Modern Warfare 2 gets 18 rating

By Robert Purchese Published 19 October, 2009

BBFC declares it the first adult COD title.

The British Board of Film Classification has stamped Modern Warfare 2 with an 18 rating in the UK.

Infinity Ward's sequel passed without any cuts, and will be the first of the Call of Duty series to carry an 18 certificate.

Interestingly, the BBFC listing makes no mention of Call of Duty, which means Modern Warfare 2 will be the title. Finally.

Will an 18 rating impact the potentially record breaking sales potential? It didn't slow current launch day/week record holder Grand Theft Auto IV.

Incidentally, the BBFC still has UK power until PEGI is declared the UK standard by law. That will likely not be this year.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (72) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • M_of_the_sys #1 2 years ago

    Isn't this where the 'Nintendo and Sony win in Japan' article was? (Nevermind. It's back.)

    Will an 18 rating impact the potentially record breaking sales potential?

    No, because parents can't parent.
    Edited by 2 at 19/10/09 @ 14:51

  • StueyBoy16 #2 2 years ago

    Interesting. I wonder why that is?
    CoD WaW had a man being brutally tortured in the opening cutscene.

  • the_dudefather #3 2 years ago

    won't stop 8 year olds insta-killing you across the map with grenades :(

  • cianchristopher #4 2 years ago

    Won't impact sales - people (parents) just don't see the ratings for games the same way they see movie ratings.

    Also, previews suggest a high level of "Jack Bauer" diplomacy with the terrorists in this one! Expect to see Soap torturing suspects (maybe even a beheading or two) and I think I heard something about hooking a bad guy up to a car battery! Nice, eh?

  • Benno #5 2 years ago

    if it means just 1 less bratty american kid on xbox live, I am all for this rating

  • dr_faulk #6 2 years ago

    Anyone find the info on the BBFC site explaining why exactly it has an 18's rating?

  • photoboy #7 2 years ago

    There will be parents buying this for their kids in droves. No-one pays attention to the ratings stickers, they just bitch in the Daily Mail about all the violence in games and demand that they ban this sick filth.

  • freakzilla #8 2 years ago

    Even COD? They are really harsh with these damn ratings. Gamestation once wouldn't sell me motorstorm; PR because it had a 16+ rating (I was 17 at the time) but even then a racing game with a 16+ rating is bollocks.

    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 17:18

  • M_of_the_sys #9 2 years ago

    Yup. It'll be bought for the kids and then they will see some form of violence in it and complain about it and how easy it was to get into their kids hands.

    Either that or it'll have been advertised to the max so all kids have their tongues hanging out. Kid X will constantly go on at Mummy and Daddy for one because kid Y has one and if they don't then it will be the worst Christmas ever. It'll get bought for them thus reverting to the first paragragh.
    Edited by 2 at 19/10/09 @ 14:56

  • JayScott #10 2 years ago

    Wonder if it means it will be banned in Australia. :(

  • Lemming81 #11 2 years ago

    Ha! Watch that £60 RRP drop now they've just halved their userbase :)
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 14:59

  • miiiguel #12 2 years ago

    if it means just 1 less bratty regardless of nationality kid on xbox live, I am all for this rating.

  • Negotiator #13 2 years ago

    I fully expect this to be GOTY, besting my current favourites Uncharted 2 and ODST. Nice to see a game not getting watered down to fit a lower rating, bring on the blood splatters.

  • Artemus #14 2 years ago

    @dr_faulk

    "Contains strong bloody violence."

    All the BBFC site says.

  • layleeloo #15 2 years ago

    It better had impact the sales figures!! Otherwise it is just more proof of lacklustre parenting adding fuel to the fire of the media vs violence debate!

  • kangarootoo #16 2 years ago

    "No, because parents can't parent."

    Pretty much what i was going to write. It won't affect sales, but no doubt it will make a few tabloid headlines, because some people are too stupid to take responsibility for themselves.

  • Eraser #17 2 years ago

    Benno: "if it means just 1 less bratty american kid on xbox live, I am all for this rating"

    Yes, because the BBFC really is an American institution....

  • DrRobotnik #18 2 years ago

    In the eyes of teens I think you'll find an 18 rating makes this game even more desirable.

    I fully expect sales to go up because of this.

  • beastmaster #19 2 years ago

    Doesn't contain stealth dogging?

    /cancels pre-order

  • bratmandu #20 2 years ago

    I wish parents and retailers would strap on a pair and just refuse to enable under 18s play this.

    Better for the portrayal of games by the media, better for the parents, better for the under 18s, better for other players online who are fed up playin with/listening to kids.

    We need some sort of age verification on xbl/psn, some foolproof way of determining age, i.e. linked credit card. Then, in addition to matching player to player of equal skill - it would match with equal age. Offer options to report players who don't seem to be the age they claim they are, get it checked out, get them banned. Granted that's probably a bit far fetched, but damn would it make the online experience more pleasant.
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 15:26

  • HuggyAtHome #21 2 years ago

    Benno is spot on.

  • Darren #22 2 years ago

    "Interestingly, the BBFC listing makes no mention of Call of Duty, which means Modern Warfare 2 will be the title. Finally."

    The final cover art shows Modern Warfare 2 in larger letters but the Call of Duty name is still there albeit smaller and obviously intended to be less noticeable than the subtitle.

  • Natversion1 #23 2 years ago

    I really think it comes down to individuals really, I've grown up watching horror moves and playing violent video games and it had no affect on me because I understand it's not real even if it's similar to real world events (in some cases) but there is a limit and some kids are just too young to play games like this and even more so online.

  • DrRobotnik #24 2 years ago

    ---------------------------------------------------------- "Interestingly, the BBFC listing makes no mention of Call of Duty, which means Modern Warfare 2 will be the title. Finally."

    The final cover art shows Modern Warfare 2 in larger letters but the Call of Duty name is still there albeit smaller and obviously intended to be less noticeable than the subtitle.
    ----------------------------------------------------------

    But only on the standard version.

    Hardened and Prestige only carry the Modern Warfare moniker.

  • stevethemeat #25 2 years ago

    Cant wait for this, the 18 rating will not make much if any impact on sales, at the end of the day gaming is still looked upon as being childish in the eyes of most people over 40. The same people who go apeshit over something a DJ has said, or a pair of breasts being shown on the telly wouldnt think twice about buying little timmy an 18 rated game.

    I hope that they get rid of the Martyrdom perk and steady aim for sniper rifles, these are the only things that bother me about the original.
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 15:34

  • homerramone #26 2 years ago

    "No, because parents can't parent."

    Think you'll find that should be:

    "No, because Some parents can't parent."

  • AphoticCosmos #27 2 years ago

    Still not buying it. No dedicated servers, RRP hike, Bobby Kodick being a douchebag . . . why would I care if it's 18-rated?

  • M_of_the_sys #28 2 years ago

    @homerramone

    Indeed. Thanks for the correction.
    Perhaps replace some with most?

  • Bravestinsane #29 2 years ago

    If it's an 18 title better not stop me putting Twat in my clan tag.

    The rating is stupid most likely BBFC saw 1 thing and flipped. I think the overall content will be 16 apart from 1 minor thing that gave it the 18 rating

  • bodypopper #30 2 years ago

    Great, that means even more sprogs begging me to buy them a game when I'm out browsing the local games shop thus making me feel old and depressed.

    Hopefully they'll put lots of swearing in now for the hell of it though a 'pet a kitten' mode seems even less likely to appear, unfortunately.
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 15:59

  • awb83 #31 2 years ago

    This game looks pure excellent

  • GaidenZero #32 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_sys - This could be a generational issue. I'm a parent and 31 who has been playing video games most of my life, as such I am likely much more aware of game content and the relevant ratings that perhaps a 40 year old who didn't grow up with games. Of coure they are more likely to have kids who want this game (maybe around early teens) than mine who are 2 and 8 months.

    Hopefully over time parents will become much more aware of the content contained within the games they buy their kids - simply through a better understanding and more exposure during their lifetime. We can but hope :)

  • Shadders #33 2 years ago

    This will harm sales, I know my little brother (who's 12) won't be allowed it now, and my Dad had pre-ordered it for him.

    Some parents can semi-parent I think the "18" rating carries a lot more gravitas than any of the ratings below it.

  • haveasafeday #34 2 years ago

    I dont know so much on how rating system are applied but I never understood how World at War got away with a 15 rating. I thought it was a lot more violent than many other games that carried higher age ratings.
    Edited by 2 at 19/10/09 @ 16:21

  • M_of_the_sys #35 2 years ago

    @GaidenZero

    Agreed. Despite the comment I made, I think my main issue is parents complaining about it after having bought it for their kids. I know when I was a kid I was playing games well above my age rating and would've been pretty annoyed if I couldn't. Actually, I rememeber being annoyed whenever I got turned away when renting from Blockbuster.

  • Xerx3s #36 2 years ago

    "if it means just 1 less bratty american kid on xbox live, I am all for this rating "

    I share the sentiment but I doubt that the British Board of Film Classification has anything to say in the US.

  • actionfitz #37 2 years ago

    "The British Board of Film Classification has stamped Modern Warfare 2 with an 18 rating in the UK."

    lol.
    Think just heard a collective sigh of 'oh fuck' from all the German and Australian Gamers in the world.
    :p

  • GaidenZero #38 2 years ago

    @M_of_the_sys - yeah thats the issue and it's anoys me as a young dad who will take responsibility for what my kids take in. It doesn't matter if it's film/tv/games/music - whatever it is, it's your duty as a parent to determine whether or not you expose your child to the content. If YOUR 12 year old kid says "I'd like MW2 for xmas", if you have no idea what MW2 is, it's YOUR responsibility to find out what it is and determine whether or not it is suitable for YOUR child.

    It might be that your kid is 15/16 and you look up the details on MW2 and determine that it's fine for them to play - but you've done your bit - you've checked the rating, you know why it's rated as it is and you know YOUR child will not have an issue dealing with the portrayed events.

    That's good parenting in my book - taking responsibility to find out what your kid wants to view/hear/play and making an informed decision based on that. These days it's easier than ever to research such details.

  • youhavenomail #39 2 years ago

    I find it alarming that this kind of game is all that popular with those of us who have passed into adulthood. We should all be too busy playing New Super Mario Bros. on Wii to give a toss about playing with Bobby Kotick's £60 toy soldiers.

  • Wolverfrog #40 2 years ago

    Ah, well, I personally am only 14, but I'm fairly confident I can handle a little gore and explicit material just as well as someone a few years older than me. I often find the BBFC to be a little overzealous in their ratings, honestly. ODST got a 16. It doesn't even have Flood in.

  • miiiguel #41 2 years ago

    It does feature a nasty snog though.

    Anyway, young teenagers can be annoying, though I can't really make a distiction between american teens, brit teens, portugueses teens, or... generaly high-pitched over-excited little fellows. There are exceptions, fortunatly, of course.
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 17:20

  • bratmandu #42 2 years ago

    @ beemoh

    What I was suggesting was a 'report' tool, similar to what XBL already has for player dickishness, where, after enough reports of someone not being the age they say they are, MS phones the card holder to confirm.

    Obviously it's never going to happen, it's just a pipe dream of mine (and probably a lot of people) to never have to deal with noisy young-uns online.

    To the sub-18 year olds on this page, the subject is about more than simply whether or not you think you are mature enough for that stuff. Unrealistic as it is, if under 18s didn't drink, smoke, fuck, watch 18 rated films or play 18 rated games, don't you think the world would be a better place?

    In fact, maybe they should lock all the wee bastards up till they get a bit o cop-on.

  • Lemming81 #43 2 years ago

    WTF I got rated down for making a comment on how it might benefit us gamers? Wow you guys suck. Or can't read o_O
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 18:09

  • Lebowski #44 2 years ago

    How about slapping an 18 certificate on 'Up' instead? Thanks to that movie / game we've already had Balloon Boy 'floating off 'and Liverpool's title chances going pop.

  • Hunam #45 2 years ago

    What does it matter, thanks to the VSC age ratings aren't legally enforceable.
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 19:05

  • richyroo #46 2 years ago

    I have posted this and have no point of view on the matter. I just wanted to see how far I could be rated down!

  • layleeloo #47 2 years ago

    Who cares what the name is? Whether is called COD or not its still a cod game with the same old COD game play. If you like that COD gameplay you'll love it, if you dont then you still wont regardless of the name. Whats the name such a big deal for anyway? Everyone still knows it as Cod anyway

  • brinlarden #48 2 years ago

    i disagree, im only 17 - will be 18 when this is out however- and i dont see a problem with under 18's having this game, ive played games like this since i was like 11 or something and its done me no wrong....oh...wait...fuck...

  • des #49 2 years ago

    Like anybody cares about this rating crap,look at GTA games...

  • CB.Gamestation #50 2 years ago

    Fantastic! Even more people to ID come midnight launch!!
    Also, it will be called Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2. Original POS items were without it but newer ones and promotional items say 'Call of Duty' on them...incl. Hardened editions (Don't know about Prestige...who cares about night-vision goggles anyways!)

  • CB.Gamestation #51 2 years ago

    What does it matter, thanks to the VSC age ratings aren't legally enforceable

    - Yeah but all member groups to the VSC are treating it as if it was...unlucky little timmy who wants to buy GTA!

    EDIT: PS sorry for the double post! Playing Forza 3 is messing with my head!!
    Edited by 1 at 19/10/09 @ 21:37

  • actionfitz #52 2 years ago

    used to work in a Game store, caused me no end of sadistic delight to deny spotty little freaks their 18+ only gaming fix.

    Especially if they brought a parent.
    As if bringing your mum to the off-license to buy your carry-out for you would make it legal...
    They need it drummed into them, selling these games to kids or knowingly selling to someone who is blatantly buying for their kids or someone else's is illegal... ie. the person doing the selling can get done too - yes the store clerk.

  • Calz578 #53 2 years ago

    It's actually a 16+, Why?

    PEGI are taking over the game rating business for the UK from BBFC
    PEGI rated the game 16+, so guess what tell your parents that if your'e not aloud 18's and you'll be aloud to get the game :D

    And i think arguein with the little 12 year olds is fun, admit it, it wouldnt be nearly as fun if you couldn't hear their little high pitched voices saying random curses at you :D

  • Slipstream #54 2 years ago

    Great, you will still have your 13 year olds all over it like a rash though.

  • Rodchenko #55 2 years ago

    Down rated for a LOL, Whats that all a fuckin` bout!!!?

    Because everything you say deserves an auto-downrate ;)

  • Matt911 #56 2 years ago

    i'm only 16 and am quite disappointed about this change in age rating, no i'm not the type to annoy people i play with i just stay in my own party of a group of friends and let other enjoy there play, but i'm worried i may not even get this game as i have pre ordered from in store hmv while the age rating was TBC will they still sell me the game on the day or will they give me my deposit back and make me wait a few days before i get my parents to buy me the game? i would like to know as i want this game asap. thanks

  • butler` #57 2 years ago

    sry ur too young to play this game back to cod4

    ;[

  • smelly #58 2 years ago

    >Will an 18 rating impact the potentially record breaking sales potential?

    no.. the price will.. .Hopefully



    Edited by 1 at 20/10/09 @ 02:14

  • t8yman #59 2 years ago

    I'm 38, and my kids dont get to play games above their age rating. not all parents are shit. just for the record like.
    I have a woman who works for me who took great pleasure in telling the story of how her 10 year old boy would kill the prostitutes in GTAIV and rob them. My 13 year old daughter probably doesnt even know what the word "prostitute" means.
    I felt a bit sick when I heard her laughing about it. I mean - the opening scene on GTAIV is of a half naked man being whipped by a leather bikini clad woman is it not?
    One big factor for me as a "mature" gamer *is* the bad language, if the kids are milling around downstairs whilst I'm playing and the game is peppered with f bombs etc, I obviously cant play.

  • AusFreelancer #60 2 years ago

    @ t8yman - I feel for you - If anything swearing really only appeals to the less "gifted" minds out there...

    Sorry don't really understand this whole price issue. Here in Aus, the hardened edition is about $100AU which is about average price...if it gets released here. I'm curious, what's considered a normal RRP for the UK?

  • Fab4 #61 2 years ago

    Well if you are going to get screwed, best check if you are adult enough ;)

  • kangarootoo #62 2 years ago

    @donnie080203

    You might want to ask yourself, why would anyohne want to read "LOL"? Far better to remove it from view so they can focus on actual whole sentences.

    Writing LOL might make you happy, but nobody else cares. I'm surprised you are surprised frankly.

  • Les #63 2 years ago

    It's a game about killing lots of (respawning) people. If there must be such a thing as an 18 rating, it would be a bit strange if a game like this didn't qualify for it IMO.

  • Hexagon #64 2 years ago

    The PEGI will likely not be declared the standard by law in the United Kingdom this year? This is taking too long. :-/

  • MeBrains #65 2 years ago

    kangarootoo: this donnie is not the other donnie.

    the real donnie ends with an "8", the imposter donnie in a "3".

    retroid: can the latter one be banned? I have not read a single decent reply from the donnie-3...

    (I hardly have from Donnie-8 either, but at least he tries... :| )

  • Skurmedel #66 2 years ago

    Don't rate my mum as shit because she bought me GTA when I was "underage". Most of you know nothing of other peoples parenting and shouldn't trivialize the matter.

    I'm all for parents having the choice whether to allow their children to watch a particular movie or game. It's up to the parent to choose whether their kid is mature enough to cope with the contents of a game.

    I'm not for somebody else saying to parents how they should raise their kid (unless they are of course neglecting the kids well being, but that is bigger issue), and certainly not for a bunch of other people sitting on the internet and calling such people "shit parents". It is a big fat generalization to be honest.

    I hope this leads to the ones mature enough gets to play the game and the ones that are not will have to wait. Frankly, I'm over 20 and I found the execution of the sailors in the first one disgusting. I wouldn't want my 10 year old (if I had one) to sit there and get all excited about such stuff.
    Edited by 3 at 20/10/09 @ 11:24

  • CB.Gamestation #67 2 years ago

    Sorry don't really understand this whole price issue. Here in Aus, the hardened edition is about $100AU which is about average price...if it gets released here. I'm curious, what's considered a normal RRP for the UK?

    - usual RRP of games (360/PS3) is £49.99 before launch then gets reduced to £39.99. Some games are RRP'd at £34.99.
    Wii/DS/PSP usually £39.99 before/£29.99 after.
    PC...meh who cares.
    Hardened Edition here is looking £65-70

  • septimus #68 2 years ago

    Sounds promising. Hopefully means a deeper plot, probably far more sinister and mentally disturbing than plain gore etc.

  • Nephirion #69 2 years ago

    I don't really see why this needs to be an 18, after all i go in a nightclub its usually full of annoying teenagers with fake ID anyways so whats the difference >.
    Edited by 2 at 20/10/09 @ 20:51

  • AusFreelancer #70 2 years ago

    CB.Gamestation - usual RRP of games (360/PS3) is £49.99 before launch then gets reduced to £39.99. Some games are RRP'd at £34.99.
    Wii/DS/PSP usually £39.99 before/£29.99 after.
    PC...meh who cares.
    Hardened Edition here is looking £65-70

    Ouch! that's almost a 50% mark up - I only hope for all your sake it doesn't sell well until a price drop....that's shitarse.

  • jungle_ninja Verified Code Monkey, Eurogamer Network #71 2 years ago

    Test

  • joshter #72 2 years ago

    I live in france and I can't wait to get this game. The french retailers won't stop under 18's (like myself) buying a game like this. Of course i'll ask my parents and all that stuff but there will be no problem buying from any shop over here. I don't see why england dosn't do that. make sure the parents are okay with the're kids getting the game and the shop gets more cash too! :)