October 29 4:04 P.M.
View screenshots of Modern Warfare 2
2007 smash Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was acclaimed for its evocative and challenging depictions of warfare, but developer Infinity Ward is set to take gamers to even more uncomfortable extremes when the sequel ships next month.
A video released this week from an unknown, unofficial source appears to show a segment of the upcoming game in which the player takes the role of a terrorist and guns down numerous unarmed civilians in an airport before fleeing across tarmac, shooting police vans, and ultimately being executed by a terrorist leader. Observers have compared it to the 2008 terrorist attacks on civilians in Mumbai.
Publisher Activision confirmed the footage was genuine, and released a statement alleging it was taken from a copy of the game that was "obtained illegally."
"The scene is designed to evoke the atrocities of terrorism," an Activision representative told us. "At the beginning of the game, players encounter a mandatory 'checkpoint' in which they are warned that an upcoming segment may contain disturbing elements and they can choose not to engage in the gameplay that involves this scene."
Activision also reminded us that the game is already rated "M" for Mature. Controversy or not, Modern Warfare 2 is expected to be one of the biggest video game launches of the year.
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Posted: 29 Oct 2009
