The lack of a Modern Warfare 2 hardcore mode option in multiplayer has alarmed players upon the launch of the latest Call of Duty shooter, because there’s no option to pick hardcore on the menus. The classic no-HUD, shorter time-to-kill game mode that has been present in every game in the series since the original Modern Warfare is now available in Modern Warfare 2, but under a new name.
The Modern Warfare 2 Tier 1 playlist option has been added to the FPS game with Modern Warfare 2 season 1, and is the new home of hardcore. The game mode has been renamed to Tier 1 for reasons known only to the developers, but the mode itself is the same.
Modern Warfare 2 hardcore mode
Hardcore mode has arrived alongside Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 Season 1. A change in name thankfully doesn’t change the style of gameplay, or the game modes, with Tier 1 offering exactly the same thing as previous hardcore modes.
The game modes available in the hardcore playlist are:
- Team Deathmatch
- Domination
- Search and Destroy
- Hardpoint
- Headquarters
- Kill Confirmed
- Free-for-all
- Control
As you ready yourself to take on hardcore mode, take a look at our guide to the best Modern Warfare 2 guns, because that will help you pick something for the core modes. Alternatively, we also have the full lists of perks and killstreaks along with when you unlock them.