Call of Duty: Modern Warfare gets extended multiplayer gameplay

The first look at the game's multiplayer.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare got revealed last month and while we had some strong opinions about the game’s campaign after seeing it in action at E3, the multiplayer paints a different picture.

Today, four Twitch streamers live-streamed the first ever multiplayer match of Modern Warfare from Infinity Ward’s offices. The streamers showcased a new game mode called Gunfight, a 2v2 round-based mode. Gunfight is a more hardcore mode with small maps built exclusively for it along with a very specific set of rules that don’t apply to other modes in Modern Warfare.

There are no custom classes in the mode, the game randomizes your class every few rounds, there’s one life per round, and there’s no automatic healing. It should be emphasized that the no auto-healing isn’t a staple of the entire multiplayer, it’s mode-based. We did see stim packs from Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 used at what point in the stream which means they’re probably something you can add to your class in any mode but can be used to give yourself a boost or heal even faster.

Watch COD MW GUNFIGHT STREAM! Full MP universe reveal on 8/1! #COD_Partner from CouRageJD on www.twitch.tv

Gunfight also showcased some new features such as executions. Similar to recent Halo games, if you walk up behind an enemy unaware of you, you can melee them and get a special animation that ends in a deadly kill.

There was a hint of day/night map variants at one point as one of the maps called King had the word “Day” in parentheses above the scoreboard. The map Pine did NOT have this so it seems only some maps will have these variants.

The gameplay largely looks like what you’d expect from a new Modern Warfare but there are new animations as we already noted for melee kills and also running. Depending on the weapon you have, your character may run with the gun in one hand, holding it upwards or some other way. It seems to be more dynamic rather than a static sprinting animation.

A full reveal of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare’s multiplayer “universe” will drop on August 1st. There’s no word on what exactly it’ll showcase but one would have to imagine it’ll break down a large chunk of modes, features, some maps, and maybe announce a beta before launch.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will release on Xbox One, PS4, and PC on October 25th, 2019.