Public MW2 beta may still happen - IW

By Robert Purchese Published 20 August, 2009

Multiplayer still a "major focus", says dev.

Infinity Ward has said Modern Warfare 2 may still get a public beta, and reassured us that multiplayer has been in development since "day-one" and remains a "major focus" of the game.

"As I've told you many times in the past, expect no public beta unless we announce otherwise," Robert Bowling, Infinity Ward community manager, said on his blog. "That is still the case. We would never say something as definitive as 'No Beta Ever!' as that's simply not how we work. We'll do an internal beta, if we feel a public one is needed, we'll explore that route as well."

"Multiplayer has been in development since day one of working on Modern Warfare 2, and this is the essential run-up to launch when we're playing everyday, hammering away on it to make sure it's as polished as can be by launch. As always, our internal QA team has daily multiplayer tests in addition to company-wide nightly MP tests we hold from the moment MP is in a running state throughout development."

"Multiplayer has always been and will always remain a major focus for the team at Infinity Ward and we would never ship a product we didn't feel lived up to the high standards we hold ourselves to," he added. "This decision allows us to deliver a more polished experience, which in the end, is what we all want."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 arrives on 10th November for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Our gamepages below have oodles more details.

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.

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Comments (23) Latest comment 7 months ago

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

  • JahB #1 3 years ago

    where do i sign up?

  • emhaslam92 #2 3 years ago

    probably charge you £20 for the beta

  • Golgo #3 3 years ago

    "As I've told you many times in the past...", says Infinity man to naughty, naughty children!

  • mattigan #4 3 years ago

    CAN I HAZ KEYS PLZ, KTHXBAI.

  • bratmandu #5 3 years ago

    Yea if you're lookin £54.99 for the full game, I'd need to try it out first or no deal.

    To be honest, there's no way on principle id pay that for a regular non-special edition game. Beta or no beta. Activision are scum.

  • SPKRFCKR #6 3 years ago

    @bratmandu
    you sir, are completely correct.

  • bratmandu #7 3 years ago

    @ cabbadgecase

    Who you talking about?

    Is there any confusion that the publisher Activision are the ones trying to get away with bumping the game price simply because their research tells them people will pay for it?

    Infinity Ward are the developer who actually make the game/beta.

    If Activision DO actually price the game like that, I'd bloody love to see them get their come-uppance with a mass boycott of their products.

    But there are always the sheep with more money than sense - typically 13 year olds who shouldn't have the game anyway and get their irresponsible parents to buy it.
    Edited by 1 at 20/08/09 @ 12:41

  • mashk #8 3 years ago

    'F5', 'F5', 'F5', 'F5'

  • carlitoswagon #9 3 years ago

    Hopefully there is a mass boycott of MW2! This will leave more room on the servers for people like me and the overwhelming majority who are counting the days until its release.

    Let all the moaning little pseudo boycotters stamp their feet and complain about the price, while I have some fun.

    / strokes beard, puffs out chest and raises sturdy chin to the air in preparation for Nov




  • carlitoswagon #10 3 years ago

    OK, In the spirit of the actual article, I hope there is a Beta or mutliplayer demo pre-release. This would keep a lot of people happy and could help cement the relationship with a few disillusioned gamers.

  • bratmandu #11 3 years ago

    Yea well I think we're all in agreement that we'd need a demo/beta. You want me to spend £55 on a game you better show me some good stuff up front.

    If it's amazing I'd consider shelling the cash out, if it's COD4 with more customization / weapons / perks then forget it - a few upgrades won't justify 55 lids!

  • carlitoswagon #12 3 years ago

    @ Bratmandu

    Hold on, I'm hoping for cod4 on steriods. Everthing you just mentioned is what I'm expecting!

    New storyline, campaign, weapons, perks, customization, stats tables, maps, game types, slightly more destructible environments, choice of kill streaks, more people to kill........

    COD4 after 2 years training with Arnie, PUMPED, FLEXING, BIG BALLS IN YOUR FACE.

  • Xerx3s #13 3 years ago

    Oh fuck off, it's a nice PR stunt to call a demo a beta and there is nothing more to it.

  • bratmandu #14 3 years ago

    @ carlitoswagon

    Where are you getting 'destructible scenery' and 'more people to kill' from?

    As far as I was aware the game will still be WITHOUT scenery destruction and the player count will remain the same.

    If you want more players in a match and destructible scenery - why that'd be Battlefield!

    COD:6:MW:2 needs to be MORE than cod4 on steroids - the things you mention are all good but it's not enough to justify the price:

    *New storyline, campaign, - well you would hope they won't use the same story and campaign from the first game!

    *weapons - I'd like to see a bucket of new weapons - preferably more than 3 pistols and more than 2 shotguns! Maybe have certain weapons only unlock after a few prestige levels - to make prestige less repetitive. Anything less than 10 guns for each type (i.e. 10 LMGs, 10 assault rifles, etc) is fail.

    *perks - they gotta get rid of the stupid ones, and add, hundreds. HUNDREDS, even if they're only slight variations on things like run speed, etc. No excuse for not havin loads. If they don't then this is fail.

    *customization, stats tables, - the first one had all these - of course there's going to be new maps for the next one. You can't be gettin excited about things we already have in pretty much any game!

    * maps - yea I would imagine there'll be new maps. But they're still gonna be small and close up, maximum playspace of a few hundred square feet.

    * game types - yea there's that co-op 'mile high style missions' mode.

  • tachometer #15 3 years ago

    Is he Mad? No BETA no BUY, simple as

  • bratmandu #16 3 years ago

    @ tachometer

    To the point, nice one, good man.

    Come to think of it, I don't think I've bought a game in the last three years that didn't have a demo. Except for Fallout.

  • carlitoswagon #17 3 years ago

    @ bratmandu

    Got BF:BC and also enjoying BF 1943, still paying both. They offer a very different alternative to MW. MW gives me the up close and personal stand offs that I also enjoy. It is a more aggressive set up and keeps action intense with smaller maps and close combat.

    I said "slightly more destructible environment" as a joke, which went over your head. I also mentioned more people to kill because there will be more virgin players who buy MW2 and experience cod multiplayer for the first time, hence more people to kill (not numbers per map).

    Also, I mentioned 'game types' as of the multiplayer variety. Team deathmatch, war, sabotage etc etc etc. You are starting to make me sad.

    You obviously have internet access, therefore you will be able to buy MW2 for £44.99 pre-release. Not sure why you keep harping on about £55, when only a spastic or unfortunate parent will actually pay this.

    I know MW2 will dominate my gaming hours for months and months, therefore I personally will get more than my monies worth.

    If the price causes such offence then don't buy it and let the fun commence Nov 11. I'll be there, with a massive grin patting myself on the back for money well spent!!!

    Can't wait.
    Edited by 1 at 20/08/09 @ 17:36

  • metalangel #18 3 years ago

    Given they can't force you to buy a crappy plastic controller for this, I'm surprised they aren't trying to charge for the demo or make it preorder-from-a-place-charging-£55-only or something. I can't wait for more Martyrdom and gunship helos that fire attack dogs! Man, Call of Duty is the best series ever!

  • YoungPayters #19 3 years ago

    hopefully i can get in on some of this. would love to help them out in whatever way, but mainly its just to check out the servers, etc.

  • bobmar360 #20 3 years ago

    all you guys know that the moment you can get your hands on this game that you will,

    A boycott on this will not happen - the amount of hours that MW2 will keep you glued in front of your chair will far out weigh the cost of it.

    In theory the boycott is a great idea but in practice it is bollocks - this will probably be bigger than the first MW

    /has more money than the irresponsible parents of 13 year olds and thinks about booking a day off :)

  • theResistance1984 #21 3 years ago

    no one cares about this game. it was ok 3 years ago but now its just dying. crap levels, crap weapons, crap game modes. pure crap. GRAW2 puts it to shame

  • Fab4 #22 3 years ago

    Day one, eh? Maybe that will give them enough time to implement actual in-game Host Migration and decent hit detection (i.e. client side, not server side)...probably not though...I hear it takes time to think of new 'exciting' perks....pfft!

    Edit: @cabbadgecase, in this case there is no distinction between Publisher and Developer as IW are fully owned by Activision, just as Treyarch are.
    Edited by 1 at 23/08/09 @ 09:31

  • james-mw3-mw3 #23 7 months ago

    To think that Modern Warfare 3's full reveal trailer was released on May 23, 2011. What's up with Activision and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 these days, the game has the highest amount of pre-orders to date, no need for extra Call of Duty: MW3 trailers. The game will sell without them, just like this one!