Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which is currently in early access for its campaign and DMZ modes, is presenting a notable challenge for players on its normal difficulty setting. Infinity Ward's latest installment in the rebooted series features 16 missions, encompassing a variety of signature Call of Duty gameplay scenarios such as stealth operations, cinematic chase sequences, and tactical breach-and-clear missions. The campaign also includes intense melee-focused boss fights that demand precise parrying.
Many players, including seasoned Call of Duty veterans accustomed to playing on both normal and veteran difficulties, are reporting that Modern Warfare 4's normal setting feels more difficult than in recent years. This sentiment echoes experiences from Infinity Ward's previous title, Modern Warfare 2, where non-player characters (NPCs) were also perceived as formidable opponents. The AI in Modern Warfare 4 may not be necessarily more intelligent, but the enemies appear to be more resilient and accurate, making aggressive pushes through enemy defenses potentially ill-advised. Some players have reported having to retry boss encounters multiple times.
While the campaign on normal difficulty is still considered manageable, it necessitates a slower, more patient approach from players. For those seeking the ultimate test of skill, Modern Warfare 4 introduces a "YOLO" difficulty setting, which imposes a full campaign restart upon any player death.
Modern Warfare 4 is set for a full release on October 23 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.