When the Season 03 Reloaded update is released for Modern Warfare II on May 10th, it’ll bring with it a fresh wave of content for the community-splitting title. There are new maps, modes, weapons, and of course, bundles, which players will be able to purchase using real-world money. One of these bundles is the ‘Throwback Audio Pack’, which introduces sound effects from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2, offering up a hit of nostalgia to long-standing Call of Duty fans.
However, it’s not as impressive as it sounds, as the Throwback Audio Pack only features two blueprints, each of which boasts the sounds ripped from the 2009 game. There’s a sound pack for the Lachmann Sub, otherwise known as the MP5, and another for an unconfirmed assault rifle, which will most likely be the M4 or the Hemlock (ACR in 2009’s MW2). For the most part, fans are seeing this bundle as a completely missed opportunity, as it could have been so much more.
The Nostalgia is Real
It seems quite bizarre that Infinity Ward would release a bundle containing just two weapons with remixed sound effects when there are so many more opportunities present on the platform. For instance, between the 2009 and the 2022 versions of Modern Warfare II, there are plenty of crossovers in terms of weaponry. There are staple guns that are featured in both games, such as the P90, Intervention, AK-47, and SCAR.
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However, Infinity Ward seems perfectly content with releasing the paid-for bundle with just two remixed sound effects being present.
There could even be a case made for the announcer’s voices to be changed, killstreak callouts to be remixed, or equipment sounds – such as flashbangs, semtex grenades, and even hitmarkers to adopt the sound effects that were present in 2009’s Modern Warfare 2. This is the disappointment of the Throwback Audio Pack, which could have been something truly special.
Rely on the Past to Fuel the Present
This isn’t the first retro throwback we’ve seen from Infinity Ward and Co.
Recently, a pack featuring a classic ‘Ghost’ skin was released to the store, showcasing the ever-popular Call of Duty character, Ghost, in all his retro-themed glory. Not only that but there are several maps that have been more or less pulled from 2009’s Modern Warfare 2 and rebuilt in 2022’s Modern Warfare II. There’s something powerful about nostalgia, and when it comes to Call of Duty fans, no games were ever more impressive than the older titles – particularly Modern Warfare 2.
It’s possible further Throwback Audio Pack bundles will be released over time, but we can’t say for sure. If Infinity Ward chooses to drip-feed these bundles rather than launching a mass pack, then it becomes even more apparent that this is about milking the content for money, and it’s nothing to do with fan service.