Since its inception, downloadable content has been a somewhat controversial concept. While it’s easy to see the benefits of it, like patches to fix serious bugs or new content without having to wait years for a full-blown sequel, some argue that it gives studios license to charge for content that would otherwise be free.
While this is a common debate, and there are solid arguments on both sides of the issue, there are instances that are, for lack of a better word, pretty scammy. Look at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, for example, which released without a pretty common multiplayer feature, only to release a DLC pack that lets players purchase what was once a (completely free) multiplayer staple.
When playing Call of Duty multiplayer, the in-game scoreboard gives players a handful of stats to show how well they’re performing. Traditionally, it’s showed players their kills, deaths, and assists, so players don’t have to keep track of it all in their heads. For whatever reason, the recent Modern Warfare remake doesn’t show player deaths in the in-game scoreboard in several multiplayer modes.
This might not seem like a big deal, and honestly, it’s not. There has been a fair amount of negative feedback, but some would argue that it’s not exactly crucial information that players need to know in the match. The death count is revealed after the match is over, after all, so it’s not as if players just never know how many times they were killed.
Where it gets fishy is with Modern Warfare’s new Season One content. The Mother Russia bundle, a 10-piece pack of cosmetic content that costs $20, comes with a “Time to Die” watch that tracks the player’s kills and, surprisingly, their deaths.
It’s very much up for debate whether or not knowing your death count during the match has any effect whatsoever on your performance. That being said, it’s supremely weird and suspicious for a feature, as minor as it might be, to not be included after all these iterations, only to show up as paid DLC.
Again, it’s important to acknowledge that the watch really doesn’t give the player any sort of advantage, because that would be a definite reason for fans to rebel. It’s just a mind-boggling move and one that many would be very curious to have cleared up. If developer Infinity Ward regretted not including the death count, why not just patch it in? Hopefully, gamers will get some clarification or, better yet, have the death count reintroduced for all players.
