We are just 3 days away from the release of one of 2009’s most anticipated game. Yes, Modern Warfare 2 will be released on all platforms on November 10. However, as the release date draws nearer, more and more problems seem to arise from the PC version. Now, there is another problem.

A few famous digital retailers (e.g. Direct2Drive, Impulse, GamersGate) are refusing to sell Modern Warfare 2. The main reason for this is because the game supports Steamworks, so players are required to install Steam into their computers before they can play it. As you all know, Steam itself is an online retailer, and therefore is considered their rival. So wouldn’t it be weird that you are selling a game which will help boost the popularity of your rival?

“At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn’t be forced to install and run a third-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.”

For Direct2Drive’s case, this is conflicting with their company policy.

- via 1UP via Direct2Drive

I am quite ok with their company policy because I know a lot of gamers out there who dislike installing third-party client. However, this next quote by D2D on Gamasutra really made me angry for some reason…

“We don’t believe games should force the user to install a Trojan Horse”

- via Gamasutra via Direct2Drive

I can understand that D2D is unhappy about not being able to sell Modern Warfare 2, but I feel that it just does not seem fair to pass such remarks. To me, this is nothing more than an unlucky break for D2D. Infinity Ward must have considered the benefits of integrating Steamworks support into their game which inconveniently conflicts with their policy. They should not resort to such “name-calling” because of this reason.

And come on. We all know that Steam has been around for such a long time and is being used by so many people in the world to be called as “some third-party software client” or “Trojan Horse”.

So with this new problem, some people may be wondering if Modern Warfare 2 will be doing as well as what everybody is predicting. Sure, we all know that it is a title that is going to sell well regardless of these problems. However there is a possibility that it may not be as such a big hit anymore when the game is released on November 10.

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Source(s): 1UP | Gamasutra | Direct2Drive