Player Count Soars by 10,000% for Classic Call of Duty Title as Fans Return

Call of Duty has faced its share of ups and downs in recent years, but one standout title from the last decade, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare from 2019, is experiencing a significant player resurgence on Steam right now.

As of March 19, Modern Warfare was seeing around 500 concurrent players, according to SteamDB. However, over the past week, it has consistently hit 50,000 players, peaking at an impressive 61,667 during the weekend. This surge is largely due to a massive 90% discount, bringing the price down to just $5.99 — the lowest it has ever been.

Modern Warfare marked the highly anticipated reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries that began with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare in 2007. Despite the confusing naming conventions, it successfully reintroduced beloved characters like Soap MacTavish, Captain Price, and Ghost. The campaign has been described as “one of the best the series has ever delivered, filled with intricate politics, subtle setups, and intense moments of violence.”

On the multiplayer side, it received acclaim for its more measured approach to gameplay, especially when compared to the frenetic pace of recent titles. The gunplay is responsive and smooth, with fluid movement mechanics. While it may have faltered in original map design, it still features a variety of fan-favorite maps like Crash, Rust, Vacant, and Shipment.

Unfortunately, this sale is exclusive to Steam (apologies to console players), and time is running out to snag it at this price. Hopefully, the game’s renewed popularity will last a bit longer; I’m eager to dive back in and show off my Obsidian camo on all my weapons after a six-year hiatus.