Players that purchased Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s Vault Edition are being granted Double XP tokens after a scandal that caused many to buy the more expensive version under false pretenses. Modern Warfare 2's launch has seen a number of controversies, with players responding negatively to perk changes. There has also been talk of Activision running into legal trouble related to some of MW2's maps, which are inspired by real-world locations. One, called Valderas Museum, was removed from the game shortly after its release, with some speculating that it shared the architecture of the real-life J. Paul Getty Museum.As reported by Dexerto, Modern Warfare 2 has addressed the concerns of those who purchased the game’s Vault Edition by granting Double XP tokens to all of its buyers. These tokens are highly coveted by players who want to rank up fast in Modern Warfare 2, which had led many to look forward to the in-game rewards that came with the Vault Edition. Initially, players could only access these rewards if they made their purchases through Call of Duty’s in-game stores in Warzone, Vanguard, Black Ops Cold War, or Modern Warfare. This meant those who made their purchases elsewhere could not claim the rewards they thought they had bought, leaving many players annoyed at having spent more money on a game that had no additional content. Following an online backlash, Call of Duty has made a statement on Twitter to clear up the confusion and grant every owner of the Vault Edition their Double XP tokens.
MW2's Launch Has Suffered Multiple Controversies
Controversy surrounding the Vault Edition is only one of the woes surrounding Modern Warfare 2's launch. Exclusive bonuses have angered MW2 players, with PlayStation players benefiting from more loadout slots compared to players on Xbox and PC. There have also been player complaints relating to crossplay and auto-aim on consoles, with some PC players feeling like it gives their console counterparts an unfair advantage. This has been exacerbated by PlayStation players being able to switch off crossplay, which is something those on Xbox and PC have been unable to do. This has distracted somewhat from the more successful elements of MW2's multiplayer, such as its gunplay and presentation, which many consider to be a step-up over its predecessor.
While news of the Vault Edition fixes is welcome, it's emblematic of MW2's rocky launch. Talented fans have had to come up with solutions to Modern Warfare 2’s annoying features, such as the unnecessarily complicated menu and UI, but others will still need to be addressed by Infinity Ward. No doubt fan excitement will increase when the eagerly awaited Warzone 2 drops, but in the meantime, the buzz surrounding MW2's multiplayer appears to have been dampened by multiple controversies.
For all that Modern Warfare 2's controversies have dogged its launch period somewhat, they still fall behind similar issues that have affected rival FPS series. Last year's Battlefield 2042 released to a huge backlash thanks to its controversial gameplay changes and overall lack of polish. The recently released Overwatch 2, meanwhile, has also fallen afoul of player criticism, with many bemoaning its new free-to-play model and battle pass. In any case, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 still has plenty of time to win around its critics, and buzz surrounding the sequel will no doubt increase once the next iteration of Warzone drops later in the year.
Source: Dexerto, Call of Duty/Twitter
Editor’s Note: A lawsuit has been filed against Activision Blizzard by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which alleges the company has engaged in abuse, discrimination, and retaliation against its female employees. Activision Blizzard has denied the allegations. The full details of the Activision Blizzard lawsuit (content warning: rape, suicide, abuse, harassment) are being updated as new information becomes available.