In a tragic turn of events, a highly anticipated mod for the revered game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered was unceremoniously canceled just before its much-anticipated launch. The talented developers behind the project were blindsided by a cease and desist letter from the formidable Activision, leaving fans devastated and the team in disarray.
Announcing the heartbreaking news on the digital platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the mod team reluctantly shared their decision to cease all operations immediately. “Today, our team members received a Cease & Desist order on behalf of Activision Publishing in relation to the H2M-Mod project,” the sorrowful post declared. The once-promising venture was abruptly brought to a halt, leaving supporters in a state of shock and disappointment.
Moyens I/O, inquisitive as ever, sought out Activision for a response but as of yet has not received one. The ambitious H2 Multiplayer Mod (H2M) had set out to reimagine the multiplayer maps from the iconic Modern Warfare 2 within the PC version of Modern Warfare Remastered. Not content with merely recreating the maps, the mod aimed to introduce enhanced graphics, new maps, remastered weapons, and a fresh progression system. Activision’s release of Modern Warfare 2 Remastered in 2020, which notably lacked the multiplayer component, had left a void the mod developers hoped to fill.
“If Activision won’t heed the desires of the fans, then it falls upon us, the community, to take action,” proclaimed the determined developers on X in 2023. Prior to its intended launch, Modern Warfare Remastered experienced a surge in sales and player activity on Steam, with the eight-year-old game climbing to third place among top sellers. This unexpected success only served to deepen the disappointment felt by one of the mod’s creators.
In a poignant lament on X, a developer known as SoaR Alastor voiced their anguish, highlighting the countless hours of unpaid labor poured into the project. “Genuinely heartbroken… all to be shut down AFTER PEOPLE SPENT THEIR MONEY,” the poignant message conveyed. Sadly, this was not the first instance of Activision quashing Call of Duty mods or community initiatives, as evidenced by their actions in 2023 against fan clients for older series titles like SM2 and X Labs.
The tale of the ill-fated H2 Multiplayer Mod serves as a poignant reminder of the precarious nature of fan-driven projects in the face of corporate giants. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the clash between creativity and commerce remains a contentious issue, with casualties like H2M serving as somber reminders of the power dynamics at play within the gaming community.