Activision pulled back the curtain on the multiplayer experience for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with an inaugural trailer that also introduced early visuals for Warzone 2.0. The presentation highlighted new gadgets, an upgraded Gunsmith 2.0 customization system, and a new display mode that offers third-party perspectives. The reveal signaled a milestone for players eager to dive into the next era of the franchise, blending tight gunplay with fresh personalization options and a reimagined battle royale framework.
The team also laid out the beta schedule, giving fans a clear path to test the game before launch. On PlayStation, the Closed Beta for those with pre-orders runs September 16 to 17, followed by an Open Beta from September 18 to 20. PC and Xbox participants with pre-orders gain access to a Closed Beta on September 22 to 23, and an Open Beta opens September 24 to 26. This phased approach lets players map out strategies, test network performance, and experience new modes across platforms as development continues.
During the presentation, a desert map of Al Mazrah for Warzone 2.0 was showcased, underscoring a harsh, expansive battlefield designed to reward precision and adaptability. The setting invites players to navigate shifting terrains, engage in high-stakes duels, and employ new movement and tactical systems that shape modern combat in large-scale engagements.
There was news of a unique operative named Hiro Watanabe becoming available for pre-order on PlayStation networks. Characters like Hiro enrich the roster and offer players distinctive abilities and gear as they customize their loadouts for ongoing conflicts across modes and maps.
A new free PvEvP DMZ mode announced for Warzone 2.0 draws inspiration from survival shooters, introducing a battle-tested card-based mechanic to govern encounters. This mode emphasizes extraction-based play, looting, and strategic risk management as players choose when to push or retreat within the evolving map. The overall shooter schedule also confirmed the game’s release date and clarified that the title will be free to play, with a launch timeline set for November. This free-to-play model aims to attract a broad audience while preserving depth through seasonal content, operator progression, and cross-mode integration.
Additionally, the first gameplay and cinematic trailer for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile offered a glimpse at 120-player battles. Despite rebuilding the mobile title from scratch, it is designed to retain the core operators and locations that fans recognize from the mainline games. The mobile experience will feature a shared battle pass with Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2, ensuring continuity across platforms. Release is scheduled for 2023 on Android and iOS, with pre-registration already available for eager players on the go.
Concluding the briefing, details confirmed that Modern Warfare 2 would become available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on a late-October release date. As fans digest these announcements, there remains excitement about how the campaign, multiplayer, and evolving Warzone ecosystem will converge to redefine the competitive shooter landscape in the months ahead.
In the broader spectrum of coverage, discussions continued about the evolving landscape of competitive shooters and the ongoing balance between narrative experiences and improvisational, player-driven combat in the Call of Duty universe. The updates signal a push toward more dynamic, interconnected modes where players can seamlessly transition from story-driven campaigns to sprawling, team-based battles across multiple platforms.