Currently, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 players have no details about how the Prestige system will function beyond its format. To the dismay of many old school fans hoping for a traditional Prestige system with unlock tokens and armory resets, the newest Modern Warfare game is confirmed to feature the system that appeared in Vanguard and Black Ops Cold War. This is not the only thing that should be taken from Black Ops Cold War, though, as the Prestige Shop deserves to return.
The Prestige Shop was a way to push players to keep leveling up and Prestiging, and without it, there is little motivation to do so in the seasonal system. This is because Prestiging feels like an endless, year-long grind, with players blocked off from progressing beyond a few Prestige levels each season. Ranks being reset when a new season begins bothers some gamers too, and the lack of difficulty since arsenals are not reset when Prestiging adds to the complaints. While these complaints are not going anywhere as long as the seasonal approach is in place, Infinity Ward could limit the negativity by bringing back the Prestige Shop in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
The Prestige Shop’s Removal Makes Little Sense
When Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Prestige Shop was first added, it seems like a feature that was going to be present within Warzone and every other modern Call of Duty. After all, players could spend their keys (earned by Prestiging and leveling up) on calling cards and emblems from every past game, not just those developed by Treyarch. If they wanted the maximum Prestige emblem from Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, they could unlock it, and they could go back and grab a Calling Card from Black Ops 2 as well.
Unfortunately, even though the Prestige Shop seemed like an excellent reward system - something the seasonal approach was and currently is lacking - it was not present in Call of Duty: Vanguard. With no mention of it in any blog posts yet, it can be assumed that it will not be appearing in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, either. That would be a shame, though, as Infinity Ward could provide an even better version of the Prestige Shop.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Could Add an Even Better Prestige Shop
Like with the original Prestige Shop, including all the past Prestige emblems and iconic calling cards from every game would be a must. It would be great if the progress from the last Prestige Shop could be maintained, as players would not have to spend skins unlocking emblems and calling cards that they already have. Regardless, this should only be the tip of the iceberg for the new and improved Prestige Shop.
Though the Prestige Shop became more attractive later in Black Ops Cold War’s life cycle since blueprints were added, a new version of the shop should aim to have unlockable blueprints from day one. Further, the blueprints within the shop should be themed around fan favorite guns from all across the Call of Duty universe. The cult classic Call of Duty: Ghosts could be represented through a Honey Badger blueprint, Advanced Warfare could get love with a futuristic blueprint for a modern gun, and the Commando from Black Ops could make a visual appearance via a Prestige Shop blueprint. With this store built on nostalgia, adding blueprints that look like old school guns is the best path.
This same approach could be taken with Operator skins, which would be a brand-new Prestige Shop feature. For returning characters like Price, Soap, Ghost, and so on, their original Modern Warfare trilogy designs and outfits could be made unlockable with Prestige Keys. Other Operators could be given skins resembling figures like Frank Woods, or even members of the Zombies cast like Edward Richtofen. By adding blueprints and Operator skins directly themed around legacy weapons and characters, a new Prestige Shop could be even better than the original.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
