Don’t expect to see the return of the highly controversial No Russian mission from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from the 2009 game in the upcoming title of the same name.
The upcoming Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to the hit 2019 reboot of the first Modern Warfare game. It may have the same name as the 2009 game that featured the infamous quest, but Infinity Ward has confirmed with GamesBeat that nothing like it will be included in the reboot.
Among the most significant reveals in the interview is the announcement that there will be no missions similar to No Russian, a level that was originally included in the original 2009 premiere of Modern Warfare 2 (and the 2020 remaster). Designed by the co-founder of Respawn Entertainment and former director of narrative design for Apex Legends Mohammad Alavi, the single-player campaign mission requires players to earn the trust of a Russian terrorist by participating in a mass shooting at a Moscow airport. The quest’s title comes from the instructions given to the player character just before the quest begins: “Remember, no Russian”. This order is intended to remind terrorist cell members to maintain their anonymity by not speaking their native language while participating in the shooting.
“To me, we’re very deliberate about what we’re putting in. If we feel like it serves the story or what we’re trying to do, we’ll put something, something that can be bolder.” Infinity Ward game director Jack O’Hara explained in the interview when asked about the violent mission in the original game. “But if we don’t, there’s no need to be free with that sort of thing. There’s always a part where we want people to think about the story. We don’t want them to just be on a ride. At the moment, there’s nothing which I would say suits no Russian, however, in terms of what we’re trying to do.”
No Russian is easily one of – if not the most – violent mission in the original Modern Warfare 2 and its remastered edition. But it’s worth noting that players can complete the mission without firing a single shot – players can simply walk around the airport without firing their weapon and wait for the massacre to end. There is also an option to skip the level completely, and players will not receive a penalty for doing so.
Still, those who choose to participate in the mission will be exposed to a horrific scene: innocent civilians running for their lives as victims who have been shot crawling towards cover – often being killed before they can make it to safety. Long trails of blood are strewn across the floor as the screams of the wounded echo through the airport terminal. Bodies are in piles. It is undeniably difficult to watch and, for some, difficult to play. A playtester – who served in the military in real life – refused to play the level, which is what prompted the developers to add the no penalty option to skip the mission. Still, many players criticized the quest’s intense and gruesome violence, with some arguing that the remaster had, in fact, made the quest even more traumatizing.
Infinity Ward and Activision revealed a lot about Modern Warfare 2 this week, including what to expect from its campaign. The game will not feature a Zombies mode or a lot of environmental destruction in multiplayer. Scheduled for release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X | S and PC on October 28. The PC version will be available on Steam, where it will cost $70.
Pre-orders are now available and provide early access to an upcoming open beta.
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