Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 finally adding Hardcore mode next month

Not long after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II players skewered Activision for apparently focusing on Warzone 2.0 at the expense of their game, the announcement that the game is getting a Hardcore mode arrives. Don't you love it when a plan comes together?

As always, Call of Duty is mired in the mix up of the series' ambitions with the curmudgeonliness of its community. Modern Warfare II cost $70 at launch late last year and so players were aggrieved that Infinity Ward was favouring the free-to-play Warzone 2.0. At the same time, Warzone 2.0 players were suffering under the new Gulag that discouraged cooperation, losing out on one of its most popular modes, and more than a few were even ducking out of the game for Advanced Warfare instead. Yeah, the game from six years ago.

Here's a helping of wholesome content - one Warzone 2.0 player became an Uber driver for a match using proximity chat to collect his customers:

In this intense balancing act that wouldn't be amiss in a Cirque du Soleil performance, Infinity Ward revealed that Hardcore mode will be coming to the game next month. Hardcore mode is what it says on the tin: there's a limited HUD, friendly fire is active and players possess a small pool of health. Season 2 was delayed for both Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II resulting from the integrating of player feedback and now will go live on 15 February.

No HUD? No problem. Hardcore is back!

Follow Season 02’s Multiplayer updates in our studio blog later this week.

— Infinity Ward (@InfinityWard) January 22, 2023

“Season 2 includes all new content, with the return of Resurgence and a brand new small map for Warzone 2.0,” revealed the developer. “Ranked play is also back and coming to Modern Warfare 2, along with new multiplayer maps, new modes, weapons and much more.”