2009’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was a full-on juggernaut upon release. Sculpted by the adept hands of Infinity Ward and released by the less-than-adept hands of Activision, this behemoth in the Call of Duty lineage was met with fevered anticipation. Modern Warfare 2 sales were blistering right out of the gate. It amassed an astonishing $310 million in its first 24 hours in North America and the UK. Its enthralling narrative and state-of-the-art visuals playing a role in propelling its sales beyond 25 million copies globally.
But, as is often the case with most sprawling digital masterpieces with an unmovable – for whatever reason – release date, Modern Warfare 2 had its imperfections. Players, in their explorations of its expansive battlefields and dynamic terrains, stumbled upon an array of glitches. While some were benign, others offered undue advantages. The community stood divided: some saw these as opportunities, reminiscent of the exploits of earlier games, while others clamored for a more equitable experience. This discord reminded the gaming world that even giants have their vulnerabilities.
Care Package Glitch
With the Care Package Glitch, players uncovered a way to sprint at speeds far beyond the game’s intended limits. By quickly toggling between their primary weapon and the care package marker, players could dash across the map with exceptional agility. This unintended advantage disrupted balanced gameplay. It gave those utilizing the glitch a significant speed advantage over opponents, especially when combined with other in-game equipment.
Model 1887s Akimbo Range Glich
The Model 1887s, when equipped in the akimbo – dual-wield – mode, became the center of controversy due to an unexpected range glitch. These shotguns, when dual-wielded, exhibit a range far greater than intended. It allows players to eliminate opponents from distances typically reserved for rifles. The result is a weapon setup that dominates close-quarter maps, outperforming other weapons in most situations. The overwhelming advantage it provides disrupts the game’s balance, prompting urgent calls from players for the glitch to be addressed.
One Man Army Exploit
The One Man Army perk was originally introduced to give players the versatility of switching classes mid-game. However, it wasn’t long before players figured out how to exploit this feature. By using the OMA perk, players can continually resupply their equipment, including grenades and other explosives, without any significant cooldown. This exploit is especially notorious when combined with Danger Close, a perk that amplifies explosive damage. The result is an incessant barrage of explosives, making certain areas of maps nearly impassable and disrupting the balanced gameplay. The dominance of this OMA-Danger Close combo led to many matches turning into explosive spam fests, much to the chagrin of players seeking a more authentic combat experience.
Tactical Insertion Spawn Trapping
Tactical Insertion, a piece of equipment introduced in Modern Warfare 2, is designed to give players the ability to choose their next spawn location. This equipment is intended to allow for strategic placement on the battlefield. However, savvy players quickly found a more sinister use for it. By coordinating with teammates, they can continually place their Tactical Insertions near enemy spawn points, effectively trapping respawning players in a loop of near-instantaneous deaths as soon as they reappeared. This tactic, known as “Spawn Trapping”, not only frustrates victims but also allows those employing the tactic to rack up kills rapidly. While meant to add another layer of strategy to the game, the misuse of Tactical Insertion ends up being a point of contention among the player community.
Fuel Rock Glitch
The landscapes of Modern Warfare 2 aren’t immune to their own set of glitches. Specific rock formations, intended as aesthetic elements or cover, had flawed collision mechanics. Astute players learned to embed themselves within these rocks, essentially becoming invisible to adversaries. Once ensconced, they can survey the surroundings, plot strategies, and launch attacks, all while remaining shielded from counterattacks. This anomaly, while intriguing to some, is a source of frustration for many who found themselves at a disadvantage against rock-embedded foes.
Javelin Glitch
The Javelin Glitch is among the more infamous Modern Warfare 2 glitches. Players uncovered a method where, by equipping the Javelin missile launcher and performing a sequence of in-game actions, they can transform themselves into a ticking time bomb. When struck by an opponent, the glitched player explodes, often taking out the attacker and anyone else in the vicinity. The very nature of this glitch turned every player encounter into a potential trap. It added an unintended – and unwelcome – layer of strategy to encounters. While some find it amusing, many deem it game-breaking, clamoring for a solution to this fiery problem.
Out of Match Launch Glitch
A more covert set of glitches revolved around the game’s map boundaries. Some players found ways to venture outside the intended play zones into areas where they weren’t easily seen or targeted. These out-of-map glitches weren’t just about exploration; they often provided significant tactical advantages. Players could snipe unsuspecting foes from these concealed spots or hide from threats, making it a contentious issue within the player community.
AC-130 Out of Match Glitch
The AC-130 gunship, one of the game’s most potent kill-streak rewards, was not free from glitches. Players discovered a way to navigate the AC-130 outside the boundaries of the playable map. Once the gunship was outside these boundaries, it became unreachable and immune to enemy fire. However, it retained the ability to rain down gunfire and missiles onto enemies below. This glitch gave players an unfair advantage, leading to frustrations among players who couldn’t counter an out-of-bounds AC-130. The exploit became particularly problematic in maps with more open spaces, where the gunship’s firepower could dominate the match.
Emergency Airdrop / Unlimited Care Package Glitch
Another glitch that drew the community’s hyper-focus was the Unlimited Care Package or Emergency Airdrop exploit. Players identified a loophole allowing them to continuously use the care package or emergency airdrop, granting them an unrestrained supply of in-game rewards. This not only skewed the balance of matches but also caused a cascade of kill-streaks, overwhelming opposing teams. The frequency with which these rewards could be accessed became a hot topic in the community, with many players emphasizing the pressing need for a fix to restore fair play.
Elevator Glitch
The elevator glitch stood out as a particularly quirky, yet frustrating, aspect of Modern Warfare 2‘s gameplay. By executing a specific series of movements and jumps, players discovered they can elevate themselves to unintended areas of the map, sometimes to the point of floating in mid-air. These unexpected vantage points provides a bird’s eye view. It makes them nearly untouchable while having a clear shot at unsuspecting enemies below. The glitch not only disrupts the competitive balance but also disrupts the immersive experience. Floating soldiers certainly weren’t part of the intended game design.
Private Match XP Lobby Exploit
Private matches are designed to be a space for casual, non-competitive gameplay among friends. This took a competitive twist with the emergence of the XP Lobbies glitch. Crafty players found ways to exploit these lobbies to earn massive amounts of XP, leveling up at rapid rates without undergoing the typical multiplayer grind. This bypass of the conventional progression system caused a rift within the player community. It allows some to achieve higher ranks and unlockables without earning them via the intended means. It called the integrity of the game’s ranking system into question. It lead to discussions about the legitimacy of players’ ranks and the potential consequences for those who took advantage of the glitch.
Long-Range Knife Glitch
Knives in Modern Warfare 2 were intended for close-quarters combat, providing players with a swift and silent way to eliminate nearby opponents. However, a peculiar glitch emerges where players can throw a knife with uncharacteristic precision and range, often hitting targets across vast distances with alarming accuracy. This anomaly turns a short-range, last-resort weapon into a lethal long-range tool, challenging the dynamics of combat. Players now have to be wary of flying knives from improbable distances. It adds a surreal layer to an otherwise true-to-life warfare experience. The glitch sparked debates about fairness and the appropriate use of melee weapons within the game’s universe.