Modern Warfare 4 Collateral: New “Counter-Strike” mode officially announced
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 takes its inspiration from Counter-Strike and offers a new multiplayer mode based on one of the defining elements of the classic shooter: purchasing equipment with in-game currency. The new mode, called “Collateral,” adds an economic system to the familiar search-and-destroy gameplay, creating a version of Call of Duty where every death and every purchase can have consequences.
Activision has unveiled Collateral in a new blog post, focusing primarily on the PC features of Modern Warfare 4. The mode itself is only briefly introduced for now. The game also receives numerous PC-specific technical enhancements, including over 800 customization options, an integrated performance benchmark, and support for technologies such as DLSS 4.5 and AMD FSR Redstone.
However, Collateral is probably the more interesting addition, especially for those familiar with Counter-Strike or other competitive shooters based on an in-game economy.
How Collateral works in Modern Warfare 4
At its core, Collateral is a variation on Call of Duty’s search and destroy mode. Teams alternate attacking and defending two bomb sites, but instead of starting each round with predetermined equipment, everyone begins with a pistol and must earn money to upgrade their gear.
Players earn money by eliminating opponents and completing mission objectives. Between rounds, they can spend this money on armor, perks, equipment, and increasingly powerful weapons. Available weapons include grenades, a riot shield, various pistols, shotguns, LMGs, SMGs, rifles, and sniper rifles. Teams can also jointly purchase a drone.
The mode also removes some of the systems that typically define Call of Duty. There are no respawns, killstreaks, automatic health regeneration, or individual loadouts. If you die, you lose your purchased gear, but your accumulated cash carries over to the next round. This combination should ensure that Collateral is significantly different from the standard search-and-destroy mode while simultaneously giving Modern Warfare 4 a familiar competitive structure with a layer of economic decision-making strongly reminiscent of Counter-Strike.
Activision hasn’t revealed much more yet and promises further details about Collateral shortly before its release. Modern Warfare 4 will be released on October 23rd.
