October 23rd 2009 Infinity Ward released the 6th version of Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. As in any other version of Call of Duty, the champaign was really short. However the previous versions have made up for that by presenting an amazing multiplayer experience. But, In this version I got very, very disappointed.



Most multiplayer games work by the use of a “dedicated server”. This is a machine on a high speed connection that is dedicated to running the server that manages other users gameplay. Because the owner of this server has the ability to modify the game this also allows you to install new maps, and third party modules that improves or changes the game experience. This is how many gaming communities have formed. Modules and new maps also extends the time a user plays the game before he or she grows tired of it.

All previous versions of Call of Duty has worked this way. But in the latest Call of Duty this is no longer the case. The dedicated server system has been replaced with something called IWNet.

IWNet works differently. IWNet is a set of servers hosted by Infinity Ward that does not host your gameplay, they do only take care of your scores and achievements, and arrange players together in “groups”. The groups are something that can be thought of as small virtual servers. Up to 14 people can play together in any chosen gamemode. But you might ask “Who host it?” Well here is where the stupidity comes in. You do! Yes, instead of hosting it on a dedicated server 14 players are instead hosted using one of the players computers, which is most likely running a ton of other programs slowing it down. And if you’re really lucky you end up on someone that is still stuck on dial-up and you and your friends are stuck lagging the next 15 minutes.

This sounds wonderful doesn’t it. And this is not it all. Up to 2/3 times you try to connect the connection to IWNet fails and you get this great fellow.

Now, what if the guy currently hosting get’s bored and leaves?

Well, everyone else have to spend up to a minute staring at a progress bar as IWNett searches for a new host and migrates the information to the new user. And if this weren’t bad enough. Call of Duty some times fails to migrate the information to the new host and the game is immediately ended. All your scores, and new achievements are lost cause it counts as if you willingly quit in the middle of the game.

This also opens a new window for cheaters, as there are no administrators to manage these “groups” cheaters can start using third party programs that gives them unfair advantages without anyone to stop them. Making gameplay for everyone else miserable. The only people that makes anything good out of this is Infinity Ward, why?

  • When you cannot access these servers you cannot install new maps or modifications. Opening a new income source for Infinity Ward as the users might have to buy upgrades from them.
  • Because Infinity Ward decides what software these servers run they can run an improved authentication system that prevents piracy. Making more people have to buy the game.

Thank you Activision and Infinity Ward, you have turned your back towards the users that made you so successful by buying all your games. Personally, I will boycott any future version of Call of Duty that does not have support for dedicated servers.