Modern Warfare 2 PC will have a new matchmaking service, no dedicated servers |
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| BY Vidal Stewart Oct. 18th, 2009 | More on: |
The PC version of Modern Warfare 2 is being taken on a rollercoaster ride today in what will be seen as a game changing announcement by fourzerotwo. Aside from declaring earlier that Modern Warfare 2 for PC isn’t delayed, fourzerotwo also spoke on the webcast BASH 123 to reveal IWNet, a new matchmaking service for the PC that will eradicate dedicated servers and place the possibility of mod support in question.
The system will run in conjunction with Steam, which explains the hours spent on the game by developers in the official IW Steam group. Bowling said a formal announcement will come from Valve soon regarding the Steam integration of Modern Warfare 2. Meanwhile, the player will be completely reliant on IWNet, removing the dedicated server and server browsers (both were the primary methods of playing multiplayer in Call of Duty since the original). The matchmaking system will match players against others of the same rank and it will also feature private matches, where players can customize match settings such as changing weapons available to players. Modern Warfare 2 will not use Punkbuster for anti-cheat like the previous Call of Duty titles but instead Valve Anti-Cheat or VAC.
According to Bowling, the move had little to do with the level of piracy with the original Modern Warfare. Needless to say, the absence of dedicated servers will be a major change in a Call of Duty game. Communities that were developed through dedicated servers will have to figure out another means of growing and expanding to new players. Bowling pointed towards the player’s need to invest in dedicated servers as one of the many reasons the system is being implemented and claims that the system is supposed to help the PC community as a whole.
Bowling had little information on how it would affect the modding community however, with IWNet giving more power to the developers, many are questioning if mod support will be a possibility. The system has lead to speculation that it will be a method for Infinity Ward and Activsion to properly distribute DLC to PC players. The interview with Bowling can is now available.
October 18th, 2009
at 1:49 pm
thats a kick in the teeth to dedicated Game server companies, often owned by gamers themselves…
that have been the sole reason there games have had any success and created these online communities, clans and groups who own there own section of the gaming world, and these servers become hubs for day to day get together and an easy way to meet and scout new players or find a specific game-play you. its a system that works well on the pc and shines above console alternatives.
not to mention the Mod factor…..
October 18th, 2009
at 10:20 pm
Sounds like a harsh decision IW will regret. I find it hard to believe they would go toward console style gaming. And even though I have to say Halo 3 multiplayer was satisfying, the Dedicated server system for CoD4 is still jucier as I see it.
And yet even more traumatizing is the fact that clan owned servers won’t exist and like SmOkM had stated, the dedicated server system has worked well for many years and will for many more years to come and go.
As for mods, I hope promod will be released just like CoD4 and through the article, it has stated they are working on mods and Bowling had said it would have little effect on mods.
I can only hope IW can make a last ditch attempt before MW2 is doomed for Dedicated Server Lovers such as myself.
October 19th, 2009
at 11:52 am
My clan and I are absolutely disgusted with this news. The inability to run COD:MW2 on a dedicated server is a very, very bad move.
This common trend of developing the console version first and porting to PC will force us all to another franchise for our gaming needs. The success of COD was built on the PC gaming community, and now you are removing the community aspect to just playing with random matched players who may or may not share my same interests and may or may not be mature and cordial players.
October 20th, 2009
at 2:48 pm
Nothing good will come of this. I’m sure of it.
October 31st, 2009
at 6:23 pm
i agree with ZMag i’ve run into alot of people that i can call friends on dedicated servers, it’s gone too far when you remove the social aspect of the game, with no community there is no real gaming experience. PC rules!!!!!