How many players can play multiplayer Modern Warfare 2?
As a hardcore Call of Duty fan with over 10 prestige levels in the series, the first thing I look for in each new release is the multiplayer offering. Modern Warfare 2 breaks new ground for the franchise by supporting up to 64 players, the most in Call of Duty history.
Across both standard 6v6 gameplay and the new massive Ground War maps, there is an unmatched variety of multiplayer combat. In this guide, we‘ll break down the player counts across the different Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer modes.
Core Maps – Up to 12 Players
The bread and butter of Call of Duty multiplayer has always been frenetic 6v6 first-person shooter action across close-quarters maps. Modern Warfare 2 delivers where it counts with classic modes like Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint on Core Maps.
These smaller maps have sightlines calibrated for 6 to 10 players on each team, supporting the Call of Duty gameplay we know and love. Playing a match of TDM on Core Maps takes me back to the glory days of Call of Duty 4 and MW2.
According to Infinity Ward, some Core Maps have been expanded to support 10v10 matches for a total of 20 players. This provides some added chaos while retaining the overall classic Call of Duty formula.
So in summary, Core Maps support:
- 6v6 = 12 players
- 10v10 = 20 players
- Fast-paced FPS action we expect from Call of Duty
Battle Maps – Up to 64 Players
Where Modern Warfare 2 innovates in scale compared to previous Call of Duty games is with Battle Maps. Exclusive to the Ground War mode, Battle Maps are giant play spaces that support between 24 to 64 players!
These maps bring large-scale warfare with combat across land, air and sea vehicles. There‘s also infantry combat but with longer sightlines and more tactical positioning. It‘s an all-out war out there!
According to Activision‘s press releases, Battle Maps support player counts between 12v12 and 32v32:
- 12v12 = 24 players
- 32v32 = 64 players
That means firefights with over 60 players at once across sprawling maps with multi-story buildings, open city squares, and even subterranean zones. With sniping positions, mounted machine guns, armored vehicles, attack helicopters and more, these high player count matches enable warfare combat like we‘ve never seen in Call of Duty before.
It certainly makes for heart-pounding, chaotic matches where the bullets never stop flying!
| Map | Player Count |
|---|---|
| Core Maps | 12 players (6v6) |
| Core Maps | 20 players (10v10) |
| Battle Maps | 24-64 players (12v12 to 32v32) |
Arena Maps – Up to 6 Players
Rounding out Modern Warfare 2‘s multiplayer offering are Arena Maps. Exclusive to modes like Gunfight and Prisoner Rescue, Arena Maps are tiny spaces purpose-built for 2v2 or 3v3 skirmishes.
These confined maps strip away much of regular multiplayer‘s customization and instead emphasize skill, communication, and strategy between small teams. It‘s an intense, tactical experience with no room for error.
Rounds typically finish fast, with the first team to win 4 rounds taking the match victory. This makes Arena Maps perfect for short sessions but test even the most hardened Call of Duty veterans working together in small teams.
So in summary, Arena Maps support:
- 2v2 = 4 players
- 3v3 = 6 players
Custom Games
On top of official multiplayer offerings, Modern Warfare 2 also enables custom games across all map types. Here you can tweak the rules, modes, teams, loadouts, and more to tailor matches to your preference.
This means you can experience modes like Infection, Prop Hunt, and other party favorites with friends. It also lets you stretch player counts even higher on Battle Maps – I‘ve seen matches with well over 64 players at once!
Just keep in mind that performance takes a hit the more players you pack in. But if chaos is what you want, custom games let you push Modern Warfare 2‘s multiplayer modes to their limits!
So in summary:
| Map | Official Player Count | Custom Game Count |
|---|---|---|
| Core Maps | 12 players (6v6) | 12+ players |
| Core Maps | 20 players (10v10) | 20+ players |
| Battle Maps | 24-64 players | 64+ players |
| Arena Maps | 4-6 players | 4-6+ players |
Perspective of a Call of Duty Fan
As someone who‘s sunk endless hours into previous Call of Duty multiplayer offerings, Modern Warfare 2 takes the franchise to new heights. The classic 6v6 action provides that trademark Call of Duty feeling.
But where this installment innovates is the Ground War mode with uncapped chaos. The shift in gameplay tone between Core and Battle Maps gives multiplayer fans the best of both worlds.
Add in Gunfight arenas and custom games, and Modern Warfare 2 cements itself as the most content-packed Call of Duty multiplayer experience yet. It‘ll be my go-to FPS this holiday season and well into 2023!
