It is clear that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a game that has to aim for a commendable amount of longevity, with the expansive release being set for an unprecedented two-year overall life cycle within the franchise. The best way in which the game attempts to ensure its longevity is through the consistent implementation of post-launch updates, which usually coincide with the title's in-game seasons.
The seasons of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are momentous occasions for fans, who welcome the new content that they herald such as new maps, game modes, weapons, battle passes, and operators. While some fans still critique the lack of overall content that the game possesses, it is undeniable that these seasons offer at least brief respite to even the most critical players. With that being said, MW2 recently announced a new sniper that is set to be introduced to the game that many veteran fans will already recognize, but it is a decidedly risky move on Infinity Ward's part.
Modern Warfare 2's Intervention Sniper Rifle
The new sniper rifle being introduced to Modern Warfare 2 is the Intervention, which many fans will recognize as one of the most popular and iconic weapons in 2009's original Modern Warfare 2. While maintaining its instantly recognizable shape, the Intervention returns to MW2 under a different name, now being known as the FJX Imperium.
Arguably being the title that created an entire playstyle of quickscoping and trickshotting, the presence of the Intervention as the most memorable sniper rifle is a testament to just how effective and popular the weapon was in its original form. The Intervention was the go-to sniper rifle for many of Modern Warfare 2's player base, with the bolt action rifle having the perfect blend between a high rate of fire while dealing a serious amount of damage.
Modern Warfare 2: The Balancing of the FJX Imperium
The main issue that Infinity Ward faces in its decision to re-introduce the Intervention as the FJX Imperium concerns how the game balances the weapon. Within the original Modern Warfare 2, the continued popularity of the Intervention throughout the release's life cycle stemmed from the overpowered nature of the weapon. Coming from a time when post-launch weapon balancing was fairly rare, the Intervention maintained a consistent reputation as an extremely powerful weapon that has undoubtedly colored how the weapon has been remembered by fans.
Introducing a version of the Intervention in the more recent Modern Warfare 2 that does not possess this level of combat efficiency would run the risk of essentially besmirching the reputation of the weapon within the franchise. However, if Infinity Ward was to make the FJX Imperium as overpowered as the original Intervention, the weapon would of course draw criticisms for damaging the weapon balancing and meta of the current Call of Duty.
In this way, the issue with the FJX Imperium is quite clear, as the primary allure of the weapon stems from the fan nostalgia of its original form as the Intervention. While the Intervention has appeared in other franchise titles such as Call of Duty Mobile and Infinite Warfare, the presence of Modern Warfare 2 as a reboot of the original 2009 title means that there will be higher expectations on how the new version of the Intervention performs in-game. Of course, it is still positive to see the title paying homage to its source material, but the iconic nature of the Intervention may inevitably lead to controversy regarding its newer form.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is currently available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.