Summary
- Activision shut down the fan-developed Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer remaster just before its launch, disappointing many players.
- The H2M Mod aimed to recreate the iconic Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer using the structure of Modern Warfare Remastered but was stopped by a cease-and-desist order.
- The cancelation sparked anger among fans, who review bombed Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam and requested refunds.
A much anticipated fan-developed remaster of Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer has been shut down by Activision. Just one day before the Modern Warfare 2 remaster was set to launch, its development team received a cease-and-desist notice from the Microsoft-owned publisher.
For many players, particularly those who grew up with the Xbox 360, Modern Warfare 2 is one of the greatest shooters of all time. Infinity Ward broke new ground when it brought the Call of Duty series into the contemporary era with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, but truly refined its style and redefined the franchise's identity with the bombast of Modern Warfare 2 in 2009. The true legacy of Modern Warfare 2 lies in its multiplayer mode, which many consider to be the best multiplayer Call of Duty has ever had.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Has 'Overwhelmingly Negative' Reviews on Steam
Players are expressing their disappointment with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on Steam, with the game receiving a wave of negative reviews.
As such, many players were looking forward to the release of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered H2M Mod, a major project aiming to recreate the Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer on PC using the structure of 2016's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered. Unfortunately, Activision stepped in at the last minute, stopping the release of the project with a cease-and-desist order. In an announcement posted on the mod's official Twitter account, the team said that it will comply with the order and shut down operations "immediately and permanently."
Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Remaster Shut Down Just Before Release
The H2M Mod was originally inspired by the fact that Activision did not remaster Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, opting instead to release a single-player-only remaster of the Modern Warfare 2 story campaign in 2020. Had it been allowed to launch, H2M Mod would have essentially imported the whole of Modern Warfare 2's multiplayer content into 2016's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, which did include multiplayer. H2M Mod would have included all of the original Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer maps, as well as expanding the progression system with new camos, calling cards, and emblems.
H2M Mod was so highly anticipated that many players bought Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam, pushing the game near the top of the platform's sales charts. Online reaction to the sudden cancelation of H2M was swift and fierce, with many decrying the cease-and-desist order and directing angry comments at Activision and Microsoft. Others expressed their fury by review bombing Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam and requesting refunds. At the time of this writing, the review trend for Modern Warfare Remastered sits at "Overwhelmingly Negative."
Some calmer commentators did note that Activision is well within its rights to shut down the mod, mentioning that any fan project that attempts to recreate existing content elsewhere is at higher risk of getting shut down by a rights-holder that chooses not to look the other way. A few even pointed out that all the multiplayer maps from Modern Warfare 2 are available in the 2023 version of Modern Warfare 3, for those willing to play an officially supported Call of Duty entry.
- Released
- November 10, 2009
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Infinity Ward
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer, Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Call of Duty
WHERE TO PLAY
The most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse.
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 2 features for the first time in video games, the musical soundtrack of legendary Academy Award®, Golden Globe® Award, Grammy® Award and Tony winning composer Hans Zimmer. The title picks up immediately following the historic events of Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®, the blockbuster title that earned worldwide critical acclaim, including:
"Most Played Online Video Game" in history, 2009 Guinness World Records
More than 50 Game of the Year awards, including the Console Game of the Year and Overall Game of the Year, 2007, from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences®
