Infinity Ward
A screenshot from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Modern Warfare 2 apparently nixed by Russian authorities
Infinity Ward said to be preparing censored version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for some audiences.
By Matthew Shaer | 11.16.09
Update: Activision says the game was not banned in Russia.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the new, best-selling video game by Infinity Ward, a fictional nationalist organization tricks the Russian government into attacking the United States. Gushingly and rosily pro-Russian, this game ain’t.
And now, the real Russian government has reportedly banned sales of Modern Warfare 2 for the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3, even as Infinity Ward works to roll out a censored version of the eagerly-anticipated first-person shooter.
On Friday, the fan site Hellforge reported that all copies of Modern Warfare 2 had been pulled from store shelves in Russia:
Pending validation from the Russian government, the censored console versions of the game are expected to be released within less than a month, with the mission removed. The game’s content has raised the ire of the Russian gaming public as well as a number of politicians who object to its portrayal of Russia’s armed forces as terrorists who invade the United States and subsequently erect statues of dead terrorists in Washington D.C.
At issue is a level called “No Russian,” where the player is given the option to fire on a crowd of innocent civilians in a Moscow airport. There is a certain irony to Russia’s objection – but we don’t want to start drifting into spoilers.
As we noted recently, Modern Warfare 2 publisher Activision has already issued a statement explaining the scene’s importance to the plot:
Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2 features a deep and gripping storyline in which players face off against a terrorist threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. The game includes a plot involving a mission carried out by a Russian villain who wants to trigger a global war. In order to defeat him, the player infiltrates his inner circle. The scene is designed to evoke the atrocities of terrorism.
Still, the scene was apparently enough to rankle the folks over in Russia. Talk to us – should Activision and Infinity Ward be prepping a censored version of the game? Have you had a chance to play the scene in question? Drop a line in the comments section, or find us on Twitter.
Update: Activision says the game was not banned in Russia.
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2. superdynamite | 11.16.09
It is sad to see that in 2009 Russian “officials” still have an archaic way of thinking, and are still unable to destinguish between art & reality. The Stalin-istic thought process that made the USSR such a dreadful place for it’s population still lingers.
3. MEvI | 11.16.09
I played the scene… To tell you the truth, it was a bit disturbing. Normally such a thing wouldn’t bother me so much, but video games just keep getting more real, don’t they? My brother said he actually felt awkward for playing the level. I sure this is true, “The scene is designed to evoke the atrocities of terrorism.”.
4. Soap | 11.16.09
I have not played this game but loved the first Modern Warfare. I think the Russians have a point here. While it is a game and I’m not for censorship, how many of you would feel the same way if the game portrayed the US in this way and the US Gov’t was tricked into attacking Russia? And you were American’s killing civilians at JFK airport? Or better yet killing civilians at the WTC site? I think most of you would be singing a different tune.
I think Infinity Ward should have some empathy with the Russian people and not released this version there to begin with.
5. HarlemState | 11.16.09
Its just a game…why ya russians feelin so guilty??????hmmmm… what about GTA4.???? that is mush worse then COD4, you dont see the us government banning GTA4 from stores, The Russians Government needs to relax and post the game back up in russa
6. EL3M3NT_Z3R0 | 11.16.09
I have played the scene in question as well and in all honesty it is some what dark and disturbing. However in my opinion i believe that Activision and Infinity Ward are trying to demonstrate that war is a horrible thing. The whole thing is a double sided sword if you ask me. For example if this was a Russian game and the characters were opposites meaning that the terrorist was American and the group were Americans slaughter Russians then we would probably have a problem with it; I’m sure someone would. So to me the Russians have every right to be offended by the scene. In addition to all of this the game does have a disclaimer at the beginning of the game before you even get to the main menu stating that there is a mission that is very disturbing and that some players might be offended by said mission. The game makes you confirm that you will not be offended and that if you are the mission will be skipped and non-playable. So the only person that can be held accountable is the person playing the game. If you don’t like it? You should have selected the other option to skip the mission.
7. scooby doo | 11.16.09
I played the level.. I killed as many people as possible. It’s a video game, and it’s a blast. Everyone’s upset because they think it’s played by children that shouldn’t see that stuff, well don’t buy it for your kids. Be a parent, I’m 27 years old and i have a child of my own. I would never let my child play a game like this. When theyre old enough to have the opportunity to kill themselves with cigarettes, they can play the games. Until then, you censor your child and ill censor mine. The people that need to grow up are the ones trying to pull a video game out of my hands because they don’t want their kids to play it. If you make up my mind for me about a video game, ill make up your mind for you about drinking and smoking.
8. afpsgamer | 11.16.09
I played it too, I am a longtime FPS gamer and I never hesitate to shoot a virtual soldier/enemy,… not this one. When Makarov and his gang started shooting, I paused for a while but later start shooting; after I made up my mind that this is just a virtual role play of an undercover CIA as a terrorist. But the screaming, blood and terror facial expression is vivid in my mind.
Activision knew what they are doing and strategically put this scene in there to stir up controversy and hype. I understand if Russian government is provoked. If a non US game studio design another game where US CIA agents incite coup d’état or a war in other country by killing mass civilian, we the US gamers/government may be disturbed too.
9. pxl | 11.16.09
the game doesn’t have a single villain. don’t want to spoil things, but both sides share a lot of the blame for the bloodshed.
it also makes a strong statement about how wars perpetuate themselves and cause other wars in a seemingly unending cycle of vendettas and revenge.
The DC battle and fighting on American soil were particularly moving, as one can imagine it playing out just like it.
10. that russian dude | 11.16.09
It is not really a complex issue.
is a computer game a form of media? yes.
should all media freedoms extend to computer games? yes
should media be socially responsible ? yes
should media be legally liable if there are calls to terrorism or defamation?
depends, but in most cases yes.
speaking of social responsibility,
think of what a wave of **** would the IW unleash in US if you swap everything/everyone “russian” for “amerinan” in MW2 …..I mean WOW.
and the government … hello ???
for starters, Russia should ban IW products from its markets completely for some time.
11. Zman | 11.16.09
Well, I have to say, The level is quite a scene. But, remember, This is a game. at the end of the credits a statement rolls up that says all characters in this game are fictional. They have the right to ban it, but they need to know this is NOT based upon real events (and Infinity Ward did not have the intention offending anyone).
12. l.w.d | 11.16.09
its only a game if it disturbs them so much just dont buy it and forget about it dont ruin it for people who want a nice story line if you want no hard core levels play hello kitty or something
13. David | 11.16.09
I too have played this scene depicting horrific acts regardless of which nationality the fictional characters are it was very disturbing none the less. While this is fiction the fact that real events like this occur quite too often is even more disturbing. I believe no freedom should be taken from any one and that every person deserves to make there own decision to play or see whatever they like. But I warn you all! I am not a very religous individual but playing this scene I had to stop and could not continue. The thought came to mind even if this is fictional it looked to real. I wondered if I or us all where to be damned for even taking part in a fictional game.
14. Army Vet. | 11.16.09
Yes the level is effed up!!!! They are really pushing the limits with this one. It is very realistic, the most realistic game I have played to date. I personally would take the level out. I dont see the need to have the level to follow the plot.
15. Pipes! | 11.16.09
There was a warning before you ever even play the game. You have to be 17 to buy the game. It was very valid to the storyline. Get over it ppl foreal.
16. Cliff | 11.16.09
You can’t just make the blanket statement that this or any video game is art and anything called ‘art’ shouldn’t be censored. What if the videos of Americans being decapitated by terrorists found their way into an Iranian produced video game and Activition decided to release it here. Would you really want to count on a grocery clerk not to sell this m17 rated game to your nine year old or to your nine year old’s friend that has a seventeen year old brother? I promise you that you don’t want to be exposed to that and you don’t want anyone you care about to either.
Having said that, I think most gamers will not be adversely affected by the level in question, but I respect the Russian perspective and their decision.
17. Julien | 11.16.09
I played it. The essential premise is that the US government sends an agent to kill a thousand Russian civilians at a Moscow airport. Russia freaks out and invades the US. Then the game focuses on how you kill more Russians.
I can understand why that wouldn’t make the store shelves. If the roles were switched, there’d be the same issue here. Imagine a game about how some organization killed a thousand Americans during a terrorist attack. So then America invades the country that sent the terrorists, and the rest of the game focuses on killing Americans. If a game like that was released, there’d be a huge outcry! The game wouldn’t be carried by any major store.
According to American culture, it’s only morally wrong when Americans die.
18. Duk3 Nuk3 Em | 11.16.09
The fact of the matter is that this is simply a video game, nothing is really happening. Having the game taken off of the shelves is not solving anything. The game is not promoting the killing of inoccent people, just that terrorism is an insane concept. If anything that level is a leraning experience, and the same storyline occured in Battlefield 2, when the russians, the chinese, and the americans were all attacking eachother because of a terrorist, but that game wasn’t censored.
19. Steve | 11.16.09
I played the level and instinctively said “No Way!” and tried to kill the hit team. Tht’s just me and I bet a lot of others tried the same. Politics aside, the hit team is killing unarmed civilians! CoDMW2 should keep the level in play but allow another scenerio; of turning on the hit team and then dealing with the Russian swat teams alone. I feel for those played the level and decided to shoot. Whow. That sure reveals a lot of one’s character, game or not.
20. Zhelizhniye Feliks | 11.16.09
Of course Soviet…I mean Russian people, should be allowed to buy this game, but that does not mean they should be allowed to play it. I play this game through and have one word: zahyahbeece 
Slava Infinity Ward!
21. RogerDodger | 11.16.09
This game contains a level that has content which may offend you. Will this level offend you? Yes/No…YOU ANSWERED IT, SO DEAL WITH IT. If you’re kids are buying M rated games then that’s you’re fault for not changing the parental settings on the XBOX360 dashboard.
22. ola | 11.16.09
yeah when i got to that level i was kind of a WHAT? i even shot those guys the bad guys and they fucking killed me….and i stop playing it until now…..its disturbing…..
23. Call it Done | 11.16.09
It’s sad to see the ignorance that some of the people on here have. Plain & simple, If a game manufacturer in another country, produced a game depicting American citizens being “killed” or “slaughtered” like that… Oh good lord… This country wouldn’t stop until that company was out of business.
Regardless if its fictional or not, it’s still linking them with terrorism in their eyes. When you show this game to a young adult or child, that is under educated or just doesn’t know, your going to have a person that thinks this country is all bad. That’s something that is just a touchy subject obviously with the them, and I’m sure it would be if the roles were completely reversed!
24. Frank | 11.16.09
I ditto many people here who paused at the scene when the ultranationalists opened fire. It made me wonder, WTF!!! But after remembering these are just pixels and I want to get through the damned level I shot everyone and everything I could. I only got pissed off that after all the guilt of shooting computerized civilians my own characters dies at the end of the scene.
This scenario, of killing civilians, has happened in MANY games. Most notably the Grand Theft Auto games. I think the only reason this scene is such a concern for most of us is that it looks/plays as how we all imagine a REAL terrorist incident occurs. As Americans, we all remember 9/11 and the horrific scense on TV. The game just brought those feelings back up for us who took pause at the scene.
In any case, if the roles were reversed, trading “Americans” for “Russians”; I’d just laugh at the scenario. Mostly I do not think the US would invade Russia and put up a statue of Lincoln or Washington there. Most likely the US would find the truth of the scenario and its culprits because our great US news companies and intelligence agencies would find the truth of the horrible incident, find who is REALLY responsible, and proceed to annihlate them or bomb them into caves in Afghanistan.
25. ryan | 11.16.09
i guess the Russians missed the end of the game where you chase down a US general killing US troops the whole way. to me that was almost as disturbing as the airport scene which was the most unsettling level I’ve ever played in any game, at least the first time through.
26. Alaska | 11.16.09
I have played the level in question and found it to be very much like a Grand Theft Auto killing spree. Therefore, it is not a new concept or new to video games. Overall I found that it totally immersed me into the plot of the game. After it, I played straight through to the end in order to see how the story would end. I would have blasted away no matter where the airport was supposed to be or what nationality the victims were. I say a job well done to Infinity Ward on what is obviously a great game with many wonderful additions that make replayability almost endless. The plot was a wonderful, shocking surprise.
27. Gabriel | 11.16.09
Just played the level… it was disturbing at first…but this is just a game, even though it’s a bloody real game, it’s nothing todo with reality. Apart from that, you’ve got the option to avoid playing this level, so it’s up to you.
The game’s got very good graphics, but it’s far from 100% reality: It’s COD6 and WE CANNOT SEE OUR FEET OR BODY YET!!! (try to look down)
28. Rez | 11.16.09
This scene was, I admit, disturbing. Hilariously enough, I didn’t kill a single civilian during this scene; I shot into the air, breaking lights and stuff. When it got to the part with the Police, I didn’t hesitate to shoot them down; I’m fighting for my life here! Ironically, there is revenge at that airport. Won’t spoil that, but…
Slight spoiler alert, but in reality the player is American and British, and the ending involves a three-sided conflict (The Americans, Russian/International Terrorists, and a specific squad of the British/Internationals). Things get crossed, alliances are severed, and lines are blurred to such a grey, you don’t know in the end if you’re the Good guy or the Bad guy. As the game went, “I thought we won the war. We killed the terrorist, blew up the nukes… frankly, who would’ve known we lost?”
30. Cali | 11.16.09
C’mon - this is a game, i played through it and its nothing but a game - so what if i shoot innocent people or enemies. i am shooting everything in my way - again, its a game. if your scared of guns - dont play! if your scared of violence - dont play! if your easly offended - dont play! this game is for real gamers that dont care about nonsense they just want to have fun. if you took out the guns, the blood, the killing of innocent people… simply put i would return the game. if i want to see a boring peaceful world then i will just go outside.
31. oGOTTIo | 11.16.09
How would you like it if a group of people came here, trained here, then commit a terrorist act that killed thousands of people and caused us to invade a country. Even after the governtment knew about it or had information on it………..oh wait it did happened and twice! Atleast this is a game, fiction, pretend if you are saying anything negative about this game skip it, start over and put “yes” I would like to skip!
32. xXxoACIDoxXx | 11.16.09
I Don’t want to write a whole novel so I’ll just say a few things…IT’S A GAME!! Get a life Russia!! Worry about bigger things in life, I’m sure spending all the money towards bringing down Infinity Ward could be put to better use! There is bigger problems in the world, get real! PEACE OUT!!
33. RC | 11.16.09
to be honest the actual mission isnt that disturbing you shoot or don’t and you can skip the mission thanks to the option stated regarding some missions may be disturbing… bla bla bla.(which you can access in the pause menu.
34. steeve-o | 11.16.09
I tried to avoid shooting civilians and focused on the police, though a few were caught in the crossfire. It’s hard to say whether or not the game developers needed the gamer to experience this first hand, versus showing the massacre in a movie sequence. Once it was written into the script, they knew it’d stir some conversation for sure, which in my opinion was unnecessary for a game whos fans were asking for it before they finished COD4. Games like GTA have had scenarios like this, however most were optional. Hopefully the hype will serve to keep the game out of young kids’ hands, as it’s definitely not a game for children.
I’m not suprised the Russians were mad, Venezuela had the same reaction a few years ago with a different game. It’s unfortunate, but not unlike Germany, who is on the receiving end of a digital bullet in several dozen video games, we usually pit ourselves against enemies we know (or knew). Rarely does a game choose a new country for the US to wage war on. Cold War too soon, Infinity Ward? Probably not a big issue, but I’d leave North Korea and Cuba out of the next one.
35. Grk prde | 11.17.09
My god man….
ye i played the mission, and i didnt hessitate to shoot the civillians at all.
Its just a game, it dosnt have to be taken out of the stores in russia!
You had the option to skip the level when you first bought it. If you didnt, your fault.
Infinity, thank you so much for this awsome game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pls make modern warfare 3!!!!
36. Skibum109 | 11.17.09
I have played this level and truthfully, it was a bit disturbing, and it did feel a bit unnatural to me. However, you are warned about this scene before you play it. I can understand how if you are Russian you may be offended, or even if youre light hearted, but i think that that feeling is meant to feel. Infinity Ward is communicating to us terrorism is bad, And though its an ugly truth, its the truth.
37. Jack 121 | 11.17.09
Just to let people know there is a spoiler alert in here, so don’t read if you haven’t played the game.
I have also played this level, and like many others I felt very uncomfortable during it, however, it does tie into the plot, showing that the antagonist Makarov will do anything to get his way. There is also a warning at the start of the game, so if you don’t want to play it, simply choose not to. I have played it twice (on regular and veteran) and intend to stay away from the level in question.
I believe that it has been mentioned before but in this game you do kill American soldiers, and you play as a rogue British agent, which I found different and interesting, for an (I assume, correct me if I’m wrong) American based company to feature killing American soldiers, even if they are portrayed as a fanatical group.
38. Boomotang | 11.17.09
The level was disturbing to play for me. But that’s the POINT. Good movies make you think about stuff. They make you discuss important issues. That’s what this is doing. It could make you think about a number of different things, like being thankful for the people trying to protect our freedoms, our realizing different aspects of how wars are started and never end due to hatred.
Don’t forget about the end of the game either. This game turns out being anti-American as well almost.I don’t think it would get banned in the U.S. if the roles were reversed. There is tons of anti-American media to go around.
In the end, it’s not glamorizing shooting innocent civies. It’s being disturbing so maybe you realize what kind of atrocities are acually going on.
41. Russian | 11.17.09
I don’t see any problem to shoot in computer games. Yes, there are pixels only. But I see problem in creating of bad habit to shoot on innocent civilians. If you will be repeat this often in various games, I am afraid it can seem to you right in your real life (especially if you are young man). I saw many TV reportages when man in America begin shoot in school, shop etc. Unfortunately now we have so crazy men too. But in Russia there isn’t free weapon selling and these facts are not so often like in America. For a while…
42. Russian Boy | 11.17.09
To Moshmeister
No. We drink vodka, play with bears and play on fighting balalaikas
44. Foxx | 11.17.09
To HarlemState | 11.16.09 >>Its just a game..
C’mon, “Mine Kampf” is just a book then?
47. Kosstix | 11.17.09
It’s an absolutely normal reaction. Wanna troll our national feelings? We’ll answer. I played first Modern Warfare but will never buy the sequel. And I hope that Russian gamers will do the same and punish Activision ruining their sellings.
49. PiterGPS | 11.17.09
(Rus)
Russian’s people have PS3, Xbox, and many other..
but unfortunately, not all have powerful I7 CPU & NVid 295 for best gaming with our tame bears. 
50. Kisa | 11.17.09
You teach your children to kill virtually, and then in your schools and universities, these children kill you.
You accustom their children to hate us from birth and trained to that Russian is the enemy, it must be destroyed.
In Russia there is a saying: do not spit into the well of water handy to drink.
And even in Russia there is a saying: Do not have 100 rubles (national currency), have 100 friends.
Do you think in the event that any country would start a war with America, whether we want to help you after so many years of humiliation and abuse?!
Yes, and I laughed at the names of many “Russian” in this game for example “Zakayev” is very amused. You do not even know that almost all the names ending with the letters “ayev” Caucasian roots, and have no relation to the Russian do not have. 5 dollar for a collection of Russian names and surnames are not able to spend …
Apologies for the English, other languages in school studying, and the text translated program.
51. Kisa | 11.17.09
And the Internet faster and cheaper than the average in America. xD They naively think that we in the stone age.
Let them release the game where the terrorists are running around Washington and kills the Yankees, or a new flight simulator “Towers called” … I feel a demand outside America and Britain at the games will be huge, a lot of money will earn …
52. Drunk Russian bear | 11.17.09
We don’t buy the consoles, we playing on PC, and download games from torrents:))) ~70$ for console game it is crazy
53. 808.Troyan | 11.17.09
No Moshmeister, at us is not present x-box. We only drink vodka from nested dolls and we go for a drive on bears.
54. Glass Paint | 11.17.09
I don’t think that Infinity Ward should censor the game because I truly believe that video games are an art form and all art should be fearless. Now video games are different and more immersive because they’re interactive but I do not believe in censorship of art forms of any kind. Besides, it’s a work of fiction, it’s a game for adults and people should be allowed to choose. Banning this game fits more firmly with the qualities of the Russians in this video game than if they had let consumers judge the content for themselves. No government, religion or anything should be beyond critique. And in response to Kisa and the “Towers” comment–it isn’t like Infinity Ward published a game about Chernobyl.
55. Shuravi | 11.17.09
The Americans then they are surprised that in many countries hate? Come to Russia - try to tell me that this art …
56. Maxim | 11.17.09
ffs, I just don’t understand why the US still thinks that Russians are their enemies… That’s just crazy. Every game where Russians are playing bad role - is a future hit.
57. Insano | 11.17.09
What I can say, there are a lot of games\films\books\etc where the main villains are Russians. Well, I think, if MW2 was released with a reversed parts of story (Russians changed with Americans by sides, I mean, in the American airport you’re killin’ Americans), the government of USA have had banned such game. Besides, with all things that exist right now (main villains are russians, etc), someday everybody will see russian raging bears as the real enemy in the real war.
58. ggg89 | 11.17.09
plot nonsense because, if Russia or the United States attacked each other
would have started 3 of the world
59. ggg89 | 11.17.09
in Russia, all spit on the license … so this game is simply copied for free … The developers of the game and go mad
60. Medved | 11.17.09
2 Moshmeister
Of course there is! As many as 2 pieces! Now the whole country collecting money for the third. For our president!
I have worked for 10 days free.
61. lhdsfklhfds | 11.17.09
And if Americans have made game about the Holocaust and to kill Jews? What would howl has risen?
63. rotari | 11.18.09
Hi, guys, i m from from russia, i work at the supermerket in the GAMEZONE.
People like and buy this game, and nobody came to us tld that i must take off it from the store. Here, nobody gives a cares about what is the game is about.
64. Сергей | 11.18.09
62. PiterGPS | 11.18.09
Fallout 3, welcome to the ruined Washington! Best game!
Угу, согласен!
65. Huskies | 11.19.09
The russians shouldn’t feel so bad. In the Call of Duty “World at War”, the Germans are the villains and the Red Armies are heroes.
67. Russian | 11.19.09
To all russians.
Don’t worry. I think that is advertizing trick to grow selling of this game. Game developers try to interest us by “dirty tricks”. Even you knew nothing about this game before , now you are ready to buy and see what’s interesting in this nasty level.
68. Anonymous | 11.19.09
The scene is disturbing, but they are given a choice to skip it. And besides, it’s just a game. It’s not like people are going to go Russia and yell “Terrorists , Run for your life.”
69. Mark | 11.20.09
I actually applaud the Russian response to this type of story telling. If a game publisher decided to elicit an emotional response by simulating Colombine or the twin towers what would be your opinion? Or better yet, how would you like it if you had a multiplayer game in the future that awarded prizes in some game to plant as many IED’s as possible against American troops?
Censorship? We do have that responsibility in movies and in public television or do you recall watching child porn on public television? First amendment rights in the US do not override morality at its most basic forms, especially not in a global environment.
Activision should be fined for allowing it to get past their censors. I am banning the game myself and I’ve been doing Online games since most of you were in diapers or not even born.
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1. Casey | 11.16.09
The scene in question is disturbing, eerie, and evokes a surprising number of emotions; especially surprising because the entire game involves shooting and killing people. I am the type of person who doesn’t support the banning of any type of media anywhere, and that hasn’t changed in this case, but I can understand why MW2 has been targeted in Russia.