Will Modern Warfare 2 be on PS4 and Xbox One? It’s a good question, and one Activision is yet to answer. Historically, the publisher has supported older hardware for a number of years before locking Call of Duty to new-gen consoles. For example, when the PS4 and Xbox One launched in 2013, PS3 and Xbox 360 players were able to play 2013’s Ghosts, 2014’s Advanced Warfare, and 2015’s Black Ops 3, before 2016’s Infinite Warfare went exclusive to the PS4 and Xbox One generation. 

Given the scale and cost of modern video game production, that precedent doesn’t necessarily mean that Modern Warfare 2 won’t be exclusive to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X… but a recent leak (opens in new tab) of the pre-order bundles indicates that the Modern Warfare 2 Editions will include a ‘cross-gen version’. It would be safe to assume that MW2 will be on PS4 and Xbox One, alongside PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. 

Modern Warfare 2 trailer

We got a proper look at what to expect from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with the trailer that was released on June 8. In it, we get a look at the cast, including Captain Price, Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, Sergeant “Soap” MacTavish, Ghost, and newcomer Colonel Alejandro Vargas. And based on our preview of the campaign, expect a ton of flashy missions that feel pulled from a Hollywood blockbuster, and a tone that’s focused more on having fun than its 2019 predecessor

Expect some wild missions (including one that takes place primarily underwater in an Amsterdam canal), and intense firefights that will have your heart racing. 

Modern Warfare 2 pre-order

The Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 pre-orders are live and so far there are two editions: the Cross-Gen bundle which gives both last-gen and current-gen versions of the game for Xbox and PlayStation players (PC players just get the base game and pre-order bonuses), and the Vault Edition. The Vault Edition includes:

  • Ghost Legacy Pack
  • Red Team 141 Operator Pack
  • FJX Cinder Weapon Vault
  • Battle Pass + 50 Tier Skips
  • 10 Hours 2XP + 10 Hours 2WXP

You can pre-order Modern Warfare 2 on Steam (opens in new tab), in the PS Store (opens in new tab), and the Xbox Live store (opens in new tab)

Modern Warfare 2 artwork

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Lt. Simon “Ghost” Riley (Image credit: Activision)

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Captain John Price (Image credit: Activision)

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Sgt. John “Soap” MacTavish (Image credit: Activision)

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Sgt. Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick (Image credit: Activision)

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Colonel Alejandro Vargas (Image credit: Activision)

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Infinity Ward released the first Modern Warfare 2 artwork on May 24, 2022. As the marketing machine whirrs into action ahead of an expected June 8 gameplay reveal and October 28, 2022, release date, Modern Warfare 2 has confirmed a couple of new and returning faces. In the gallery above, you’ll find Modern Warfare 2 artwork which reveals the members of Task Force 141: Captain John Price, Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley, John ‘Soap’ MacTavish, Kyle ‘Gaz’ Garrick, and Colonel Alejandro Vargas. 

Modern Warfare 2 beta

Much like it did with Vanguard, Black Ops Cold War, and Modern Warfare, Activision will give players an opportunity to get their hands on the new Call of Duty installment ahead of release. 

It’s been confirmed that PlayStation will get the Modern Warfare 2 beta “at least five days” before other platforms, despite the incoming Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Modern Warfare 2 will have an open beta available across all platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC via Battle.net and Steam, and if you pre-order the game (which we detail above), you will get early access to that beta. But if you’re a PlayStation player, you’ll get access to this beta at least five days earlier than everyone else. 

In mid-June, an Amazon listing popped up suggesting the Modern Warfare 2 beta will start in August, specifically August 15. We aren’t positive this  is the case, but keep an eye out.

Modern Warfare 2 story

Modern Warfare 2

(Image credit: Activision)

Modern Warfare 2 is a direct sequel to 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare that takes place three years after the end of the previous game. If you’ll remember – spoiler alert, for those of you who don’t – the game closes with Captain Price sitting down with CIA handler Kate Laswell to discuss the threat presented by Victor Zakhaev, a developing situation with General Shepherd, and the formation of Task Force 141. The Modern Warfare story technically continued into Warzone, which re-introduced us to Ghost and even brought some key characters back from the dead, but that’s the long and short of it. 

Modern Warfare 2 picks up with Task Force 141 well-established as the go-to team for the toughest missions. They continue to get their hands dirty so that humanity’s can stay clean, but it seems like this iteration of Modern Warfare will be a little less provocative than the last. Expect globetrotting adventures, wild missions, and a lot of hoo-rah.

Modern Warfare 2 gameplay 

Call of Duty Warzone

(Image credit: Activision)

While the first Modern Warfare 2 trailer calls itself a “world gameplay reveal trailer,” it’s mostly comprised of cutscenes. We have seen a bit more gameplay during our preview, however, and we wouldn’t be surprised if we see more during the upcoming E3-related weeks. From what we’ve seen, the gameplay includes a wild rappelling mission down the side of a skyscraper, a night vision mission that includes a downed Apache helicopter, and the aforementioned water-based mission that will make the most of Modern Warfare 2’s impressive visual fidelity and new water mechanics.

Activision is promising Modern Warfare 2 will be “the most advanced experience in franchise history” – built on a brand new version of Infinity Ward’s stunning IW Engine – it should come as no surprise that the gameplay reveal of MW2 is one of the most anticipated events of 2022. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is one of the most anticipated releases of the year, but there’s still plenty more to come. Check out our list of new games for 2022 and beyond. 

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