In a move that has upset some of its players, MW2's disc contained almost none of the game itself.
With Modern Warfare 2's release, exclusive benefits have been announced for PlayStation players, including monthly double XP events, free seasonal bundles, and two additional loadout slots. The exclusive benefits have been the subject of scorn from players, especially those on other platforms, with some, like Rebs Gaming, taking to Twitter to protest the exclusivity. Although many s have responded in kind, pointing out the apparent hypocrisy in criticisms of Microsoft's Activision acquisition (potentially leading to CoD going Xbox exclusive), some has also taken to pointing out that the PlayStation benefits are mostly cosmetic, and have also been a preexisting trend in the series, with David Burdette and others pointing out that PlayStation exclusive benefits have existed since Cold War.
Modern Warfare 2's PlayStation Benefits Are Causing A Backlash
Playstation benefits, while controversial, are far from the first thing about Modern Warfare 2 to spark console war outrage - while Xbox's Call of Duty plans don't involve exclusivity for the near future, concerns have still been raised by some over Microsoft's buyout of the series' developer Activision Blizzard. With Call of Duty traditionally having been available on both platforms, any potential for future games in the series to be Xbox-exclusive could be a huge blow to Sony - although Xbox head Phil Spencer has stated that plans for the series involve expanding to more platforms instead of withdrawing from them. However, alongside issues like controversial gameplay features in the game's beta, as well as the physical disc being almost pointless, Modern Warfare 2 has certainly garnered more pre-release criticism than its developers would have liked.
Adding onto the game's divisive platform issues is Modern Warfare 2's potentially ruinous crossplay - a feature that is controversial for the advantage that PC players gain over console players due to the keyboard-and-mouse control scheme. Adding to the issue is the apparent inability for Xbox and PC players to disable crossplay, a feature which is present in-game on PlayStation. While potential solutions have been found in the Xbox's own settings being able to limit crossplay, the difference between the two console versions has further fueled arguments of MW2 having a PlayStation bias, compounding the issues of the game's divisive PlayStation benefits.
While console war debates and exclusivity can be contentious topics, many players can certainly find it disappointing to miss out on benefits simply for playing on a different platform. Modern Warfare 2 returning CoD to Steam potentially escalates the issue even further, as it brings in even more of a player base that will miss out on PlayStation-exclusive benefits. While Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is likely to be an enjoyable experience regardless of platform, the PlayStation perks could sting for those on PC or Xbox.
Source: Rebs Gaming/Twitter, David Burdette/Twitter
Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.
