Sales of the game have been soaring following the introduction of the mod on Steam. However, the excitement has now been in vain as the mod has been taken down.
The mod’s removal was not unexpected, especially after it gained attention on social media and attracted popular content creators to make videos about it. The fan-made mod utilized an officially released version of Modern Warfare Remastered.
In the eyes of Activision, this was not favorable as it involved playing with products in a way that did not yield profits for the company, despite potential sales boosts. Even though players typically do not profit from such projects, any form of financial support is deemed excessive.
Prior to the mod’s takedown, there was promotion of a sale for Modern Warfare Remastered, which was required to access the mod. This action directly contributed to Activision’s revenue.
It is surprising they did not anticipate the repercussions, as the emergence of a fan remake or mod of significant impact often attracts the attention of corporations. Although there are exceptions, such as depicting illegal behavior or unfairly portraying a game or company, these instances are rare, particularly the ones that gain widespread attention.
Modern Warfare 2, originally released in 2009, has an active online multiplayer presence, but its player count is declining, and the lobbies are increasingly vulnerable to hackers due to Activision’s lack of attention. The company’s focus shifts to new entries in the franchise, neglecting older ones.
The demise of the popular mod clearly reflects this trend. Its creators did not infringe on any rights or demand compensation; in fact, they encouraged players to engage in the multiplayer community.
However, the corporation’s fears of losing profits or its intention to preserve Modern Warfare 2 for future use have eradicated any chance of success for the mod. The industry has witnessed numerous exceptional mods, fan games, and similar projects being abruptly shut down, often with the blame directed at the media for drawing attention to them.
Corporations tend to stifle creativity if it does not align with their financial interests, even if it rejuvenates declining products or portrays their games positively. This unfortunate situation persists as larger entities control a majority of the gaming industry.
The passion of dedicated fans seeking to revive a classic like Modern Warfare 2 is being thwarted, with detrimental effects for the community.
