Get ready to dive back into the gritty world of Call of Duty with Modern Warfare 4, and GameSpot recently had an exclusive look at what’s coming. We spoke with Infinity Ward’s studio multiplayer creative director Geoff Smith and technical designer Jack Hoppus, who shed light on the game’s advancements in movement and offered a glimpse into what players can expect from the upcoming beta.
Movement Revolution
Modern Warfare 4 represents Infinity Ward’s first foray back into the Call of Duty universe since 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, following Modern Warfare 3 which was developed by Sledgehammer Games. The studio has been hard at work crafting a new multiplayer experience, blending classic 6v6 maps with large-scale Ground War and intimate Gunfight arenas.
The development team is keenly aware of the diverse opinions within the Call of Duty community regarding everything from cosmetic choices to player movement. Geoff Smith emphasized the studio’s commitment to carefully considering all feedback, always analyzing previous games to identify what resonated with players and what could be improved. “We’ve been making Modern Warfare games for a long time,” Smith explained. “So, we tend to try to be more realistic and grounded in everything we present but with a little bit of a cinematic flair.”
One area that drew significant criticism in Modern Warfare 2 was the movement system, often described as slow and clunky. Infinity Ward listened to this feedback and has made substantial changes to Modern Warfare 4, focusing on making movement not only faster but also incredibly fluid. One of the most noticeable changes will be the completely overhauled mantling mechanic.
“We completely rewrote the mantle system to be really fluid,” Hoppus explained. “So, that we have mantle into the slide now, we have mantle into ADS, and you can cancel out of your mantle.”
While the team didn’t feel Treyarch’s omnimovement from the last two Call of Duty games aligned with their more grounded approach, they did incorporate some animations, such as Treyarch’s supine positioning. “We wanted to make it feel really authentic to Modern Warfare but also without any friction,” Hoppus said. “We want you to feel cool. We want you to feel like a badass. We don’t want you to feel like you’re stuck in an animation when you want to be doing something else.”
Classic Mode on the Horizon?
The success of recent Black Ops ports and Black Ops 7’s classic mode highlights a segment of the Call of Duty player base yearning for simpler times, including less complex movement and more tactical gameplay. This has led to speculation about whether Modern Warfare 4 might offer a similar experience.
When asked directly about the possibility of a classic mode, Smith acknowledged the studio hadn’t planned one for the initial release but emphasized that it wasn’t entirely off the table. “We can always turn things on,” he said. “It’s not outside the realm of possibility. We just have to see how things go and make assessments as we go.” This leaves a glimmer of hope for players who prefer the classic Call of Duty feel.
The early-access beta begins August 21, offering players their first chance to experience the new movement system firsthand. The full game releases on October 23 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2, marking the first Call of Duty title on a Nintendo platform since 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts. Modern Warfare 4 will launch with a full campaign, multiplayer, and the DMZ extraction mode.
What Else to Expect
The Modern Warfare 4 beta is packed with content, including a campaign mission and a brand-new Warzone map. For multiplayer, one of the highlights is the new “Inflation” mode. Hoppus described it as a “high-stakes Team Deathmatch-style mode,” where players have a bounty on them and drop cash when they die. The team holding the most money at the end wins.
Hoppus also highlighted the innovative Kill Block map, which dynamically reconfigures during Gunfight matches, keeping players on their toes. “Gunfight is one of the modes where it really shines,” Hoppus said. “Because every two rounds when your guns change, the map is also going to change…”
Smith expressed excitement for Combat Outposts, a new variant of Ground War played on large chunks of the Hajin map from DMZ. These interior capture points force players into chaotic gunfights.
“It turns into a little multiplayer map inside there,” Smith explained. “And it’s just chaos from such intense gunfights with so many people in these interiors.”
Combat Outpost will be available in the second beta weekend, along with Switch 2 as a supported platform.
Infinity Ward is using these two beta weekends to collect data before launch. While Smith says the studio will be monitoring all areas of the game, some of the focus will be on online connection and stability, discussions around movement, and even player reaction around the game’s new Gunny feature for the Gunsmith.
Source: GameSpot
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