Modding returns to Call of Duty

Owners of Call of Duty: Black Ops on PC will be able to contribute their own content to the game, thanks to a post-launch update.

Call of Duty creator Infinity Ward had controversially locked modding out of last year's Modern Warfare 2, as well as removing dedicated server support for multiplayer. While it was cited as an anti-cheating mechanism, this had provoked significant internet ire towards both Infinity Ward and owner Activision.

Current franchise handler Treyarch has now reversed both decisions, having confirmed dedicated server support for the title back in May.

“We plan to open the game up for modding sometime post-launch,” a Treyarch representative revealed on the Black Ops community board.

"We do not know yet to what extent you will be able to mod the game. There are some purely technical issues related to engine and internal tool enhancements that do not easily fit the modtools paradigm.

"We have looked at it close enough to see that it is non-trivial and we will have to pick it up again post-launch. Right now we are completely focused on finishing the game. And, dev console: confirmed."

The 15-page response to the announcement has been somewhat ecstatic. Recently, Activision CFO Thomas Tippl admitted that the publisher needed to improve its public image – community gestures such as this may reflect that intention.

Call of Duty: Black Ops will be released on November 9.

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