You know, there is so much cool stuff happening in the world of gaming right now that I would love to talk about. I never got a chance to cover the announcement that Cyberpunk 2077 would be getting an online game or the brand new Avengers footage. But now Activision had to go and put their foot in it and I'm stuck talking about 'exclusivity' again. Ain't life just grand? Oh well, might as well get all this festering rage out of my system through the written word; buckle up.
'Spec Ops' was a mode that was perfected in 'Modern Warfare 2' in which players were faced with various different scenarios with very specific objectives. These little nuggets of game were absolutely perfect for someone who just wanted to a quick COD fix or some co-op fun. Plus, they were a perfect blend between being accessible and challenging, so that anyone could give them a go. Some of my fondest gaming memories is of going through 'O Cristo Redentor' with my dad so often that we knew each spawn by heart. (I'm not even kidding or doing a 'my father' story for sympathy points. We just both happened to really enjoy that game.) I think the best part about 'Spec Ops', the thing that really sealed the deal, was the way in which they all offered something entirely unique. There were maps in which you hunted hostiles, maps in which you snuck by hoards of enemies in the snow, maps that had one player use an AC-130 whilst covering the other, and even one which remade the classic Modern Warfare 2007 (Ugh, I hate that we have to do that now.) level; 'All Ghilied up' and sent you through it backwards.
The 'Spec ops' announcement was just another example in a long list of 'things we got right' by IW that was actually starting to get the attention of the wider public. Recent years have seen COD branded as 'uncool' and 'tired', as most franchises that stubbornly refuse to change their engine are. (What do you mean that The Elder Scrolls 6 will use the same engine again? For god's sake Bethesda, can't you do anything right!) However, this entry saw a brand new 'photo realistic' engine, the addition of a dedicated dark and gritty story mode that the devs seem actually proud of and moment-to-moment gameplay that early critics are calling "Okay." (That's high praise for a COD game!) At this point, everything is looking like 'Modern Warfare' will be a return to form that no one ever thought would happen, good press is finally being dropped on Infinity Ward's shoes, and now all they have to do is release the game and watch the sales roll in. But wait a minute. This is an Activision game, isn't it? Doesn't that mean some thing inexplicably anti-consumerist has to happen to sully everyone's hard-won good will? Why yes, yes it does.
Recently, during Sony's State-of-play stream, Activision thought it might behoove them to have their game make an appearance, seeing as how this would be the most highly trafficked gaming event until the release of said-game. It was there that a moronic announcement would be made for 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare', one that would set the Internet ablaze. Right at the end they spat in the eyes of two thirds of their fanbase by announcing that Spec Op's Survival Mode would be a timed exclusive for PlayStation. "But for how long" you may ask. Well, they announced that too. (Even though any PR manager worth their salt would have begged them not to.) It was on the same page as the announcement, right at the bottom and greyed out. 'Timed Exclusive Content Until October 1st, 2020.' Where do I begin?
Fans were understandably outraged at the prospect of being locked out of an entire gamemode. Activision have done this before, sure. Destiny had some Strikes that were PlayStation exclusive until Destiny 2 came out. (Just in the nick of time.) And any Activision Beta usually comes out on PlayStation first. Basically, Activision and Sony never miss out on an opportunity to trade saliva in the Janitor's closet like a couple of horny schoolkids. (Yikes, grossed myself out a little with that one.) But an entire gamemode? What an absolute kick to the nuts. Things got so bad that the Studio Narrative Director, Taylor Kurosaki, had to take to Twitter to defend the game. "Let’s be honest," He said in response to one incensed fan "'ruining' is an exaggeration. Survival is 1% of the game. The other 99% is simultaneous day and date across all platforms. I’d rather have everyone playing 99% of the content at the same time than 100% of the content some time later."
Okay, barring the actual lack of sense some of that made, (I'm assuming there's some sort of language barrier) let me explain why a lot of people are calling this statement out for being a load of crap. Firstly, "Survival is 1%". Unless the game has 99 other modes, that is just mathematically incorrect. More to the point, he is trying to point out that, whilst 'Survival' might be locked for some players, the rest of 'Spec Ops' is open for everyone. Which is a fair point, as is the response from the public. Many have said that, since the rest of community is paying for a lesser version of the game then the game should cost less on PC and XBox. That's only fair, right?
"But it's a timed exclusive!" Some have argued. "You'll get the content eventually." And that brings me on to my next point of contention, because they're right. Other consoles will get the game mode eventually. After a year. That's a little bit of a problem considering that Call of Duty is an annual franchise. For over a decade now, Activision have used a multi-studio tactic to ensure that a COD game is out every year at roughly the same time. This means that they get the £60 from their loyal base every year alongside whatever else they manage to wring out them along the way with DLC and Microtransactions. The effect of this is that every single COD game is forgotten about and discarded the moment the new one is on the slate. Therefore, by the time the rest of Modern Warfare's audience get the gamemode that is part of the package that they paid for, the core audience of the game will have already moved onto something else.
"But the gaming world is changing." They continue. "Now we have Live-services. Those games can be supported for years!" Which, again, is true. However, COD has failed to adopt that model again-and-again over the years. Things looked hopeful last year with Black Ops 4 when Treyarch announced that BO4 would be their "Most supported game ever." However that proved to be a straight-up lie last week when they announced that 'Dark Divide' would be their last operation for the game, effectively killing that game's support. Why should we expect something different for Modern Warfare, even if they tell us it will be? Activision are proven liars so we can expect the same treatment that we always receive from these people.
Then there is the comment that a few people like making; "You probably wouldn't play the mode anyway!" An affirmation to which I, personally, would like to call foul. 'Spec Ops: Survival mode' has been described as a 'horde-like' scenario which pits a team of players against waves of enemies to survive. Let it be known that I Love horde modes. I'm talking 'Love' with capitalization, with vehement passion! Ever since 'Gears of War 2' it has been my unspoken mission to conquer every single such mode by myself, or at least get as far as I possibly can. (Gears of War 3 did break me a few times.) Plus, you'll never guess what my favourite Spec Ops level of 'Modern Warfare 2' was? (At least when I was by myself.) Yup, 'Sniper Fi', the horde level.
I know I'm not the only one either. Horde modes are an absolutely art form and there are communities of people that flock to these game types just as fervently as I do. Heck, Grand Theft Auto Online literally just released some Ballas-themed horde maps to their game, proving that there is still a market for them to this day! Downplaying their purposeful omission from 'Modern Warfare' does an absolute disservice to the community and the consumer.
The offcial Reddit has also been ablaze about this issue of late, and some Infinity Ward developers have had to wade into that cesspool as well, in order to defend themselves. One of these responses was some canned PR crap that isn't worth the cerebral effort to rebuke, whilst the other was a heartfelt "Hey gang." message that poked at the community's empathy bone. (Being an empathyless individual, I just found the whole post vomit inducing.) The user, going by the name Joel, used his comment to tell the world how diverse the gang at Infinity Ward are and how dedicated they are to making great games. Then, instead of addressing the issue at hand, he made a weird left turn into toxic comments and how they hurt his fee-fees."We all have a pretty thick skin here but yeah it can kind of get to you. Believe me we keep it professional but of course people that pass by my office from time to time can hear me through the walls:)"
Reading this whole thing did leave me feeling a little confused and distracted. Don't get me wrong, I offer my sympathies to them having to go through that situation, (As much sympathy as I can muster for people who are literally paid to do this.) but I couldn't help but feel a little emotionally manipulated by the whole thing. I don't know. Maybe I'm just a terrible person. (Okay, I'm definitely a terrible person.) I'm sure that the buck stops with Activision in this situation and they were the one's that brokered this gross deal with their beau Sony, but the biggest loser in this situation is very much the consumer. I understand that the developers face some bile that is far beyond reason in some instances, but they still get their paychecks at the end of the day, I'm sure they can stomach some inane rambling from some of the more unhinged people online. And if they can't, perhaps they should avoid the Internet a bit. That's the thing about listening to feedback, not all of it is positive, nice or even constructive. (Gah, they've pulled me off topic again. See!)
I'd like to say that all of this backlash will shake the light into Activision and have them withdraw this nonsense, but this is Activision we're talking about; nothing short of The Rapture will quell their greedy antics. This deal is a forgone conclusion and everyone will have to deal with it whether they're happy about it or not. There have been some calls to host a boycott over the issue, but we all know that'll never happen. Not to a degree that'll hurt Activision enough to have them listen to their consumers. Call of Duty is one of those games that has entered the general public zeitgeist and so boasts an army of day-one buyers who will pick up the game regardless of all the behind-the-scenes nonsense. (because they just don't care.) Once again exclusivity has kicked consumers in the nuts and there is nothing we can do about it. Sometime I hate loving gaming.
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