We’re still in the earliest stages, but initial responses to the Modern Warfare 4 campaign have been among the best that we’ve seen in years. The new Call of Duty game is currently in its advance access, which allows anyone who’s bought a copy to play through the entire single-player game ahead of its multiplayer launch. That means all Steam reviews coming in right now are exclusively for its story, and it’s been met with almost universal praise, currently sitting at 90% positive from its first 2,000 user ratings.
There’s of course plenty of time for those numbers to shift, and there’s every chance that score will change once opinions on the multiplayer come into play. However, seeing such high praise for the Modern Warfare 4 campaign out of the gate feels refreshing, particularly after Infinity Ward’s last few outings. Jordan decried the characters of 2022’s Modern Warfare 2 as “just a bit dull,” while Paul dubbed 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 as “the most disposable, forgettable, and, worst of all, boring COD game to date.”
It’s perhaps telling, therefore, that one of the most frequent comments among the MW4 Steam reviews is some variation of “I didn’t feel bored at all.” One user states, “You actually deserved that ending, Infinity Ward,” while another reports, “I was waiting to be let down and refund the game but got so sucked into the campaign I played it all in a day.” There’s been plenty of praise for its set-pieces, the story pacing, and also the performances of its cast, who have been responding to the feedback on social media.
“Seeing so many amazing comments about the incredible performances of our MW4 cast,” Director of Production Graham Hagmair writes. “A big thank you to our stellar Casting Directors, Emily Schweber and Karan Sadow, who brought together such an extraordinary group of talent.”
One of the first to respond was Barry Sloane, the voice of Captain John Price. “Thank you for all the kind words. I see them. I read them. And I am grateful.” He also cautions players to remember that if they love the story, they should be careful about saying too much quite yet: “Remember, let’s allow people to enjoy the game in their own time. No spoilers.”
Maria Elisa Carmago, the voice of Valeria Garza, says she is “Overwhelmed by your love… I don’t have words at this moment. Honored and humbled by this experience and reading every word you share with me. Gracias.”
Samuel Roukin, who portrays Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley, adds, “Poured our guts into this. Now it’s yours. Your messages have been amazing. I’ve read them all. Thank you. The COD community is special. So much love for you all.” He also reiterates Sloane’s request for restraint: “Now then… keep the spoilers out of comments everywhere. Keep the suspense alive.”
It’s been several years since I dipped into a Call of Duty campaign myself – duties for that have always fallen elsewhere on the PCGamesN team, and nothing I’ve heard about any recent entry has convinced me to go out of my way. With such bold praise coming from all directions, however, this might finally be the time I break that streak and check in with Task Force 141 again.