Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2has officially been confirmed by Infinity Ward and Activision, and while official details about the game are scarce, plenty of leaks have occurred. The campaign is expected to focus onTask Force 141as the group battles against drug cartels, and it will surely have some mature moments since fans can expect it to mimic the 2019 reboot in terms of its tone.
The newCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2will likely feature the same focus on realism that was present in Infinity Ward’s previous game, and it may likely touch on real world events for some of its missions. Further, its violence will likely be comparable as well, providing a gritty story that is not afraid to touch on topics like torture to make certain moments hit harder. However, fans should not expect anything as risky as the No Russian mission for a few key reasons.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s Iconic No Russian Mission
Even those loosely familiar with theCall of Dutyseries will likely be aware ofthe No Russian mission, as it caused an extreme amount of outcry from gamers and non-gamers alike back in 2009. Often used as evidence for the controversial opinion that video games are overly violent and can lead to an increase in real-world violence, many criticized the mission for what it asked players to do. While it could be skipped if gamers could not stomach it, and they never actually had to pull the trigger if they did not want to do so, it was still talked about as something that players were forced to participate in.
No Russian saw players going undercover to apprehend Vladimir Makarov, a Russian terrorist with the goal of starting World War 3. At the start of the level, players found themselves in an elevator with LMGs and bulletproof vests, accompanying Makarov and a few of his allies as they gunned down everyone in an airport. The terrorists kill dozens if not hundreds of innocent people, with disturbing details like ababy crying during the No Russian massacre.
From civilians trying to crawl away to blood covering the once-clean floors and walls of the airport, the mission is harrowing, though many players feel like it is an excellent way to establish Makarov’s cruelty. It also shows his cleverness, as Makarov used the mole that players were controlling to pin the act of terrorism on the Americans, killing the player character and leaving their body for Russian authorities to find. Ultimately, the mission is one of the most important events in theModern Warfareuniverse, as it led to the third World War from theCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3campaign.
Avoiding Unnecessary Controversy For The New Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
While No Russian is far from the senseless violence that some media outlets and critics claimed it was back in 2009, it still saw the game getting a lot of negative publicity. Ifthe newCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2wants to appeal to the largest audience possible, avoiding a similar level of backlash would be wise, with any acts of terrorism that do feature being left out of the control of players.
Featuring Russia in any major capacity seems like a poor idea, too, even if they are made out to be villains like Makarov. Aside from Activision wanting to avoid thereview bombing seen withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare2019, creating a fictional war build around Russia would undoubtedly be a hot-button issue. This could lead to even more controversy than the original No Russian mission caused, as extreme violence being inflicted on civilians would not be the only thing that some parties take issue with. Considering that a Ravenov Operator bundle was apparently scrapped forCall of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it seems like Activision wants to avoid any association with Russia.
There is also a case to be made that something comparable to No Russian could come off as lazy writing. Doing something overly similar could feel like an attempt from Infinity Ward to recycle its greatest hits, forcing a controversial moment into the story just for the sake of controversy. Going as far as the firstCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2did is not necessary to establish a new threat, and while it did work for Makarov, a similar moment could feel like a shallow attempt to copy what madeMakarovwork.
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Now is Not The Time For a New No Russian
Perhaps the biggest point against a No Russian-like moment is that it would not fit with the game’s rumored focus. If leaks are accurate and the campaign truly does center around battlingColombian Drug Cartels, a massive terrorist attack in an airport or another public space would make little sense. While real world Drug Cartels have committed plenty of crimes and have done horrible things, a terrorist attack like No Russian would feel completely out of place. In turn, it’d actually be deserving of all the criticism the original No Russian wrongfully received.
A No Russian-style moment should be saved for Vladimir Makarov, assuming that Infinity Ward wants to bring back this villain inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3or another future game. With new versions of Price, Soap, Gaz, andGhostbeing introduced, it would make sense for the originalModern Warfaretrilogy’s villains to be reimagined as well. With Makarov being even more well-known than the despicable General Shepherd, he seems like a perfect choice for the rebooted series’ final antagonist, orchestrating events from the shadows before eventually making his presence known.
When and if Makarov makes a comeback, a No Russian-like mission is worth discussing, as it helped define him as a character and made him someone worth despising. For now, though, such a mission and the conversations it will inevitably bring are not needed. From aSpec Ops modeto classic maps and weapons, there is a lot thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2should strive to bring back, but it is simply not the right time for something like No Russian. The original mission is iconic for a reason, as it suited the narrative and made the story more impactful. Based on the rumors regarding the newMW2, though, a No Russian-like event would not fit its campaign.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is scheduled to release in 2022.
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