The controversial minimap change introduced in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's open beta has improved gameplay for the better, despite a player backlash demanding that Infinity Ward reverse it. Whereas before in Call of Duty games players firing their weapon without a silencer or suppressor would appear as red dots on a minimap, in Modern Warfare 2, this has been completely removed. While this does remove a vital piece of information for players to assess their next move in a given multiplayer match, the decision to focus more on sound cues makes for a more immersive experience. Infinity Ward has explained Modern Warfare 2's changes with that reasoning in mind, but it's unclear if it will stay given the volume of opposition from the playerbase.
In the past, Call of Duty players strategically used the minimap to find cover, plan ambushes or assaults, and locate enemy positions. That is still the case for two of the three strategies. However, Modern Warfare 2 has taken a different approach from previous games and removed the red dot from the minimap for players using non-suppressed weapons. Players have been able to experiment with this new minimap change in the currently ongoing Modern Warfare 2 open beta. Infinity Ward has also made a number of other changes to the multiplayer mode since 2019's Modern Warfare, including alterations to slide-canceling and mounting cover.
Despite the backlash, Infinity Ward's decision to change the minimap in Modern Warfare 2 provides a refreshing twist to gameplay and, at the very least, should remain in place to give players more time to adjust before any further changes are made. Not having a red dot on the map as much makes the experience more immersive and incentivizes earning killstreaks rather than trading quick eliminations for deaths. Competitive Call of Duty players might not like the change initially, but it could prove just as challenging and rewarding over time.
CoD MW2's Minimap Change Makes Gameplay More Immersive
As stated by Infinity Ward, removing the red dot feature for MW2 corresponds with wanting players to "actively search out the origin of a gunshot versus just traveling directly to where the dot is on the mini-map." This decision makes a lot of sense in terms of immersion - something that is also reflected in Modern Warfare 2's gunsmith progression - as real-life military operators wouldn't be able to rely on a map to see where their enemies are. CoD historically has not been a franchise that puts realism as its primary objective, but the Modern Warfare games have always taken an approach closer to reality than the others, such as Vanguard. Having to mix up tactics to win a gunfight or capture a point makes the game more rewarding, and now players can do that without worrying about the need for a silencer attachment - although suppressors will still come in handy in terms of reducing noise.
Although the overall usefulness of the minimap has been reduced with MW2, players can still call in UAVs to reveal the positions of the opposing team. This should make the UAV a much more powerful tool, but it also means that players will have to think more carefully about their movement, as is the case with tactical shooters like Rainbow Six Siege. The red dot minimap feature has been a staple of the franchise for years, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's beta is showing that change can be a good thing.
Source: Infinity Ward
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