After thirteen main series titles and some rather infamous scenes of brutality, it should surprise no-one to learn that Call of Duty: WW2 is going to be a violent game. That said, the newly-released ESRB rating for the game seems to imply that this iteration in the long-running franchise might just be the most graphic one yet, as players explore the horrors of the Second World War.

Obviously the title is rated M for Mature as is standard with the Call of Duty series, but it's the rating summary that really drives the decision home. It seems that COD: WW2 will feature some pretty hardcore moments that would certainly not be suitable for a younger audience. The summary is as follows:

"This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of an American soldier through the Allied campaign in Europe during WWII. Players use machine guns, shotguns, rocket launchers, and explosives to kill enemy soldiers; some weapon attacks result in decapitation and/or dismemberment, leaving bloodstains and body parts on the ground. Battles are frenetic and accompanied by realistic gunfire, screams of pain, and large explosions. Cutscenes also depict instances of violence: a prisoner shot in the head at close-range; enemy soldiers shooting themselves to avoid capture."

Call of Duty WW2 Hackers

The rating goes on to say that there will also be limited swearing in the game, though this seems to be a minor factor when compared to the extremely violent picture that the summary has painted for us. Although many gamers tend to be somewhat desensitized to war games at this point, it appears that Sledgehammer Games is not pulling its punches with the new Call of Duty.

It would hardly be surprising to learn that the reason that Call of Duty: WW2 has multiple playable characters would be to have one or more of them tragically die off, as has been seen before in previous installments, and it doesn't sound like any death will be a pleasant one. For the majority of the title, players will take control of Ronald 'Red' Daniels, although they will also get a chance to play as a French resistance fighter, an RAF pilot, and a tank commander during the game's campaign mode.

As for the game's online mode, which is not rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, players will fight online against other Call of Duty fans in a classic matchmaking environment. Right now, fans who have downloaded the game's beta are able to try out the upcoming shooter for themselves, although hacking appears to be a serious issue for all involved.

Call of Duty: WW2 releases November 3 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: ESRB