Direct2Drive won't sell Modern Warfare 2; indirectly blames Steam

Posted Nov 5th 2009 6:00PM by John Callaham
Filed under: Downloads, FPS, Multiplayer, Modern Warfare 2

Modern Warfare 2 must feel like everyone is piling on it. From the reveal of some controversial scenes to the lack of dedicated servers for the PC version to a unfortunate release of a PSA, the upcoming shooter from Infinity Ward has not had the best publicity. Now yet another issue has popped up as IGN's Direct2Drive site has openly stated they won't provide the downloadable PC version of the game to download.

In a listing for the game on their site, they state:

At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased. Because COD MW 2 requires you, the consumer, to do that, we aren't able to offer the game via Direct2Drive at this time.

They are clearly calling out the game's use of Valve's Steam service to offer automatic updates, among other things, for Modern Warfare 2 as their reason for their refusal to run the game. Direct2Drive is offering a $5 online coupon code on their site to purchase any other game from Activision until Nov. 30. We do find the arguments suspect since other games on Direct2Drive have installs for Steam (like Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II) and Games For Windows Live.

Gallery: Modern Warfare 2 Screenshots

Tags: activision, activision-blizzard, direct2drive, infinity-ward, modern-warfare-2, steam

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

So... Borderlands dude was right?

No, can't be. See, I went to D2D page to look for games, like Dawn of War II, which install third party software, such as GFWL and PhysX, and was quite pleased to find them. So let me be the first to declare shenanigans.Posted at 6:16PM on Nov 5th 2009 by Jose

Why should an online distributor carry a game that shoehorns a competitors client with the game. And if IW can manage their own multiplayer matching service, why on earth do they need steam to manage updates.

Good on you D2D.Posted at 6:41PM on Nov 5th 2009 by smi04

D2D has every right to refuse to stock a game that it feels undermines its business model, but I think the statement that it is doing it for "you, the consumer" is a bit disingenuous.Posted at 7:16PM on Nov 5th 2009 by paralipsis