An Introduction to Call of Duty’s New Era

Welcome to the new era for Call of Duty^®.

On October 20, anyone who pre-purchased Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II gets Early Access to the game’s Campaign*, up to one week before the game’s official launch on October 28.

That Early Access period marks the end of a 141-day journey since the game’s reveal announcement on June 2, one that featured plenty of intel:

• First, we were reintroduced to Task Force 141, taking a quick dive into its global Campaign with one of its missions: Dark Water.
• Through multiple Intel Drops, lead developer Infinity Ward explained key development concepts across Modern Warfare II, including its new Gunsmith.  
• Call of Duty®: Next released a wealth of intel; among other announcements, we saw the game’s innovative Multiplayer in action, hinted at the evolved Special Ops, and even went farther into the future with Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, a game that shares the same engine — and locations — as Modern Warfare II.
• Then we had the largest Beta in Call of Duty history, giving an early preview of Modern Warfare II’s Multiplayer to more community members than ever before.

*One week based on estimated access; Actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.

This announcement is the final piece of intel before your hands-on introduction to Call of Duty’s new era with Modern Warfare II Campaign Early Access.

And with it begins an exciting two months of content, through the start of Season 01 and the release of Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0:

October 19 – 10 AM PT, All Platforms

Modern Warfare II Campaign Early Access Pre-Load Begins.

Pre-purchase now and get the Campaign Early Access experience ready to play.

October 20 – 10 AM PT, All Platforms

Modern Warfare II Campaign Early Access Begins.

Experience what made Task Force 141 become the iconic and legendary squad that it is today, as the globe-trotting and breathtaking story continues from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® (2019).

October 26 – 10 AM PT – PC (Battle.net)

Full Game Pre-Load Begins.

Depending on platform, pre-load the rest of Modern Warfare II before or during Campaign Early Access to ensure Multiplayer and Special Ops are ready to play at launch.

October 27 – PC – See Map Above for Timing

Modern Warfare II Officially Launches.

In addition to the Campaign, dive into an immersive, world-class Multiplayer and an evolved Special Ops co-op experience. Also, RICOCHET Anti-Cheat fully activates around the world with new and updated security measures.

October 28 to November 15

Modern Warfare II Pre-Season.

Level up through the Military Ranks to unlock all base Loadout items, complete each Weapon Platform’s progression tree to unlock all weapons and attachments, and progress through each Special Ops Kit’s tier system ahead of Season 01. Once the game launches, Vault Edition owners gain access to the FJX Cinder Weapon Vault** and Red Team 141 Operator Pack, and   for those who unlocked rewards during Campaign Early Access and the Beta, rewards will become available once the full game is live.

November 16

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, DMZ and Battle Royale modes Launch Alongside Modern Warfare II Season 01.

In addition to a host of other content, a returning fan-favorite Multiplayer map and additional Special Ops missions arrive to Modern Warfare II. All players can drop into all-new Al Mazrah map as part of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, survive a brand-new experience in DMZ, and enjoy a new Battle Pass system and two free functional weapons. Vault Edition owners can activate their free seasonal Battle Pass unlock and 50 Tier Skips***.

December 14

Season 01 Reloaded Introduces Raids.

Special Ops receives the very first episode of Raids for Operators to master. Plus, another legendary Multiplayer map comes to Modern Warfare II, while Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 has its first post-launch update.

WEEK ZERO: EARLY CAMPAIGN ACCESS OVERVIEW

Available with digital pre-purchase, Campaign Early Access gives you:

– An immersive introduction to Modern Warfare II. Take the full Early Access period to learn about Task Force 141, its ties to the Mexican Special Forces, and the overall foundational narrative to the next chapter of the Modern Warfare universe’s story.

– A head start on earning campaign completion unlocks. The Union Guard Weapon Blueprint, four base Operators, and cosmetic items are yours to keep for Multiplayer, Special Ops, and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 just by completing the Campaign. Plus, get extra time to achieve platform-specific accolades.

Campaign — The Next Chapter of the Modern Warfare Story

The Modern Warfare II Campaign is an indirect continuation of the Modern Warfare® (2019) story, picking up three years after Task Force 141’s original formation.

Under the supervision of Station Chief Kate Laswell, Captain John Price creates the international special operations group with two hand-picked selections from his storied military history – John “Soap” MacTavish and Simon “Ghost” Riley – and Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, the former Special Air Service Sergeant who worked alongside Price during the events of Modern Warfare.

Over the next 36 months, Task Force 141 goes dark to perform classified missions around the globe, leading up to the beginning of Modern Warfare II’s story:

When a United States airstrike kills a foreign general, his next in line vows revenge, partnering with an international drug cartel to transport stolen U.S. ballistic missiles. With narcotics smuggling lanes at their disposal, a terror network is poised to launch a missile attack against United States targets unless Task Force 141 can stop them…

But in order to do so, can they become the very thing they sought to destroy?

Playing as and alongside members of Task Force 141, Mexican Special Forces, and Shadow Company, you will travel across multiple continents to prevent a global crisis while untangling a web of crime and deception. From piloting Gunships and battling within a convoy to identifying high-value targets and stealthily navigating underwater, you will need to become a true Tier One Operator to survive this pulse-pounding Campaign.

Take the full week to explore this story, and you may find some critical intel along the way…

Campaign — Prepare for Launch with Completion Rewards, Platform-Specific Accolades

the Modern Warfare II Campaign offers completion rewards for use in Multiplayer, Special Ops, and Warzone 2.0.

This is everything you can unlock in order:

• Calling Card: “Soap’s Determination”
• Emblem: “What’s Done is Done”
• 30 Minute Double XP Token
• 30 Minute Double Weapon XP Token
• Calling Card: “Chainlinked”
• Base Operator: Chuy
• 30 Minute Double XP Token
• 30 Minute Double Weapon XP Token
• Calling Card: “Gaz”
• Base Operator: Nova
• 1 Hour Double XP Token
• 1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token
• Calling Card: Shadow Company Ops
• Base Operator: Reyes
• 1 Hour Double XP Token
• 1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token
• Base Operator: Hutch

This Assault Rifle variant is Captain Price’s signature weapon that comes with four pre-equipped attachments: the Aim OP-V4 Reflex Optic, the SZ 1MW PEQ Laser, the FSS Covert V Silencer on the Muzzle, and the Lockgrip Pricision-40 Underbarrel Vertical Grip.

These attachments make this Weapon Blueprint an all-around great Primary Weapon; it is an excellent starting point for players of all skill levels across all game modes. Compared to the base weapon, this Weapon Blueprint offers more stability when aiming, reduced vertical and horizontal recoil, and a clear sight picture among other benefits like sound suppression.

Plus, you can use the Early Access period to knock out most of the platform-specific accolades, which are equal parts points of pride and practice for other modes.

One of these challenges involves completing Campaign on either of the hardest difficulty settings: Veteran and Realism. The latter turns off all HUD and lowers health for a true test of ability. Complete it, and you will be well prepared to face the AI combatants in Special Ops, Multiplayer, and Warzone 2.0.

The accolades and items can be unlocked at any time in Modern Warfare II. However, with a full week of Early Access, this is your opportunity to earn everything in Campaign before the full Modern Warfare II game launches.

MULTIPLAYER AND SPECIAL OPS OVERVIEW

Multiplayer — Innovative, Immersive, and World-Class; More Intel Before Release

Modern Warfare II Multiplayer defines “emergent gameplay” with a focus on variety; those who played the Beta already got a glimpse of the game’s assortment of modes, locales, and Loadout items.

On day one, there will be 12 unique modes: 10 traditional modes on Core Maps and two Ground War modes on Battle Maps.

These maps are grouped into one of three regional categories:

One Multiplayer map within Al Mazrah is Al Bagra Fortress, located on the southern shore of the region.

Al Mazrah

This metropolitan area and its outskirts within the Republic of Adal serves as the main region for Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.

Several Core and Battle Maps will be based in this region, making Multiplayer a phenomenal place to learn some of its points of interest in detail.

One Multiplayer map within Las Almas is Mercado Las Almas, centrally located within the region’s southeastern town.

Las Almas

A major place of interest within the Modern Warfare II Campaign, Las Almas is a Central American region with a similar footprint to Al Mazrah.

In Multiplayer, the region will host a similar split of Core and Battle Maps.

One Multiplayer map from elsewhere in the Modern Warfare II universe.

Rest of the World

The last group of Multiplayer locales is an assortment of Core Maps with no specific region. A mixture of places within the Campaign and completely outside of the entire main storyline, these maps round out the Modern Warfare II universe with glimpses of what is happening outside of Al Mazrah and Las Almas.

Prior to the full game release, expect this blog to bring you a full breakdown of all Multiplayer-specific features, including maps, modes, and launch Playlists; tips on creating a Loadout; and more.

Special Ops — Replayable Co-Op, Raids Coming in Season 01

An evolution of the Special Ops mode from Modern Warfare (2019), this co-op experience will initially feature three missions at launch, all taking place in Al Mazrah:

Low Profile

Infiltrate a town in the dead of night to uncover intel and evidence left behind by Al Qatala before exfiltrating. Stealth is key to survival.

Denied Area

Multiple SAM turrets are preventing reinforcements from entering Al Mazrah. With the help of a vehicle, navigate through the winding streets of a suburb to destroy them; then speed over to the exfil plane to escape.

Defender: Mt Zaya

A love letter to fans of survival modes — defend the observatory from increasingly difficult waves of enemies attempting to detonate bombs. Between each wave, Operators can spend cash to get items, such as Killstreaks, Self-Revive kits, and armor plates.

In Special Ops, Operators will have access to a Backpack to store equipment and one of three Kits that are similar to a set of Perks, Field Upgrades, and Killstreaks in Multiplayer:

Assault: Kit focused on increased armor with an Armor Box Field Upgrade — later levels include the Assault Suit munition (think mini-Juggernaut), increased armor capacity, and free Stims included in the Backpack.

Medic: Kit focused on quicker revives with a Revive Pistol Field Upgrade for ranged instant revives — later levels include a free Bomb Drone, similar benefits to the Double Time Perk, and free Claymores and anti-tank mines included in the Backpack.

Recon: Kit focused on better equipment usage with a Snapshot Pulse Field Upgrade to see nearby enemies — later levels include the ability to automatically restock Lethals and Tacticals over time, the ability to carry extra equipment, and a free Heartbeat Sensor and Spotter Scope included in the Backpack.

Kits are leveled up by earning Stars through missions and mission-related challenges, which gives all three of these launch missions plenty of replayability.

We highly recommend completing all three Special Ops missions with three stars and have at least one Kit leveled up to Tier 5 before Raids, a direct continuation of the Campaign, are introduced to Special Ops later in Season 01.

Progression — The Journey at Launch, More Intel Prior to Release

At launch, there is more to Modern Warfare II than the traditional Military Ranks.

Prior to Season 01, which will feature a new Battle Pass system and Seasonal Prestige, players will have access to the following Progression systems:

• Military Ranks: From Levels 1–55, unlock all Weapon Platforms, Multiplayer Loadout Items, and Special Ops Kits.
• Weapon Platforms: Each Weapon Platform will feature Camo and Mastery challenges. Most will include Progression trees with the ability to unlock platform-specific and universal attachments, with some also allowing you to unlock Receivers, which serve as additional functional weapons within the platform.
• Special Ops Kits: Each Special Ops Kit can be leveled up — to a maximum of Rank 10 — by replaying missions or completing challenges to earn Stars.
• Base Operator Unlock Challenges: Earn 18 Operators through challenges related to Campaign, Multiplayer, and Special Ops.
• Daily Challenges: In Multiplayer and Special Ops, complete three challenges every day for XP rewards and unlock a bonus challenge, which offers triple the XP of a regular daily challenge.
• Additional Challenges: Career Milestone challenges, such as winning matches on specific game modes, will also be available for XP and cosmetic rewards.

Expect a breakdown of all these Progression systems in a dedicated blog within the game’s release window.

THE BEST WAY TO PREPARE FOR WARZONE 2.0, DROPPING ON NOV. 16

Through Modern Warfare II Multiplayer and Special Ops, familiarize yourself with the core of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0:

Operators — 25 Available at Launch. Eighteen can be unlocked during the Modern Warfare II pre-season. Plus, get two Mil-Sim Operators with four unique outfits unlocked by default, four unlocked via the Vault Edition.

Weapons — Over 30 Weapon Platforms at Launch for Over 50 Unique Weapons. Get anywhere from one to six unique weapons per platform. Vault Edition owners gain access to the FJX Cinder Weapon Vault, which contains all Receivers and attachments for one of the Weapon Platforms available at launch. Beta participants will have access to both their Weapon Blueprints, if unlocked during the Beta period.

Gameplay Mechanics. Movement, firing, and other fundamental features are shared between all games within the Modern Warfare II universe.

RICOCHET Anti-Cheat™. The system will be actively monitoring and taking action against cheaters in Modern Warfare II, learning how they operate to mitigate unfair play across both games.

Operators — Meet SpecGru and KorTac

Following the events of the Campaign, two private military contractors — SpecGru and KorTac — are founded as special forces for hire, capable of carrying out international tactical operations.

These two factions are ready to deploy in Modern Warfare II Multiplayer and Special Ops at launch. All players will automatically have access to the default Mil-Sim Operators for each faction, which have four unique outfits.

Eighteen more Operators can be unlocked through Campaign, Multiplayer, and Special Ops challenges, to be detailed as part of our Progression overview later this month.

In addition, Price, Farah, Soap and Ghost Operators are available via the Vault Edition’s Red Team 141 pack.

Once unlocked, all these Operators will also be available in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, alongside new Operators that will arrive in Season 01 and beyond.

Here is the full roster of non-Mil-Sim Operators across the two factions:

SpecGru Operators

Manuel “Chuy”

Ordaz: A Mexican soldier formerly enlisted in the Cuerpo de Fuerzas Especiales, off the recommendation of Alejandro Vargas. Using the knowledge he gained while serving with the Mexican Special Forces, he currently trains locals to defend against cartel corruption, even when outmanned or outgunned.

Sobieslaw “Gromsko” Kościuszko: A Polish modern-day hussar part of Jednostka Wojskowa 2305, AKA the GROM (Group for Operational Maneuvering Response). Known for his extensive medical training and ability to conduct covert operations, just as the group’s mottos would suggest.

Gustavo “Gus” Rodriguez: A Costa Rican police officer within the Unidad Especial de Intervencion counterterrorism and hostage unit, specializing in asset rescue and protection. Formerly a member of his country’s Fuerza Pública law enforcement agency.

Kleópatros “Kleo” Gavras: A Greek Zeta Amphibious Raiders Squadron (Z’MAK) special forces officer, part of the greater Hellenic Armed Forces. Specializes in stealth combat and known for her “Green Eyes of Hades,” the last thing her enemies see before their death.

Tse “Luna” Míngzhū: A first-generation Singaporean-American West Point graduate, part of the Ground Branch within the CIA’s Special Activity Center (SAC) following refusal of promotion. Was critical in tracking down the Al Qatala cell responsible for the London terror attacks in the Modern Warfare (2019) Campaign.

Nila “Nova” Brown: A British 42 Commando L Company leader within the Royal Marines, specializing in rescuing downed airmen. A third-generation pilot, her nickname was awarded after her Royal Air Force mission, where she sacrificed her aircraft to destroy another in “supernova” fashion.

Enzo “Reyes”: A former Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) member with encyclopedic knowledge of military history and small team tactics. After lying about his age and forging signatures for selection, he butted heads with instructors before serving multiple tours in Al-Mazrah and Urzikstan, leaving in 2020 to join multi-national “deniable forces.”

Zhiqiang “Zimo” Wong: A Chinese private military contractor formerly a member of the Sharp Blade Commandos.

“Farah” Karim (Red Team 141): Founder and leader of the Urzikstan Liberation Force. A trusted ally to Task Force 141 and estranged sister to Hadir, an Al Qatala asset whose fate is currently unknown.

Simon “Ghost” Riley (Red Team 141): A lieutenant within Task Force 141, serving on numerous short-term covert assignments in classified locations. Redacted past. Man of few words. Legendary soldier that needs no introduction.

John “Price” (Red Team 141): Former 22nd Special Air Service Regiment member known by call sign “Bravo Six.” Currently leads Joint Operations squadron Task Force 141, with the help of CIA Station Chief Kate Laswell and oversight of General Shepherd under the Five Eyes Alliance.

Johnny “Soap” Mactavish (Red Team 141): Sniper and demolitions expert hand-selected for Task Force 141. Youngest candidate to pass Special Air Service (SAS) selection in Royal Army history, known for “cleaning house” as a highly decorated officer under the tutelage of Captain John Price.

KorTac Operators

Tor “Aksel” Eriksen: A Norwegian Marinejegerkommandoen all-around specialist. Considered a modern-day Viking with a full spectrum of abilities, from diving to HALO jumping, E.O.D. to hostage rescue situations.

“Calisto” Allard: A French-Spanish descendent of France’s last royal family who rebelled to join the elite Chasseurs Alpins of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade. An expert of high-altitude combat known for incredible accuracy, especially her preferred weapon: the bow.

Declan Mac“Conor”: An Irish Defense Forces insurgency specialist within the Army Ranger Wing. Known for leading counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and special reconnaissance operations.

“Fender” Takacs: A Hungarian Zászlós (Master Sergeant) of the country’s Defense Forces who specializes in high-value targets, demolitions, and urban warfare. Raised without knowing the identity of his father, a “great” CIA Operator, he was told to always hide his face, doing so with a custom helmet.

Kim “Horangi” Hong-jin (Beta Operator Skin Reward): A South-Korean gambler turned soldier of fortune, once assigned to the ROK Armed Force’s 13th Special Mission Brigade. Expert in subduing high-value targets with extreme risk tendencies.

Darnell “Hutch” Hutchinson: An American college football athlete turned Marine network and data specialist. With the help of the Call of Duty Endowment, he found employment in the private cybersecurity sector after four years of active-duty service, but ultimately transitioned back once he learned of the Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command (MARFORCYBER).

“König”: An Austrian Jagdkommando within his country’s Special Forces, only known to be a mountain of a man with a sniper hood covering his face.

Rozlin “Roze” Helms: An American Army Ranger, who was formerly contracted by the Jackals to eliminate Al Qatala in Africa, and Shadow Company to seek order in Verdansk. Highly sought after for her proficiency in small-unit tactics and close-combat engagements, she ripped up her contract within the tumultuous company and her dark suits in early 2022 to align with SpecGru.

Salvatrice “Stiletto” Muselli: An Italian law enforcement officer within the Carabinieri’s Anti-Mafia and Anti-Drug Task Forces, notorious for her signature switchblade. A fearless urban-warfare specialist that used her experience against the Cammora to train police forces against other crime syndicates and terrorist cells, including those in Las Almas.

Sami “Zero” Zakaria: An Egyptian Task Force 777 Operator, part of the counter-terrorism unit within the country’s premier El-Sa’ka Forces. His nickname comes from his journey to service: grief-stricken after surviving a nightclub attack that saw him lose his sisters, he sacrificed his opulent and privileged life for a selfless position in protecting others.

Weapons — Weapon Platforms and the Gunsmith

At launch, there will be 33 unique Weapon Platforms available to unlock through the Military Ranks. Each Weapon Platform can contain up to six weapons, which can be obtained by leveling up specific weapons within a Weapon Platform.

By unlocking all these Weapon Platforms and completing all applicable Weapon Platform progression thresholds, you will have 51 Primary and Secondary Weapons to choose for a loadout:

Expect ten Assault Rifles, four Battle Rifles, seven Submachine Guns, six Light Machine Guns, four Shotguns, six Marksman Rifles, three Sniper Rifles, one Riot Shield, five Sidearms, four Launchers, and one Melee secondary weapon.

One Shared Engine

Along with weapons and Operators, Modern Warfare II shares its core features with Warzone 2.0.

From movement — boots on the ground, swimming, and vehicles — to firing and even locations, playing Modern Warfare II allows you to get comfortable with most of what you will find in the forthcoming free-to-play Battle Royale experience.

RICOCHET Anti-Cheat on Day One

Modern Warfare II will launch with a new unified security platform that features new and returning mitigations to promote fair play.

Read the update from the RIOCHET Anti-Cheat team here for more information.

ADDITIONAL LAUNCH INTEL

Outside of Modern Warfare II, get exclusive in-game rewards by watching any Twitch.tv stream of the game during launch week, and celebrate launch with new Task 141 themed gear at the Call of Duty Shop.

Incoming Twitch Drops — Oct. 28 to Nov. 5

Earn Modern Warfare II content for free, simply by watching your favorite streamer play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II Livestream on Twitch! We’ve prepared an impressive collection of Modern Warfare II special item drops that are unlocked between October 28 and November 5. Viewership rewards are shared across platform and will also be available in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.

Once you’ve linked your Call of Duty/Activision account to your Twitch Prime account, you can expect the following seven item unlocks as you continue to watch streamers who have these rewards activated:

Medallion 141 Weapon Charm: Unlocks at 15 minutes.

Death’s Angel Calling Card and Emblem: Unlocks at 30 minutes.

Something In My Teeth Weapon Sticker: Unlocks at 45 minutes.

Watchdog 141 Weapon Blueprint: Unlocks at 60 minutes.

Ready to earn these special drops? Then follow these three easy steps:

Twitch: Call of Duty: Next Viewership Rewards — How to Earn

1. Sign up: Create your Call of Duty/Activision account HERE. Note that if you already have an Activision account or a Call of Duty account, you’re all set.

2. Link: Connect your Twitch Prime account with your Call of Duty/Activision account HERE.

3. Earn Rewards: Watch any of your favorite Call of Duty streamers playing Modern Warfare II that have Drops enabled. Be sure you’re signed in with a linked account to earn rewards.

Gear Up for Launch at the COD Shop

The Call of Duty Shop is reloaded with Task Force 141 gear, including an anime-inspired hoodie and dozens of other outfits for the whole squad.

Head to the Shop now and ready up for launch.

Pre-purchase Now for Early Access, Rewards

As this exciting year of Modern Warfare II kicks off with Campaign Early Access on October 20, do not be left behind with this transition to the new era of Call of Duty.

Players who pre-purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will receive up to one week early access to the full Modern Warfare II Campaign. Players who pre-purchase the Vault Edition of Modern Warfare II will receive this benefit plus the Red Team 141 Operator Pack, FJX Cinder Weapon Vault**, Season 01 Battle Pass, and 50 Tier Skips***.

For complete information, read here.

Stay frosty.

*One week based on estimated access; actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.

**Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.

*** Battle Pass and Tier Skips, or equivalent versions, will be accessible in Modern Warfare II once the Season 01 Battle Pass, or equivalent system, is made available in-game. Battle Pass redemption applies to one season of Modern Warfare II Battle Pass, or equivalent system, only.

A mobile phone number must be linked to your Battle.net® account to play Modern Warfare® II.

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