The recent Call of Duty Next event revealed plenty about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2.0, which are both expected to launch this year. After the success of 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, anticipation for its sequel is high. It was announced that PlayStation gamers will receive access to an exclusive Operator named Oni, who is a samurai that battles with honor whether armed with blades or bullets.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 looks to be a big release for the franchise, and it packs plenty of fresh content, including a third-person perspective which can be played in Multiplayer. There will also be new modes, including Prisoner Rescue and Invasion. Although PlayStation will be receiving exclusive content, the exclusivity is short-lived, and Oni will make his way to other platforms after a month.
Who Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's Oni?
During the Call of Duty Next event, gamers got a good look at what to expect from upcoming Call of Duty titles. In addition to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which launches in October this year, Activision will also be releasing Warzone 2.0 in November. It was also revealed that PlayStation gamers will be receiving an exclusive Operator in the upcoming games. Operators are playable characters featured in various Call of Duty games, and they can be customized with different skins, quips, and Finishing Moves.
The PlayStation-exclusive Call of Duty Operator is named Hiro "Oni" Watanabe, and he features a distinct design that makes him look like a cross between a Japanese samurai and a modern soldier. He wears the usual military gear one would expect, but he also has on a samurai mask, and he carries deadly blades. As his official description reveals, he descends from an ancient samurai clan, although he now serves as a gun-for-hire. Nevertheless, he attempts to fight with honor while restoring respect to his family's name.
In addition to Oni, PlayStation gamers will also receive an exclusive high-level weapon blueprint, although it hasn't been revealed what weapon the blueprint is for. Gamers on other platforms needn't feel left out, however. Operators do not give players an unfair advantage, and the Oni's exclusivity to PlayStation will only last until October 27. This could mark one of the last exclusivity deals the franchise has with PlayStation as Microsoft concludes its acquisition of Activision. Any fears that Call of Duty will become a console-exclusive title should be laid to rest for now, as the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, has confirmed that the franchise will be appearing on PlayStation for years to come.
Japan's Influence on Gaming
Oni is far from the first samurai in gaming, and while Japan's influence in gaming has always been strong, it appears that it is more prominent than ever in recent years. Oni's appearance will likely make gamers think back to Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, a title focused on a samurai protecting his homeland during the Mongol invasion. The game was so successful that it spawned an upcoming film. Assassin's Creed has also gone the Japanese route with Assassin's Creed Codename Red. Though not much is known about the game, the snippet revealed showed a ninja perched atop a roof.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will serve as the sequel to 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. It has the potential to be a landmark title, much like its 2009 counterpart, through its third-person perspective playlists. The series' take on samurai could also be interesting, and it has been speculated that the voice actor is Daisuke Tsuji, who is also Jin Sakai's English voice actor in Ghost of Tsushima.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is scheduled to release on October 28, 2022 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.