Call Of Duty Ditches Loot Boxes For Battle Passes In Modern Warfare

Activision has shared its post-launch plans for Modern Warfare, the next installment in the Call of Duty series, ahead of its release next week. A key aspect of the strategy includes the pledge to monetize the game using a Battle Pass system and in-game store rather than loot boxes.

Like the models seen in other games, Activision will release seasonal Battle Passes, complete with themed content and goodies to unlock. Modern Warfare's version will include both free and premium rewards tiers. These "Streams" will award weapons, attachments, and COD points for reaching specific gameplay objectives. Cosmetics will also be available as part of the Battle Pass and in-game store.

"All functional content that has an impact on game balance, such as base weapons and attachments, can be unlocked simply by playing the game," assures the developer.

The Battle Pass will not launch with the game next Friday but will instead be added to Modern Warfare at a later date. According to Activision, this is to ensure that players can enjoy an "awesome" day one experience centered on exploring and unlocking the rewards associated with the core content.

"Understandably there are still questions around how the economy will evolve throughout the post-launch, live seasons," the team continued. "We recognize this will take time to fully demonstrate. Please know we are committed to delivering a fair system guided by the principles we've outlined here, and will continue to monitor feedback and player engagement to help us achieve that goal."

The Call of Duty series has developed something of a bad reputation centered on loot boxes and other cash grabs. Past titles have launched without microtransactions, only to be overrun with pay-to-win mechanics in the ensuing months. With this spotty record, Call of Duty players aren't exactly overflowing with trust for Activision. If the developer keeps its word, it could be a step towards bridging the growing chasm.