Update: Activision has offered up some additional details about today’s Modern Warfare Remastered update, including the addition of women:
The original Winter Crash was PC only, so this marks the console debut for what we hope becomes a holiday classic. You’ll also find that elves have created two special weapon camos that are particularly holiday-rific: Gift Wrap and Ugly Sweater. You can unlock these for each weapon class by completing challenges on Winter Crash, and be sure to search the map to find plenty of Easter Christmas eggs.
Along with the holiday camos, there are a ton of new personalization items available in Modern Warfare Remastered starting today. Dubbed ‘Operation Arctic Wolf,’ this loot drop features weapon camos, reticles, combat uniforms, emblems, calling cards, and more, including brand-new characters, which will also bring women in uniform to the fight in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for the first time.
Activision also discussed the addition of personalization to MWR:
Personalization is a big part of Call of Duty and something we’ve done in the series for a while now that fans really enjoy. But of course, we’ve done it very carefully as our highest priority is to retain the balance, aesthetics and player silhouettes in the game.
Today’s batch includes animated calling cards, emblems, camos, character personalization items, weapon customization pieces, and even new melee weapons. You can craft them with our crafting currency called Parts, or obtain them through supply drops. The choice is yours, so earn as you deem fit. You can also grind your way through to everything.
Original Story: Adding all of the previously announced maps and modes, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered update 1.06 is live on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Reports suggest that it’s either an 8.72GB or 16GB update on PS4, a 7.3GB update on PC, and a 27GB update on Xbox One.
Full patch notes for the update haven’t been posted by Activision or Raven Software, but we know that it includes seven multiplayer maps – Winter Crash, Bloc, Countdown, Pipeline, Showdown, Strike, and Wet Work – and two modes – Hardpoint and Gun Game.
On Twitter, Raven’s Amos Hodge said, “Winter Crash will be added into the map rotation on any playlist that contains the normal Crash map.” The 24/7 playlist for Winter Crash arrives on December 20.
Meanwhile, Charlie Intel is reporting that Supply Drops are coming to Modern Warfare Remastered. Unlocked using Call of Duty Points or Depot Credits, the Supply Drops will only have cosmetic items.
Hodge also hinted at future content by saying, “I have been dying to tell you. Raven is working on a SnD HUD element to show the number of players still alive on each team.”
Did you notice any other changes with the update today?
[Source: Reddit (1), (2), (3), Charlie Intel (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), Amos Hodge (1), (2), Activision Blog]
10 Game Mechanics That Need to Evolve (or Die)
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10 Game Mechanics That Need to Evolve (or Die)
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Tutorials
Recommendation: Banish them entirely. Use contextual in-game scenarios to showcase more complex tasks. Let players play! They'll figure it out or teach one another.
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Item Pickups
Recommendation: Small, manageable inventories are great. Don't design quests and games that require the player to have 37 pinecones on hand just in case.
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Fetch Quests
Recommendation: Provide a main quest that is so expansive and diverse it allows for organic tangents that feel important. Fetch quests are artificial bulk. Get rid of them. Invest the time in a main quest that satisfies for 40+ hours instead and my time will feel valued.
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Inventory Systems
Recommendation: It doesn’t take a lot of effort to find creative ways for game worlds to make sense. In The Witcher 3's case, why not add an option for the banks in Novigrad to not only exchange currency, but allow you store items in safety deposit boxes?
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Minimaps
Recommendation: Allow for maps in towns. Outside of that, no map, no icons, until you explore the area. Create a world that can help players find their way intuitively without a map using landmarks, signposts, and NPCs that can offer more than grunts and stock expressions.
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Quicksave/Quickload
Recommendation: If games insist on traditional save/load mechanics, integrate it into the control scheme. Here’s a freebie, double-tap the touchpad to save, hold it to load. I’m positive that will lead to absolutely zero accidental saves...
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Character Momentum
Recommendation: Just pay Naughty Dog for their player momentum algorithms and be done with it.
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Fast Travel
Recommendation: All killer, no filler. Don’t make me backtrack unnecessarily. Use fast travel any time it keeps a player’s progress moving forward and avoid ever making a player move backward.
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Weapon Types
Recommendation: Have fun with weapon types. If you must have an axe and a sword, make them play differently. Not just heavy swing vs light swing, let it impact the way a character is responded to, let it affect the way a character develops, etc. If your game can’t include explosive teddy bears, then do some research to find the medieval equivalent to one (there totally is one).
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Dialog Options
Recommendation: Player choice will grow and become more complex as technology (and budgets) advance. But if a game cannot (or does not) provide the foundation for meaningful dialog options, don’t include it. It weakens your story and insults the player.
