Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

"The shooter to end all shooters—Modern Warfare 2."

- Adam Sessler, co-host of X-Play "The most anticipated game of the year—Modern Warfare 2."

- Adam Sessler, co-host of X-Play

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, also referred to as simply Modern Warfare 2 and referred to during early development as Call of Duty 6, is the sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It was developed by Infinity Ward, and was released on November 10, 2009, the United States Marine Corps birthday and one day before Veteran's Day. It was officially announced by Activision Blizzard on March 26, 2009, after being prematurely revealed on December 8, 2008.

Gameplay
The new Spec-Ops mode takes the place of the co-op campaign but features a whole new set of missions and objectives. It allows 1 player to play alone or 2 players to play split-screen or online.

NPCs carry customized weaponry, for example AK-47's with ACOG Scope and FAMAS with Red Dot Sight. In addition, there are numerous small additions, such as a different melee stance used with the USP .45 which involves holding the pistol with the combat knife out, allowing for faster knife attacks. Also, throwing knives are usable in multiplayer in place of primary grenades. They are not, however, usable in Single Player.

Objective way-points are now marked on the screen in single player, along with distance from the way-point in meters.

Ranks
For more information on ranks and what is unlocked as you go through them, click here.

Playlists

 * Team Deathmatch
 * Mercenary Team Deathmatch
 * Free-For-All
 * Domination
 * Ground War
 * Demolition
 * Sabotage
 * Headquarters Pro
 * Search and Destroy
 * Capture the Flag
 * 3rd Person Team Tactical
 * Hardcore Ricochet: S&D
 * Hardcore Team Deathmatch
 * 3rd Person Cage Match
 * Team Deathmatch Express
 * Mosh Pit
 * Hardcore Ricochet:HQ Pro

Former Playlists

 * 3rd Person Team Deathmatch
 * 3rd Person Hardcore Team Deathmatch

Factions (* indicates that the specific faction is playable in multiplayer) 
 * Task Force 141 *
 * US Army Rangers *
 * Ultranationalists/Spetsnaz*
 * Brazilian Militia *
 * OpFor*
 * Loyalists/Internal Troops
 * Navy SEALs*
 * CIA (Central Intelligence Agency)
 * Shadow Company

Locations

 * Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 * Washington, D.C., USA
 * Afghanistan
 * Virginia
 * Siberia, Russia
 * Sheremetyevo International Airport, Russia (Called Zakhaev International Airport in the game)
 * International Space Station
 * Tian Shan Range, Kazakhstan

Special Ops
A new Special Ops mode includes one and two player cooperative play. Special Ops mode includes several fast-paced action missions similar to Mile High Club which are more difficult than normal campaign missions and are not related to the main storyline. It picks out certain parts of the single player campaign that "work well with co-op". Missions are unlocked by earning stars, which are acquired by playing levels at certain difficulties. Regular difficulty earns one star, hardened earns two, and veteran earns three. Missions are divided into five groups, named Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Echo - the last said to be the hardest. Within the groups there are types of missions such as "Breach and Clear" and "Elimination". There are even special enemy types, such as those using riot shields, or even Special Ops exclusive "Juggernauts" wearing heavy armor.

Offline Multiplayer
Modern Warfare 2 also features offline multiplayer on a single console, similarly to previous installments of Call of Duty. Up to four players can play on a single console. Offline multiplayer features all of the same game modes and custom settings as online private matches, and for the first time allows players to unlock things and customize their classes just like in the online modes. One of the offline multiplayer settings enables players to play with everything that they have unlocked online, but playing offline will not earn them XP for their online account, nor will anything they do offline affect any of their online leaderboard stats.

Characters

 * Task Force 141
 * Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson is a playable character and member of Task Force 141.
 * Captain "Soap" MacTavish (The main playable character from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare) is the Commanding officer of Task Force 141.
 * Captain John Price (Soap's commanding officer from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare) returns to fight alongside Soap.
 * Sergeant Simon "Ghost" Riley is a member Task Force 141.
 * Nikolai (a Loyalist that was rescued by Captain Price and his squad in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare) returns in the missions The Hornet's Nest, Endgame, and The Enemy Of My Enemy.


 * U.S. Army Rangers
 * Lt. General Shepherd is the commander of the U.S. forces and Task Force 141.
 * Private James Ramirez is a U.S. Army Ranger, and a playable character.
 * Sergeant Foley is a the leader of Ramirez's squad in the U.S. Army Rangers.
 * Private First Class Joseph Allen is in Foley's squad of the U.S. Army Rangers, and later a member of the C.I.A.
 * Corporal Jake Dunn is the second in command in Foley's squad in the U.S. Army Rangers.
 * Raptor is a High-Value Individual rescued in "Wolverines!". He carries valuable information in a briefcase.


 * Central Intelligence Agency
 * Alexei Borodin is the undercover alias of Joseph Allen in No Russian.


 * Russian Federation
 * Major Petrov is the airfield commander in the level Cliffhanger.


 * Ultranationalists 
 * Vladimir Makarov is the new leader of the Ultranationalists.
 * Viktor is one of the terrorists in "No Russian".
 * Anatoly is one of the terrorists in "No Russian".
 * Lev is one of the terrorists in "No Russian".
 * Kiril is one of the terrorists in "No Russian".


 * Brazilian Militia
 * Alejandro Rojas is an arms dealer based in Rio de Janiero.
 * Faust is a character who is an associate of Rojas seen in "Takedown".

Plot
Modern Warfare 2 is set five years after the conclusion of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Despite the efforts of the Marines and the SAS, the Ultranationalists seize control of Russia and enshrine Imran Zakhaev, the deceased leader of the Ultrantionalists, a hero and martyr. Meanwhile, Vladimir Makarov, one of Zakhaev's former lieutenants, begins a reign of terror against Europe by staging numerous terror attacks. The game begins in Afghanistan, where US Army Ranger Private Allen of 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment participates in an operation to retake an Afghan city from local militia. Impressed, General Shepherd recruits Allen as a CIA operative and places him in Makarov's organization as an undercover operative. Meanwhile, Soap and Roach infiltrate a Russian airbase to recover an American ACS module. Allen then participates with Makarov in a terrorist attack on a Russian airport.However, Makarov is somehow aware that Allen is an undercover CIA agent, and kills Allen before fleeing the airport. The terrorist attack was made to look as if done by Americans as Makarov and his squad speak English and use NATO weapons (i.e. M4A1 and M240). Allen's body is left behind for the Russians to find, which will be identified as American and incite anti-American sentiment in Russia.

Angered by what they believe is an American-supported terrorist attack, Russia initiates a surprise invasion of the United States East Coast. The 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment is called upon to defend Virginia and Washington D.C. from the Russian attack. Meanwhile, Task Force 141 now shifts their attention to Makarov. They go to Rio de Janeiro to investigate an alleged contact of Makarov, Alejandro Rojas. After capturing and interrogating Rojas, the Task Force discovers that one of Makarov's most hated enemies, known as Prisoner 627, is being held in a Russian prison. Soap decides to spring Prisoner 627 and use him as bait to draw Makarov out. With assistance from the Navy SEALs, Marines, and American Navy, Task Force 141 storms The Gulag to free Prisoner 627, who is revealed to be Captain Price. Price agrees to help them track down Makarov, but knows they must do something extreme to end the war. He temporarily goes rogue, hijacks a Russian nuclear submarine, and launches an ICBM at Washington D.C. However, Price rigs the warhead to explode in the upper atmosphere, which destroys the International Space Station but spares Washington.

The resulting electromagnetic pulse cripples both the US and Russian forces in the city. Planes and other flying vehicles crash to earth, and Sergeant Foley and his squad discover that the Air Force has assumed that D.C. is lost and carpet bomb the city. The only way to abort the operation is to set off green flares on the roof of the White House, which is under Russian control. Foley and his squad fight their way to the roof the building and manage to set off their flares in the nick of time, while green flares on the roofs of other D.C. landmarks signifies that the city remains firmly in American hands. Foley and the squad vow to take the fight to the Russians, burning down their capital just as they did to Washington.

However, Makarov is still on the loose. Narrowing down his hiding place to two separate locations, Task Force 141 decides to split up. Soap and Price go to the boneyards in Afghanistan, whilst Roach and Ghost raid Makarov's safehouse in the Caucasus Mountains. It is revealed to be a trap, but Task Force fights their way through the safehouse and obtain vital intelligence to put an end to him for good. However, General Shepherd betrays them and kills both Ghost and Roach. He intends to take advantage of the global crisis to turn himself into a global hero as well as write history how he sees fit. Price and Soap manage to escape Shepherd's ambush, and convinces Makarov to reveal Shepherd's location to them. In Afghanistan, Soap and Price decide to take revenge on him in one final, bloody suicide mission. They attack his base there, but he escapes on a boat. They chase him on a boat down a Afghan river, and Price shoots the helicopter Shephard tries to escape in down, but he and Soap fall down a waterfall. The heavily wounded Soap stumbes through the crash site and chases Shepherd, but Shepherd knocks him out and stabs him with a Knife. As Soap lay dying, Shepherd and Price fight. By ripping the knife out of his own chest, Soap manages to kill Shepherd with a knife throw to the head. Nikolai then arrives to extract them. Price warns Nikolai that they will be international fugitives for what they've done, but Nikolai insists he knows a safe place to take them.



Campaign missions
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Bonus
 * S.S.D.D. — Help train the Afghan militia and run the training course for General Shepherd.
 * Team Player — Assault an Afghan town after the bridge is destroyed by OpFor terrorists.
 * Cliffhanger — Infiltrate a Russian mountain base with Capt. MacTavish and recover a downed ACS module.
 * No Russian — Assault a Russian airport with Vladimir Makarov while undercover.
 * Takedown — Engage in a running fire-fight throughout Rio de Janeiro to capture an arms dealer named Rojas.
 * Wolverines! — Locate and protect codename Raptor during the beginning of the Russian invasion of America.
 * The Hornet's Nest — Fight through the Brazilian Militia defences and escape the favela.
 * Exodus — Crush Russian forces in the suburbs and retrieve the HVI from the panic room.
 * The Only Easy Day...Was Yesterday — Infiltrate an oil-rig, rescue hostages, and clear the way to the Gulag.
 * The Gulag — Assault a Russian Gulag and rescue Prisoner #627.
 * Of Their Own Accord — Assault Russian positions at the Department of Commerce, and protect the evacuation site at the Washington Monument.
 * Contingency — Evade enemy patrols, crush Russian defences at the sub base, and help Cpt. Price secure a nuclear submarine.
 * Second Sun — Dodge falling debris, and push through remaining Russian forces to Whiskey Hotel.
 * Whiskey Hotel — Assault the White House, clear out Russian forces, and get to the roof to wave off friendly fighters.
 * Loose Ends — Search for Makarov at a safehouse on the Georgian/Russian border, and capture Makarov's Operations Playbook.
 * The Enemy Of My Enemy — Let Shepherd's and Makarov's men kill each other and link up with Captain Price to escape the Boneyard with Nikolai.
 * Just Like Old Times — Search the Afghan cave network for Shepherd.
 * Endgame — Chase and kill Shepherd through the rivers with Price.
 * Museum — See dioramas of every level, location, and event in the storyline in a museum. Every weapon featured in game is also found here, and the player is able to pick up any of them. An Ammo Box Care Package is available in the 2 rooms the weapons are found in. A red bell in the 2 rooms with NPCs calls all the characters featured in the dioramas in the individual rooms to action, and they all try to kill the player. A third room features vehicles used, but are not animated like the characters in the other two rooms.

Title
Due to the commercial success of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward thought that the modern setting had entered unto a "world of its own," they then dropped the prefix from the title. Activision was reportedly getting "bored" with the series, and so ran with the idea. It was later found from surveys that there was a 40% drop in brand awareness after the removal of the "Call of Duty" prefix. At E3 2009 the customer intent to buy the game had dropped significantly because of the title change. It is speculated that Activision chose to bring the Call of Duty prefix back in response to these surveys in order to prevent confusion with consumers. The Call of Duty prefix is still absent from the Hardened and Prestige editions.

Weapon list
This is a list of all weapons that are featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. In multiplayer, the weapon class system has been completely revamped from the version in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Secondary weapons are no longer tied to only pistols; they now include shotguns, machine pistols, and launchers, thus negating the use of the Overkill perk. Some weapon attachments are now unlocked through the use of other attachments, such as getting 20 kills looking through the ACOG Scope to unlock the Thermal Scope or 60 kills looking down the RDS to unlock the Holographic Sight.







Perks
Players can choose one perk from each of the three main tiers and one Death Streak perk for a single class loadout. Three kill streaks can also be chosen, but these are not class-specific.

Pro perks are upgraded versions of existing perks that are unlocked by fulfilling certain requirements with the original. All perks have Pro versions and all are unlocked by the Pro IV challenge for that specific perk. Note that a Pro V challenge exists but the only reward for completion is XP (albeit a lot). Pro perks include the benefits of the original version while adding new benefits. Because of the addition of Pro versions, there are less perks from the previous game as the abilities they grant in the other games are granted by the Pro versions in this game.

Perk 1

 * Start - Marathon: Unlimited sprint
 * Marathon Pro: Climb obstacles faster - Run 26 miles with Marathon
 * Start - Sleight of Hand: Faster reloading
 * Sleight of Hand Pro: Faster aiming down the sights - Get 120 kills with Sleight of Hand
 * Lv. 13 - Scavenger: Resupply from dead enemies (Replacement for Frag x3 and Special Grenades x3, as it allows you to pick up grenades from bodies)
 * Scavenger Pro: Extra magazines - Resupply 100 times while using Scavenger (Replacement for Bandolier)
 * Lv. 21 - Bling: Two primary weapon attachments
 * Bling Pro: Two secondary weapon attachments - Get 200 kills using a weapon with 2 attachments
 * Lv. 45 - One Man Army: Swap classes at any time; switch takes five seconds and replaces secondary weapon (Spiritual successor to Overkill)
 * One Man Army Pro: Swap classes faster - Get 120 kills using One Man Army

Perk 2

 * Start - Stopping Power: Increased bullet damage against enemy players
 * Stopping Power Pro: Extra damage against enemy vehicles (helicopters, AC-130s, etc.) - Get 250 kills using Stopping Power
 * Start - Lightweight: Move faster
 * Lightweight Pro: Quicker aim after sprinting - Sprint 30 miles using Lightweight
 * Lv. 9 - Hardline: Kill Streaks require one less kill
 * Hardline Pro: Death Streaks require one less death - Get 40 killstreaks while using Hardline
 * Lv. 25 - Cold-Blooded: Undetectable by UAVs, air support, sentries and thermal
 * Cold-Blooded Pro: No red crosshair or name when targeted - Destroy 40 enemy killstreak rewards using Cold Blooded
 * Lv. 33 - Danger Close: Increased explosive weapons damage (replacement for Sonic Boom or Fireworks)
 * Danger Close Pro: Extra air support damage - Get 100 kills with explosives while using Danger Close

Perk 3

 * Start - Commando: Increased melee distance
 * Commando Pro: No fall damage - Get 20 melee kills while using Commando
 * Start - Steady Aim: Increased hip-fire accuracy
 * Steady Aim Pro: Longer hold-breath duration - Get 80 hipfire kills using Steady Aim (replacement for Iron Lungs)
 * Lv. 17 - Scrambler: Jams enemy radar near the player
 * Scrambler Pro: Delay enemy claymore explosions - Get 50 close range kills using Scrambler
 * Lv. 29 - Ninja: Invisible to Heartbeat Sensor
 * Ninja Pro: Footsteps are silent - Get 50 close range kills using Ninja (replacement for Dead Silence)
 * Lv. 37 - SitRep: Detect enemy explosives and Tactical Insertions (replacement for Bomb Squad)
 * SitRep Pro: Louder enemy footsteps - Destroy 120 enemy devices using SitRep
 * Lv. 41 - Last Stand: Fall to the ground and use a secondary weapon until bleeding out
 * Last Stand Pro: Allows use of equipment while in Last Stand - Get 20 kills while in last stand.

Death Streak Perks
New Death Streak Perks are the opposite of Kill Streaks: these give the player certain rewards for being killed a certain amount of times in a row without getting a kill. Once the Death Streak activates, it remains active until the user gets a kill, no matter how many times the user dies until they get that kill. Only one can be equipped to a class. Unlike other Perks, Death Streak Perks do not have Pro versions.
 * Start - 4 deaths - Copycat: Copy the loadout (Weapons, Perks, and Attachments) of the enemy that killed you last.
 * Lv. 6 - 3 deaths - Painkiller: Double health for ten seconds after respawn.
 * Lv. 27 - 4 deaths - Martyrdom: Drop a live grenade when killed.
 * Lv. 39 - 4 deaths - Final Stand: Crawl around on the ground with any weapon before dying; full recovery if no damage is taken for a certain amount of time.

Killstreak Rewards
Players can select three killstreak Awards at a time. It appears as if a player's killstreak loadout cannot be changed from class to class; instead, one loadout will be used for all classes. Killstreaks now stack (getting a higher killstreak no longer gets rid of the lower unused one, but it will not be available until after the current killstreak is used). There are 15 kill streak Awards.
 * 3 - UAV: Deploys a UAV to scan the map and reveal enemy locations. Now able to be shot down.
 * 4 - Care Package: "Air drop a random killstreak or ammo". Deploys by throwing a red smoke grenade obtained after getting a 4 killstreak. The care package can be picked up by anyone once it hits the ground, including the enemy team. The Care Package can also kill, if it lands on a player.
 * 4 - Counter-UAV: Blocks an enemy UAV and disables their radar for the duration.
 * 5 - Sentry Gun: Allows the player to deploy an automated M5 Minigun Turret. The gun automatically fires at enemies in its line of sight, but it can be destroyed by enemy fire. Once deployed, the player who placed it can pick it back up and redeploy it somewhere else.
 * 5 - Predator Missile: Fires one controllable missile at a designated target area. User is vulnerable during use.
 * 6 - Precision Airstrike: Initiates an airstrike on a targeted area much like the Airstrike in Call of Duty 4. However, the user can now control the direction the airstrike comes from.
 * 7 - Harrier Strike: Deploys a small airstrike followed by a hovering harrier that will attack enemy players for a short time.
 * 7 - Attack Helicopter: Deploys a Hind (for Spetznaz, Militia and OpFor teams) or a Cobra armed with one minigun to attack enemy players.
 * 8 - Emergency Airdrop: Deploys a Cargo plane that drops four care packages.
 * 9 - Pave Low: Deploys a Sikorsky MH-53 armed with two gun turrets.
 * 9 - Stealth Bomber: Deploys a B2 Spirit that is invisible on the enemies radar. The bomber drops a large carpet bomb.
 * 11 - Chopper Gunner: Deploys a AH-64 Apache attack helicopter that the player controls. User is vulnerable during use.
 * 11 - AC-130: Deploys an AC-130 gunship that the player controls. User is vulnerable during use.
 * 15 - EMP: Deploys an Electromagnetic pulse that destroys enemy killsteaks and disables the enemies' HUD, radar and any other device that uses electronics (various attachments, C4, Claymores, Semtex, etc.)
 * 25 - Tactical Nuke: Calls in a nuclear weapon that detonates after 10 seconds, killing every player in the match and ending it in favor of the bomb user's team.

Rewards
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 features many rewards, unlockables, and bonuses, making sure that everyone is properly rewarded for their efforts.

Achievements/Trophies

 * Main article: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Achievements

The game features 50 achievements and 51 trophies worth a total of 1000 gamerscore.

Accolades

 * Main article: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Accolades

Accolades are awards earned in game and given after a match.

Callsigns

 * Main article: Callsigns

Callsigns are multiplayer nametags that appear on screen when a player achieves a kill, secures a command post, and other things. This is most likely the feature meant to "make players famous" that was mentioned in the Game Informer article.

XP Bonuses

 * Main article: XP

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 XP system was completely redone from previous games and players will now get XP for many more things.

Maps

 * Afghan: A large desert level. The level has a large crashed cargo airplane in the center with a cave system in the mountain next to it, along with a large hill. Across from the cave system in a man made concrete bunker and a poppy field.
 * Derail: An artic map featuring a small town and train loading station on each polar end with a creek running underneath a trainwreck in the center.
 * Estate: Wooded level surrounding an estate and nearby powerstation. The level is sloped downward with the estate at the top.
 * Favela: A shanty town level based off of the slums of Rio De Janeiro. The level has a slope throughout the map, along with several story buildings most of which are rooftop accessible.
 * Highrise: A level taking place on the rooftop of an unfinished constrution site. There are two office buildings on each side with a below level tunnel leading to each base. There are heli-pads, cranes, and other smaller structures accessible to the player.
 * Invasion: A middle eastern town with a diner, bank, and garage. Lots of street to street fighting.
 * Karachi: Large, compact city located in Karachi, Pakistan with mostly mid-range combat.
 * Quarry: A large level taking place in a rock excavation site. There several buildings and water takes surrounding a two-story central structure accessible from a cat walk or ground level.
 * Rundown: A rural town separated in two by a ravine crossed by several bridges.
 * Rust : A small, fairly open oil derrick in the middle of the desert. Lots of open ground with some cover and a tower in the center. It is the small oil derrick seen in the background at the end of Endgame.
 * Scrapyard: An airplane scrapyard, based on the campaign level The Enemy Of My Enemy.
 * Skidrow: A series of apartments, stores, and diners in a small, abandoned Afgan town. Lots of straight-up firefights as well as some elements of long-range combat such as multi-level buildings.
 * Sub Base: A snowy submarine base with office buildings, barracks, hangars, and docks located in Russia, based off of the Campaign level Contingency.
 * Terminal: An airplane terminal, based off of the Single Player level No Russian.
 * Underpass: In the rain under the remains of an underpass. Mostly long range fighting to close range fighting (sniping and sniper-hunting).
 * Wasteland: An open grassy level taking place near the Chernobyl Nuclear reactors, clearly visible in the background. There is nothing but open cover except for a bunker in the center of the map accessible from either side. Based off of the Call of Duty map Brecourt and loosely based off of the Call of Duty 4 level All Ghillied Up.

Voice actors

 * Ken Lally - He previously provided motion capture work for the Resident Evil 5 character Albert Wesker. Contary to popular belief he does not do the voiceover of Makarov.
 * Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) - A famous rapper who does voice over during the mission Team Player, you can hear him say "Let's go, let's go! Get your ass back in the vehicle." after the bridge is finished and you begin to head upstairs onto the bridge. He also is the announcer for the Navy SEALs in multiplayer.
 * Kevin McKidd - A Scottish actor who will voice Soap MacTavish. He has appeared in Grey's Anatomy and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
 * Craig Fairbrass - An English Actor who voiced Gaz in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. He does the voiceover of Ghost.
 * Barry Pepper - A Canadian-born actor who played the Christian sniper Pvt. Daniel Jackson in Saving Private Ryan. As a voice actor, he already performed the role of Alex Mercer in the Activision game: Prototype. He does the voiceover for Cpl. Dunn.
 * Keith David - An American actor who does the voiceover for Sgt. Foley. He voiced the Arbiter in both Halo 2 & 3 as well as Captain Anderson in Mass Effect
 * Glenn Morshower - An American actor who is known for his recurring role in 24 as Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce . He does the voiceover for an American commander during the Russian invasion of the US.
 * Billy Murray - An English actor who previously voiced Captain Price returns as him in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Game Informer cover article
The June 2009 edition of Game Informer included a 10-page exclusive Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 article. The article sheds light on numerous aspects of gameplay. "Soap" MacTavish will be a Captain in the SAS, and on SAS missions the player will be one of his subordinates. There will be no co-op in the Campaign, but there will be a new "Special Forces" mode which will feature missions in the spirit of Mile High Club; these missions will have co-op. Players will be able to customize their loadout in campaign, and presumably in Special Forces. The campaign will be around six to ten hours long. There are also pictures showing weapons, which are all listed above. Other magazines, including PSM3 are also reported to be ready to release details in their June editions. According to PSU.com, "Modern Warfare 2 will include a level in Rio De Janeiro, a level in Siberia, a level on an oil tanker, and a stealth-based oil pipeline level where players will be undersea in scuba gear. Swimming will be a new gameplay mechanic (it might be a bit hard to do an underwater level without swimming, after all). Vehicles such as trucks, tanks, and helicopters will be featured (and presumably controllable). Finally, Ken Lally (Wesker from Resident Evil 5) will be one of the voice actors appearing in the game." 

E3 2009
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was originally thought not to be present at E3 2009. But when Spike TV released an exclusive look at Activision's E3 booth, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was front and center. It wasn't very long after this stunning first look that GameTrailers.com released their most anticipated games of E3 2009. On the top of GameTrailers' list was Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, also hinting that a demo might be showcased at E3. On May 29, 1UP.com compiled a syllabus of E3, in which it was confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 would have an in-booth.

Surprisingly, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 got a gameplay demo debut earlier than expected. It was the second game to be shown during Microsoft's Press Conference on Monday 1 June 2009. Microsoft confirmed that two map packs will be timed exclusives for the. Then the demo started on the level Cliffhanger, in which Captain Soap MacTavish and Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson are somewhere in the Tian Shan Mountain range in extremely frigid conditions. The level started off with Captain MacTavish and Roach climbing up the side of a mountain side, but soon finding themselves blowing up a fuel depot and escaping from the base on snowmobiles whilst being chased by enemies.

For more information on this level and 3 others by the name of "Slums" and "Desert" check this url (from Dutch gaming magazine called Power Unlimited): http://www.mw2blog.com/power-unlimited-modern-warfare-2-demo-hands-on/

Game Crazy preview event
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was rumored to be showing an exclusive beta of the game at GamesCom 2009 but Activision and Infinity Ward later confirmed that there wasn't going to be another showing of the game after a Special Ops look. They later said that they would have to wait until the game came out to see a glimpse of multiplayer gameplay.

On August 25, 2009, a demo was shown for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 with the team in Rio De Janiero. The demo started off with Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, Captain "Soap" MacTavish, Royce, and Meat running through a street chasing an important associate of Vladimir Makarov. Also civilians are running for their lives from the enemies. Then MacTavish tells Roach to shoot him in the leg and he successfully does. Later Soap and another member close down a gate and are ready to interrogate the man while Royce and Meat accompanies Roach to continue down into the favelas where the upmost, intense action occurs. Soon civilians again run away, enemies spot the team members and shoot at them. Royce said to Roach to continue to fight from the rooftops. But the demo then ended without any further action of the level.

On the same day, Special Ops gameplay was again shown that showed two players shooting against enemies with riot shields. It is unknown where it took place and what level it was called but it might be the level "Breach and Clear".

Multiplayer reveal event
On September 15, 2009, there was a massive multiplayer reveal event. Many gameplay videos and developer interviews were published on numerous video game websites. These provided large amounts of information about weapons, equipment, Perks, attachments, gametypes, and maps.

TGS 2009
On September 25, 2009, the game's multiplayer was again shown, revealing more features.

Downloadable content
Activision has announced that they plan to release a minimum of two downloadable map packs for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Microsoft announced at E3 2009 that these map packs would be available for the Xbox 360 via Xbox Live before they would be released on other platforms. It is set to be released in Spring 2010.

In an Interview with Todd Alderman, it was mentioned that it is possible for there to be "Halo 3 like" video sharing to be added on later as DLC.

Retail editions and spin-offs
The game will be released in four different editions for the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. The PC will only be receiving the first edition on the list. These are; Regular, Hardened, Veteran and Prestige:


 * Regular - Comes with only the game disc and manual in a standard plastic case like most other games. It will cost £45/$60. This is the only version available for the PC.


 * Hardened - Comes with the game disc and the manual, along with an art book, a steel case, and a code to download the original Call of Duty game. It will cost £60/$80.


 * Veteran - On September 18 2009 GAME announced a 'Veteran Edition' which includes all the contents of the Hardened Edition, but includes a "Soap" MacTavish ultra-premium ARTFX Statue sculpted by Kotobukiya. The statue has 3 sets of interchangeable weapons and arms, including: Dual ice-climbing pickaxes, Dual .45 caliber pistols, M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (affixes to Soap's back when not in use). It is unknown if this will be available to UK Game Customers only or other GAME retailers worldwide. It can only be pre-ordered currently in the UK to GAME customers who have a 'GAME Reward Card.' It will cost £100.


 * Prestige - Includes all content of the Hardened Edition, as well as fully-functional night vision goggles imprinted with the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 logo and a sculpted head stand of "Soap" MacTavish. It will cost £115/$150. It is supposedly sold out in the UK and Australia.

A special edition Xbox 360 will also be released alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, though pre-order is available now. The bundle includes an Xbox 360 with MW2 graphics, the Regular edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a 250GB harddrive, two black wireless controllers, and a headset. Pricing is set at $399/AU$599. Additionally, the 250GB harddrive will only be available with the bundle and will not be sold separately.

Aside from the main console versions, two other Call of Duty games will be released alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on November 10, 2009. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized is a Nintendo DS companion narrative game to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Reflex is a Treyarch-converted Wii port of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

Peripherals
On July 21, 2009, Infinity Ward's Community Manager Robert Bowling revealed through Twitter that a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 controller was in the works, but initially withheld the name of the manufacturer. It was revealed on August 11, 2009 that peripherals manufacturer Mad Catz was contracted by Activision to create a line of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 controllers and accessories for all platforms that the game will be released on.

On August 24 2009, Mad Catz revealed their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 lineup including Combat Controllers for Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms, a Throat Communicator for Xbox 360, and a Bluetooth Headset for PS3. For PC there is a Combat Gamepad, "Sniper" Mouse with 2 stage weighting system, and Combat Keyboard. The Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers feature programmable combat buttons. The accessories come in black and snow digital camo. There is also going to be Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Skins and Faceplates if you do not wish to buy the Mad Catz gear, which snap onto the controller and console rather than being a vinyl skin. The accessories will be launching along side the game.

GameStop
GameStop is sponsoring a prize giveaway for customers who pre-ordered Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, named Surprize Attack. Everyday, from October 1, 2009 to November 9, 2009, contestants have two chances to enter a drawing for a daily prize. The five major prizes are a customized Hummer H2, a custom Polaris 550 IQ Shift snowmobile (as seen in the mission Cliffhanger), a custom Ducati Hypermotard 1100 motorcycle, a custom Zodiac Cadet C310LR inflatable boat (RHIB), and a Russian Ultranationalist Briefcase containing 100,000 Rubles (approx. $3,433.54).

In addition to the five major prizes, thousands of other prizes are available, including, but not limited to, military gear, civilian and military apparel (including Ghillie suits), limited edition accessories, MadCatz controllers, and the Prestige Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Downloadable ringtones and wallpapers are also available. A special tournament is also available for players to sign up for and compete for cash prizes. For more information visit surprizeattack.com.

Monster Energy
Monster Energy is releasing a special edition Modern Warfare 2 energy drink (a version of their "Assault" drink with different packaging), similar to Mountain Dew Game Fuel. A prize sweepstakes is also being sponsored by the company: prize codes can be obtained from specially-marked Monster Energy 4-Packs and be redeemed at Monster's website. Prize list is as follows:
 * 1st Prize: Hardened Edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for Xbox 360 or PS3
 * 2nd Prize: Free download for Map Pack 1 (Due out in Spring 2010)
 * 3rd Prize: MW2 Dashboard Theme for Xbox 360 or PS3
 * 4th Prize: Free 16oz. Monster Energy Coupon

In addition to these, Sam's Club will be getting an exclusive offer: those who purchase a specially-marked Monster Energy 6-Pack at the store will gain special access to an Infinity Ward hosted live Webinar, titled Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Combat Training Experience, which will give an in-depth look of MW2. For more info visit Monster Energy.

Trailers and videos
Video:Modern Warfare 2 Teaser Trailer (HD) Video:Modern Warfare 2 Worldwide Reveal Trailer (Official HD) Video:Modern Warfare 2 Infamy Video:Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Launch Trailer Video:Modern Warfare 2 E3 Gameplay Video:Modern Warfare 2 Multiplayer Gameplay Uncut: Flag Runner (Official HD) Video:MadCatz MW2 Gear Preview Video:Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition Unboxing (Official)

Trivia

 * The enemies no longer respawn until you reach a point.
 * Blood droplets have been added to the gameplay's HUD, so whenever the player is hit by enemy fire, blood will now cover the screen.
 * Dust will cover the screen instead of blood when a grenade explodes nearby.
 * Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the first Call of Duty sequel that actually refers back to the original game (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare). All the other games focused on different battles or events and never related back to the installments before it.
 * In-game Host Migration has been implemented - if the host of a multiplayer game leaves, the game will automatically pause for a few seconds to choose a new host, and then the game will resume.
 * Like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, there are no openly controllable vehicles in adversarial multiplayer modes; the only controllable "vehicles" are the AC-130 Spectre and the AH-64 Apache gunship, and the user can only control the gun positions.
 * Inside the art book, there is a picture of a person on a motorcycle, indicating an early concept for a chase scene that never made it into the game.
 * There will be Monster Energy drinks for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
 * In an interview with Lead Character Artist Joel Emslie, he confirmed that the game is set "five years after" Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
 * This game is the first to be set in busy cities like Rio De Janiero, Washington, D.C., Moscow and cities in Virginia.
 * This is the first game in the series to feature more than two editions (like the Regular, Hardened, Prestige and Veteran), rather than just Standard and Collector's.
 * Some of the Special Ops missions are based on the single-player levels in the game.
 * Avatar items will be created, with IW's Robert Bowling stating "Not sure we'll be doing any Avatar rewards, but we are making avatar items. With some free ones hopefully."
 * Although many people believe that the Beginning of the Infamy trailer takes place in a American, British, or Australian airport, it actually takes place in a Russian airport (you can see a Russian flag and Russian words). This shows that the new Ultranationalist leader, Makarov, is even more ruthless than his predecessor, and is willing to kill, even slaughter, Russian civilians.
 * Similar to other major retail game releases, the game was sold early by some independent retailers, and, two weeks prior to release, a pirated version of the game was leaked for Xbox 360. Videos of gameplay were posted on the Internet, revealing much info on the game though much of this has been deleted due to copyright reasons.
 * Despite being one of the most anticipated games of the year, Modern Warfare 2 is also one of the most controversial as well:
 * You get to participate in the massacre of innocent civilians.
 * There are a couple of limitations on the PC version of the game such as the dedicated servers being replaced with matchmaking servers, to prevent modding, the omission of in-game leaning, and there are now only up to eighteen players in one game.
 * They use a homosexual slur in a viral video against grenade spamming. (Fight Against Grenade Spam)


 * This is the first game in which playable characters actually talk during briefing sequences (Joseph Allen and MacTavish being prime examples)
 * In the Multiplayer maps Favela, Skidrow, and others possibly there is a newspaper dispencer, and postcards flying everywhere and in the newspaper dispencer it has Call of Duty 2, along with the title Infinite Ward Times; the postcards that fly and land can be read with a sniper rifle, with Infinity Ward's logo on it, with a (really hard to read) code, the only few that can be read are 'X', '6', and '9'.
 * Infinity Ward has stated that they will look into an online Stat system (Akin to Bungie. Net's for Halo) for it's website as a potential addition later on.
 * The XP you earn from things like defusing a bomb in Search and Destroy or killing a person now gets you 10 times the XP you got in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
 * This is the first game out of the Call of Duty series to take place on the United States and Brazil. Also the first game to go in Space.
 * If you let your game go into the "trailer" by leaving it idle you will see at the top left of the screen the words "Checkpoint reached" in a part of it.