Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ESRB Description revealed

The ESRB, the ratings software board in the US, has officially released the ratings for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was officially rated M for MATURE with Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, In-Game Content Purchases, and Users Interact.

But beyond that overall rating, the ESRB website has now officially posted the rating description, and it reveals some additional intel on the campaign and some of the scenes and actions that players can do in the Modern Warfare campaign.

The description states that players will be “saving hostages, escaping/infiltrating war zones, and assaulting enemy compounds.” The description reveals that there is a scene in the campaign that depicts the “players’ character interrogated/tortured via waterboarding” and in the scene “a bound prisoner is seen executed.”

It also reveals that the campaign cutscenes even depict “hostage killed by an explosive vest; civilians (including children) killed by a gas attack” and that other moments of the game “scenes depict terrorists threatening and, in rare instances, attacking or shooting young characters.“

Here is the full ESRB description:

This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the roles of special forces soldiers and freedom fighters as they battle terrorists. Players can engage in a variety of combat missions, such as saving hostages, escaping/infiltrating war zones, and assaulting enemy compounds. Characters use machine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, and explosives to kill enemies in frenetic combat. In some situations, players must quickly determine which characters are terrorists and which are just innocent bystanders. Combat is highlighted by realistic gunfire, screams of pain, and large blood-splatter effects. A sniper rifle causes increased damage (e.g., decapitation, dismemberment). Some sequences prompt players to make choices that influence enemy behavior: using a pistol to threaten a suspect’s family during an interrogation; timing actions to prevent terrorists from shooting hostages (failure scenarios may occur). One sequence depicts players’ character interrogated/tortured via waterboarding; if players select certain dialogue options, then a bound prisoner is seen executed. Cutscenes depict additional acts of violence: a hostage killed by an explosive vest; civilians (including children) killed by a gas attack. Some scenes depict terrorists threatening and, in rare instances, attacking or shooting young characters (e.g., a boy held hostage; young siblings attacked in their home—players can control their ability to fight back). The game includes multiplayer badges that depict illustrations of marijuana leaves and smoking; other illustrations depict close-up angles of partially exposed cleavage and buttocks. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” appear in the dialogue.

The campaign in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is set to be one of the most intense Call of Duty campaigns since No Russian mission from 2009 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 release.

Infinity Ward has not released gameplay from the campaign yet, but as part of a roadmap showcased earlier this month, the studio confirmed that the Campaign Premiere will take place at the end of this month.

SOURCE: ESRB