The 2019 reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare places a strong emphasis on realism. With new details about its weapons and the weapon system, the developers further underscore their high ambitions.
Where do the infos come from? In their latest “intel drop,” the team from Infinity Ward shared fresh details about the weapons and the upcoming weapon system of Modern Warfare 2019. Mark Grigsby, the animation director of the development studio, provided insight.
How the weapons contribute to realism in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
The new engine now opens up entirely new possibilities. In this context, the weapons are designed to feel very authentic and behave and look like one would expect in the real world in most situations. The devil is in the details. Thus, they aim to meet their high realism claim:
The animations
A significant emphasis is placed on the weapon animations in the upcoming Call of Duty installment. Many aspects will change compared to its predecessors.
Weapon movements and animations while standing: The new animations, for example, will take into account the weight and sway of the weapon in various situations—whether in action or simply standing still.
There will be new idle animations where natural small muscle movements affect the handling of the weapon as well as its movements.
In general, the weapons are also designed to respond much stronger and more realistically to their environment. So if you move up a staircase with a weapon, the animation will represent it differently than if you are just standing around waiting. The weapon will also move accordingly and will no longer appear as if it were nailed to the camera setting.
Even when you look around or change your viewpoint (not in aim mode, but while moving normally), the weapon animation is detached from your gaze. First, your head turns, so your view, then the weapon follows in a realistic movement.
New reload animations: Especially with the reload animations, a lot has changed. For example, the animation now depends on whether the magazine is full or half-full, or how many rounds remain in the magazine.
The type of the respective magazine also influences the animation. It is said: “We used to never show the transition from one magazine to the next. But now everything is considered physically. If you have an extended magazine or a drum magazine, all movements during each of these reloads are crisp, strong, and aggressive. There is a different feeling of power and it shows how Tier-1 operators handle these weapons.”
Additionally, there is now a kind of tactical reloading. Because you can now reload while in the aim view (in ADS)—a first in the Call of Duty series.
If you previously shot in a series installment and then wanted to reload, the weapon would exit the aim mode and start the reload animation. Only then could you aim at the enemy again. In Modern Warfare 2019, the weapon can remain on target while in the aim view (ADS), allowing you to stay actively engaged in the battle. The sights have also been adjusted in this context so that you can better keep an eye on your surroundings.
The mounting system: The so-called mounting system has already been revealed. This allows you to brace your weapon against objects like walls and door frames. As soon as players are near such a surface, they can use the function. This system and its animation has a significant impact on recoil, making the weapon more stable.
The effects
The weapon effects are expected to vary significantly depending on the weapon and caliber. It makes a huge difference whether a wall or an enemy is hit by a caliber-50 projectile or a smaller round.
If enemies are hit by large caliber rounds, they can be thrown backward through the air. Additionally, you can quickly process doors into splinters with larger calibers. Players are expected to feel the power difference distinctly.
Additional particle effects such as sparks, fire, or smoke will also change accordingly with the power of the respective weapon.
The sound
The sound is also expected to contribute to the realism. For instance, it should sound significantly different when firing a weapon outdoors compared to inside a small room. Additionally, weapon attachments like muzzle brakes will also affect the sound of a weapon.
The overall picture
The weapons are intended to be represented as accurately as possible. This includes the animations, effects, and sound. Together, these aspects should ultimately ensure that players feel the power of each individual weapon and notice the differences.
What do you think of these features? Are these important aspects that influence your potential purchase? Or are there other things that matter more to you?
