Modern Warfare 2 PC: No Dedicated Servers

By Marcus Yam
published

PC gamers won't like this.

One of the greatest things about PC gaming is that people can set up dedicated servers for multiplayer matches. None of that silly peer to peer stuff that might give the host an advantage, not to mention that dedicated servers typically have connections that are capable of supporting a greater number of players with smooth and stable results.

Unfortunately, it seems that Modern Warfare 2 won't be having any of that. Joystiq heard on the from Infinity Ward's Ryan Bowling on the Bash and Slash podcast that matchmaking within Modern Warfare 2 would be reliant on proprietary server technology (called IWNet), and wouldn't allow users to host their own dedicated servers.

While those playing COD4 on the Xbox 360 and PS3 have plenty of fun without the need for dedicated servers, there's still a lot to be said for having dedicated clan or local servers where everybody knows your name.

There's a big petition thread going on in the official forums. Click here to check that out.

On the bright side, the PC version isn't delayed.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
120 Comments Comment from the forums
  • well I won't be buying it then. guess I'll be sticking with CoD4.
    Reply
  • fulle
    Yeah, its not delayed but with no mod support and no dedicated servers, its basically a glorified console port. Fuck you, IW. Way to spit in the face of the players who helped make the COD franchise popular.
    Reply
  • Hellbound
    Because of this, I canceled my pre-order. I wont be purchasing the xbox or ps3 versions either.

    Many of us have signed a petition asking for dedicated server support. Link located here --> http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?dedis4mw
    Reply
  • Shadow703793
    WTF?!?!?! ARE YOU F*** TRYING TO MAKE THIS MORE LIKE 360/PS3 on the PC!???!? I was hoping to have a good time on a private server with me friends.... this is pure cr@p. Guess like no MW2 for me eh? HOPEFULLY, Crysis 2,etc won't do this.
    PS: Sorry for the all caps, I was really pissed.
    Reply
  • doomtomb
    Is this just another rumor or no?

    Seems like they are taking the old CoD 4 formula is screwing it to hell.
    Reply
  • gladiator_mohaa
    Well, Infinity Ward has proven they have lost there way! No dedicated server in Modern Warfare 2 and they think I will pay 10 dollars more for their version of e harmony gaming to play people they think I will match best with? I play to game to kill communist, not join a communist social network! Are they crazy? I won't be buying this game anymore.
    Reply
  • brendano257
    Well obviously 360/PS3 is everything that's right with gaming...I mean they don't have real communities...there isn't more than 16 to a server, every game costs $10 more than PC...you pay a measly $10 here and there for EVERY map expansion pack, whats to hate?
    /sarcasm
    F*** YOU IW./serious
    Reply
  • Ogdin
    probably a jerk reaction to all the pirated servers that where running cod4
    Reply
  • kyeana
    Bull. Here is one more who wont be purchasing it
    Reply
  • blackbyron
    lets have modern warfare 2 maps on cod4 instead.
    Reply