Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has been drumming up controversy since its reveal for a variety of reasons, with the latest controversy stemming from its newly-revealed White Phosphorus killstreak that players will be able to earn in multiplayer.
It appears as though the White Phosphorus killstreak in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is controversial because of the way the weapon has been used in real life, with some feeling that it shouldn't be glamorized as a reward in a video game. For the uninitiated, white phosphorous is a devastating incendiary weapon that has been used against enemy combatants and civilians alike.
Many have taken to Twitter to criticize Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for glamorizing white phosphorus as a killstreak in the game's multiplayer, mocking it for seemingly standing at odds with the grim, serious tone of the single player campaign. Infinity Ward and Activision have yet to issue a response to the controversy.
As previously mentioned, this is far from the first time Call of Duty: Modern Warfare has found itself the center of controversy. The game's ultra-realistic approach to war in the single player campaign has also been criticized, with some feeling that the game is taking things too far.
For example, we know that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare features child soldiers, and that one of the single player campaign levels will even depict dead children. The game will also allow players to kill civilians without failing their mission, instead having characters in the game react negatively to when players commit such in-game atrocities.
Call of Duty has always pushed the envelope, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is definitely looking to take things to the next level. It's been said that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will blow the controversial No Russian mission from Modern Warfare 2 out of the water in terms of shock factor, and considering what we know about the game so far, it definitely seems like it will deliver on that promise. However, it remains to be seen how the gaming community at large will respond to the game's many controversies.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launches on October 25 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.