Hardcore mode + Ranked Play arrive in Modern Warfare 2 Season 2

Modern Warfare 2 Season 2 is just around the corner, bringing Ranked Play, Hardcore, and plenty of new content!

Call of Duty fans have had mixed reviews of the latest installment in the franchise since its October release. As seems to be the case every year, one big concern was that there was a lot missing on launch day.

The developers like to hold things back so that they have a steady stream of exciting updates to drop over time. Luckily, MW2 Season 2 is set to deliver on a couple of the most commonly requested features.

When is MW2 Season 2?

Modern Warfare 2 Season 2 is confirmed to launch on February 15, 2023.

This means fresh content for both multiplayer and Warzone 2.0. “Our studio teams have been making several changes based on what we have heard from our player community”, said Activision in an official statement.

Infinity Ward will be providing more details on upcoming changes in a studio blog later this week.

Hardcore mode is back

Back by popular demand! The Hardcore mode we all know and love returns in the Season 2 update.

“No HUD? No problem. Hardcore is back!” tweeted Infinity Ward on Sunday.

Many players were disappointed to find that Hardcore mode had been replaced by the Tier 1 playlist for MW2.

Tier 1 offered similar “realistic” gameplay elements, but didn’t quite scratch the same itch as Hardcore. The HP was a bit too high, meaning lots of hitmarkers, and the HUD changes didn’t feel right.

Ranked Play comes to Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty legend Scump retired last week, but could you be the new king? Ranked Play is confirmed to go live alongside the Season 2 update on February 15.

The playlist features competitive maps, game modes, and rulesets, designed to replicate what the pros play in the CDL.

Back in November, Treyarch promised the following for Ranked Play on MW2:

• Competitive Modes

• Ranked Skill Divisions

• Visible Skill Ratings

• Top 250 Leaderboard

• Competitive Rewards

Look out for further details on both Hardcore mode and Ranked Play, plus other updates following the release of Infinity Ward’s studio blog this week.

Up next: Battlefield 2042 returns to Class System ahead of Season 4 launch