Activision appears to be on the defensive in 2025, grappling with a crumbling Call Of Duty player base, mixed feedback on Black Ops 6, and growing skepticism about the impact of the highly publicized Verdansk return. Now, in a potential act of desperation or strategic damage control, new evidence strongly suggests that Modern warfare 2 (2009) and Modern Warfare 3 (2011) are being re-released for PS5 and Xbox platforms—just as community trust in the franchise hits a new low.
Verdansk update failed to lift Warzone or BO6
When Verdansk made its grand return to Warzone, Activision immediately touted the update as a massive success. Reports claimed “off the charts” engagement and significant boosts in player retention and even Black Ops 6 downloads. However, according to veteran COD YouTuber Blame Truth, these claims don’t hold up when you compare them to publicly available data.
Using Steam Charts as a baseline, he revealed a drop from 138,000 to 105,000 peak players just days after the update—despite Activision claiming otherwise. “They say it exceeded expectations. Based on what? The game was dead before it dropped,” Blame Truth asked in a recent video that’s gone viral in the COD community.
The disconnect between Activision’s narrative and actual metrics has created confusion and even anger. On platforms like Reddit, top-voted posts discuss players being thrown into the same match multiple times, lacking any real matchmaking variety. This type of feedback doesn’t reflect a healthy player base. If anything, it supports the claim that Warzone’s update simply didn’t “move the needle” in any measurable way.
Ghost of Hope leak casts doubt on Warzone success
Part of the confusion stems from a leak by Ghost of Hope, one of the community’s most reliable leakers. According to him, Activision and Raven Software were thrilled by the numbers they saw post-Verdansk. But many believe this leak may be strategically planted PR. As Blame Truth puts it, “Maybe this is just Activision trying to suck their own [censored].”
The most glaring contradiction? Activision started a free trial week for Black Ops 6 after claiming numbers were already high. “Why would you give the game away for free if the update was already working?” he asked, emphasizing that you don’t need a trial if a product is already performing well.
Learn more about Modern Warfare classics could be Activision’s last hope from Blame Truth on YouTube.
Even more damning are the continued monetization tactics. Despite supposedly “listening to criticism,” Activision is still pushing microtransactions and crossover skins aggressively. If it’s printing money, why slow down? And if it’s not, why pretend everything is fine?
Ratings confirm MW2 and MW3 re-releases are real
In the middle of all this, the Australian Classification Board published listings for both Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3, marked as cross-gen editions with an MA15+ rating and a production year of 2025. This strongly suggests the original 2009 and 2011 versions are being re-released for modern platforms like the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Notably, the use of standard numerals (2, 3) instead of Roman numerals (II, III) is key here. That naming style is consistent with the original Modern Warfare trilogy—not the 2022 and 2023 reboot versions. This subtle detail gives the leak significant weight and has sparked widespread speculation in the community.
Will these be full remasters like COD4: Modern Warfare Remastered or simple ports with updated servers? That remains unclear, but the possibilities have longtime fans cautiously optimistic. A hacker-free version of MW2 or MW3 with modern matchmaking and free DLC could be exactly what the franchise needs to bring back lapsed players.
You can monitor the rating updates at the Australian Classification Board for the latest official details.
Battlefield’s open stance on SBMM gains praise
While Call of Duty fans are growing tired of the opaque and arguably exploitative skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) and engagement-optimized matchmaking (EOMM) systems, EA’s Battlefield franchise is taking the opposite approach. Developer David Surland recently spoke publicly about how Battlefield 2042 handles matchmaking, stating that:
- Ping and fast match starts are prioritized
- SBMM exists but is minimal and only helps with basic team balancing
- Parties are mostly exempt from SBMM sorting
- Transparency is the goal moving forward
This has reignited hope for competitive balance in large-scale FPS games. Blame Truth praised this move, saying, “If Battlefield sticks to this, Call of Duty has a real problem on their hands.” With Battlefield aiming to deliver large-scale, casual-friendly gameplay without manipulating results behind the scenes, Activision’s systems look increasingly outdated and manipulative.
Call of Duty’s biggest threat: GTA 6 and consumer fatigue
It’s not just Battlefield that Activision should be worried about. GTA 6 is on the horizon, and it’s already expected to dominate player engagement across every platform. According to industry insiders like Tom Henderson, Activision’s plan to compete involves bundling MW2 (2009) and MW3 (2011) with Black Ops 7—a game many are calling a glorified DLC.
Blame Truth points out that BO7 is just another version of BO2, but with wall-running and omni-Movement tacked on. “It’s just Modern Warfare 3 all over again—a rushed reskin sold at full price,” he says. Without a strong mainline release, the pressure is mounting for Activision to deliver the legacy content.
But if history repeats itself, those re-releases could be filled with the same monetization and matchmaking systems that have alienated players in the first place. If MW2 and MW3 are re-released with skins, SBMM, and the bloated Call of Duty HQ launcher, many fans will consider it another lost opportunity.
The COD community wants authenticity, not desperation
The general sentiment among the Call of Duty community is clear: stop lying, stop inflating, and stop manipulating. Blame Truth calls out Activision’s tactics directly, saying, “They love lying to us. They get off on it. If they could remove their ribs just to [censored] themselves harder, they would.”
Strong words—but ones that resonate with a large portion of the player base. With player counts continuing to drop, monetization fatigue setting in, and competition heating up, Activision’s best move now would be transparency and respect for its legacy. Don’t forget to keep an eye on CODIntel for more early news and updates.
A clean re-release of Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3, with Anti-Cheat protection, no SBMM, all DLC included, and modern stability, could rebuild trust. But anything less might just confirm the worst fears of longtime players.
FAQ about Modern Warfare classics could be Activision’s last hope
Are the MW2 and MW3 re-releases official?
They’ve been classified in Australia, strongly suggesting an official re-release is coming.
Will the re-releases have updated graphics?
It’s unknown. They may be remastered or simple ports with performance fixes.
Will these versions include all DLC?
That’s likely, as most older DLC is hard to purchase today.
Could they launch on Game Pass?
Yes, especially with Microsoft’s recent push to add older COD titles to the service.
Will they include original map packs?
It’s expected, especially since old DLC is hard to access now.
Are the original servers being revived?
If re-released, they’ll likely use new servers with anti-cheat protections.
