Activision has shut down development of a fan-made mod for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered called H2M in order to avoid competing with their upcoming Call of Duty release.

Activision has shut down Call of Duty mod, H2M

According to the leader of the modding team, known as Watchful Wolf, Activision sent them a cease-and-desist order right before the mod’s planned launch. In a Youtube video, Watchful Wolf explained that Activision was concerned the growing popularity of H2M could interfere with the marketing of their unannounced Call of Duty game, speculated to be Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The H2M mod was a huge undertaking that recreated the multiplayer of 2010’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 within the engine of 2016’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered. It had gained significant buzz within the Call of Duty community as streamers and YouTubers played it. Interest in the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered on Steam also saw a spike due to the mod.

According to Watchful Wolf, Activision wouldn’t have tolerated the mod even if it was based on a different Call of Duty game, showing their commitment to controlling the narrative around their big franchise releases.

While copies of the mod files have leaked online allowing some continued gameplay, the official development team has withdrawn in the face of Activision’s legal demands. The shutdown illustrates Activision’s willingness to take action against any fan projects that could overshadow their multi-million dollar marketing campaigns.