Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more

Along with death and taxes, we can always be certain a new Call of Duty game will launch every year — at least for the foreseeable future. The franchise has received annual releases since the launch of Call of Duty 2 in 2005, raking in tons of money for publisher Activision. Unsurprisingly, we’ll get a new Call of Duty game in 2022, and now that it has been officially unveiled, there’s a lot we know about the upcoming title, which will be called Modern Warfare II.

That’s right, this game will serve as a sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, continuing the story, time period, and hopefully beloved mechanics from that game. This isn’t a reboot of 2009’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, but rather a new game — which can get confusing since the naming scheme is similar. Below is everything we know about 2022’s Modern Warfare II, including info about its developer, release date, and Warzone 2.0 integration.

Release date

Soldier lighting a cigarette in Modern Warfare.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is set to launch October 28, 2022.

This follows Infinity Ward’s typical release schedule for its COD titles. This will be a sequel to the 2019 game, not a remake of the 2009 title of the same name. Since Modern Warfare 2019 was so successful critically and commercially, it’s a no-brainer Activision is following it up with a sequel.

It’s worth mentioning that insider Tom Henderson says Modern Warfare II’s multiplayer reveal will occur in September 2022, which is in line with previous COD games. An open beta will apparently be available for PlayStation players on or around September 15 and will be available to all platforms at a later date. Although Microsoft has acquired Activision, the COD publisher still needs to honor any existing marketing deals, meaning PlayStation players will gain access to certain perks until the collaboration expires.

Trailer

On June 8, 2022, Activision released the first-ever trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, which you can watch above.

It only features cinematic footage, but it does give us a sense of the overall tone and themes. The game seems to be steering away from traditional bombastic military combat with a greater focus on smaller-scale battles — at least based on what was shown during the trailer. Since Modern Warfare II‘s marketing cycle has begun, we’ll likely get many more announcements in the coming months.

We know gameplay will be shown during Summer Game Fest on June 9, 2022.

Platforms

Soldier in Modern Warfare.

Many modern games have completely ditched the previous generation of consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One), but don’t expect this to be the case with Modern Warfare II. In looking at previous releases, Activision supported the previous generation for a couple of years after the launch of next-gen consoles. For example, the PS4 and Xbox One launched in 2013, but the Call of Duty series continued on Xbox 360 and PS3 until 2015 with the launch of Black Ops III.

With that in mind, Modern Warfare II will probably be the last COD game to launch for PS4 and Xbox One. It will, of course, be available for current-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X/S systems, along with PC. We don’t expect the game to come to Nintendo Switch, as the series hasn’t been on a Nintendo platform in nearly a decade.

Though, if an upgraded Switch launches this fall, it’s possible that trend will change. The new hardware will hopefully serve the game well since Infinity Ward will be able to push the boundaries of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S systems. It’s worth noting that Modern Warfare II could slightly suffer from launching across multiple generations of consoles, just as Warzone and many other games have before.

It’s also important to note that even though Microsoft will be purchasing Activision, the current COD games in development will still come to PlayStation platforms, at least through 2023. These games were already in development before Microsoft’s acquisition, so the company must honor existing agreements to allow COD to come to PlayStation. On February 9, 2022, Microsoft explained that many Activision games will still be available beyond “existing agreements.” The company mentioned it’s “interested” in supporting the Nintendo Switch:

“To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision.

And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love. We are also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo’s successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business.”

So, while the blog post doesn’t specify that COD will remain on PlayStation going forward, the company’s statement leaves us hopeful that the franchise will remain multiplatform.

Gameplay

Soldier with weapon in Modern Warfare.

It’s easy to predict what the gameplay for a Call of Duty game will be like, especially since the forthcoming entry will follow in the footsteps of Modern Warfare 2019.

Expect it to run on a similar (if not the same) engine as its predecessor, with many of the same features, such as the gunsmith, the ability to open and close doors, and even the reintroduction of certain weapons. The gameplay will be fluid and fast, and will likely mirror Modern Warfare 2019, with a story mode and multiplayer suite to enjoy. In addition to gameplay, this entry will also include a similar battle pass progression system just like the last few COD games.

The campaign will supposedly be centered on Colombian drug cartels and will feature many new features from 2019’s release, according to VGC. A leaker by the name of @RalphsValve on Twitter shared a lot of information about the upcoming release.

Infinity Ward’s rumoured 2022 title, ‘Modern Warfare II’: Campaign details, Weapon dynamics, Facets of Gore and AI, New ‘Moral System’, SP Systems and more; pic.twitter.com/0oAWEVO9sx — Ralph (@RalphsValve) October 28, 2021

Most notably, the campaign will reportedly feature some sort of morality system, wherein your decisions will impact how the story unfolds.

It’s unclear if certain sections will be locked off to specific decisions. Along with this, the leaker notes that realism will be featured prominently, explaining that your character will react to being shot at. Your character will be “visibly shaken up — struggling to insert the magazine, trembling hands” after being attacked by enemies.

As part of an influencer event, it was revealed that swimming will play a role in Modern Warfare II, giving players the ability to utilize certain weapons and equipment underwater. AI will also be implemented in some way, and will provide “a sense of life,” according to CharlieIntel. It’s also been confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will tie to a new version of Warzone, which will launch in 2022.

Expect a shared progression system just like before, but for an all-new generation of Warzone. On June 9, 2022, Activision released the first-ever gameplay trailer for Modern Warfare II, showing off a tactical boat infiltration mission from the campaign. You can check it out above!

Multiplayer

Soldiers infiltrate a building in Modern Warfare.

Multiplayer is at the heart of the COD experience, and this next installment will be no different.

It will follow in the footsteps of Modern Warfare 2019, with various maps, modes, and free post-launch content to enjoy. It will include familiar modes, but will also offer new variations of modes you might be familiar with. For instance, Knockout is similar to Gunfight, with an elimination mechanic that requires players to capture a package.

In addition, Prisoner’s Rescue is the new Attack v Defend mode that was previously leaked by @RalphsValve on Twitter. This mode will resemble Search and Destroy, though with much more of a focus on tactical gameplay like in Rainbow Six Siege. Ralph says “each player is assigned a role per a general vote, with one nominated Team Leader.

Between each passing round, all teams will be given a Debrief period, allowing for roster reform.” Leaker Tom Henderson corroborates this report, stating a developer told him the mode is “not an afterthought.”

Modern Warfare II’s Multiplayer ‘Attackers v. Defenders’ Mode pic.twitter.com/js7nUqv5mU — Ralph (@RalphsValve) January 2, 2022

Much like Modern Warfare 2019, Modern Warfare II will likely feature many callbacks to an older installment — this time, Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

With that in mind, we should expect to see the return of beloved MW2 maps in 2022’s entry, such as Favela, Terminal, High Rise, and Quarry. It’s also possible more maps from the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare will be added. We’re hoping to see Overgrown make a return as a playable map.

Rumored Modern Warfare 2 (2022) Maps ? o Favela ?
o Terminal ?
o High Rise ?
o Quarry ? pic.twitter.com/cmS32rFgxk

— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) January 4, 2022

Along with its standard multiplayer mode, Modern Warfare II will be the start of Warzone 2, with a rebuilt game for the new generation. Warzone 2 will feature the same weapons, perks, progression, and mechanics from 2022’s main game, just as the original Warzone did with Modern Warfare 2019.

DLC

Soldiers infiltrating a building in Modern Warfare.

While it’s highly likely Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will feature DLC, it won’t be executed in the same way many other games handle additional content. Instead, much of the DLC will likely be free, such as maps and weapons, while other cosmetic items like skins and blueprints will be available to purchase or tied to the battle pass. Gone are the days of having to buy a new map pack or weapon set with real cash.

However, there may still be some advantages to purchasing the battle pass each season, as you’ll typically gain access to XP tokens, exclusive skins, and even blueprints that immediately unlock a weapon without having to complete certain challenges first. It’s highly likely new modes and limited-time events will be added post-launch as well, just as the past several COD games have done. These should be free, allowing the entire community to play with one another without paywalling certain pieces of content.

Typically, DLC is tied to the multiplayer mode, but it would be neat to gain access to additional campaign content after launch — there just isn’t much precedent for this.

Pre-order

Task Force 141 characters, which are part of a pre-order bonus for Modern Warfare II.

Activision has only just started marketing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and it’s available to pre-order now.

Below are all three versions of the game and their contents (keep in mind, the open beta is only available to those who pre-order and will likely be available early for PlayStation users):

Standard Edition: £70

Copy of Modern Warfare II
Early access to open beta

Cross-Gen Bundle: £70

Last-generation version of Modern Warfare II
Current-gen version of Modern Warfare II
Early access to open beta

Vault Edition: £100

Last-gen version of Modern Warfare II
Current-gen version of Modern Warfare II
Early access to open beta
Ghost Legacy pack
Red Team 141 Operator Pack
FJX Cinder Weapon Vault
Battle Pass +50 Tier Skips
10 hours 2XP and 10 hours of 2WXP