Activision’s upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 received an official gameplay trailer last week, and, showcasing a mix of Hollywood-esque action sequences with elements of slower-paced stealth and tactical espionage, the campaign segments seen in the trailer seemed to combine the best bits of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games. That said, not everyone is pleased, and notorious Call of Duty streamer Dr Disrespect remarked in a June 10, 2022 stream that the upcoming title looked “unimpressive.”
“When I look at a trailer like that, the single-player campaign trailer, you could just tell that engine—it’s dated.” Dr Disrespect is known for his many gaming hot takes, often being among the first to decry issues with Activision’s long-running first-person shooter franchise. The streamer was quick to decry Call of Duty: Warzone’s Caldera map when it launched in late 2021, and he was none too pleased with most recent Call of Duty: Vanguard season. Similarly, his immediate reaction to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was pessimistic.
The nearly two-minute gameplay trailer provided a peek at the game’s solo campaign, offering snippets of lore and level setpieces backed by a remixed version of Metallica’s “Wherever I May Roam.” Yet, action-packed as it was, Dr Disrespect expressed that the game’s engine appeared to have been pushed to the breaking point. This may seem like a strange complaint, as Activision is currently touting a new “unified” engine that will power both Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. However, “new” seems to be a bit of a dubious word choice, as it has been confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will run on the same engine developed for 2019’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Though unimpressed, Dr. Disrespect did state that he hopes the game can live up to the potential of series highlights from years prior. Crucially, the streamer was once a member of Call of Duty developer Sledgehammer Games and helped to design many of the multiplayer maps featured in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, lending credence to his criticisms. In late 2021, Dr. Disrespect announced that he’d started a new AAA development studio known as Midnight Society in collaboration with ex-Halo and Call of Duty developers, adding further merit to his thoughts on the 2022 Call of Duty title.
Still, many believe Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 to be a return to form for the franchise following the sales slump instigated by Call of Duty: Vanguard. Regardless of Dr. Disrespects skepticism, 2022 looks to be a big year for the Call of Duty series.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on October 28, 2022.
