Most FPS fans would probably agree with me when I say that getting a kill is one of the best feelings, and it always seems like a good idea. After all, having fewer enemies to worry about is the entire point of the game, and if you can do it without putting yourself in danger, then that’s even better. However, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is introducing a new mode that is determined to make players think twice before pulling the trigger because even a perfectly executed shot could cause more trouble than players might think.
The new mode in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is called Possession, and it is part of the game’s Halloween content ahead of Season 1. What it does is that whenever players eliminate an opponent, they get teleported to the enemy’s location and receive their loadout. In other words, players might find themselves in a way worse position than they were initially. Overall, the new mode could completely change the way people approach combat, especially when it comes to choosing a target.
Possession Makes Choosing the Right Target More Important Than Ever
It goes without saying that long-range combat is all about maintaining a safe distance from your enemies. The whole point is to find a good position, take advantage of any cover that you can find, and eliminate opponents without exposing yourself to danger. Moreover, usually players are encouraged to prioritize opponents who are easier to eliminate, especially when there’s an opportunity and the enemy hasn’t noticed anything yet. However, Possession can easily turn the player into an easy target themselves, so getting a quick kill might actually do a lot more damage. Not every opponent would be equally valuable as well because, for example, eliminating an enemy carrying a useful weapon could be more beneficial than taking down someone who is closer but has worse equipment.
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This adds another layer of complexity to the game because players also have to pay attention to what their opponents are carrying instead of just shooting whoever they can. Moreover, there could also be situations where a more difficult target is the better choice, after all, because if players know that killing someone will give them access to their equipment, it will make sense to try and kill them even if they are more difficult to access. Of course, identifying an enemy’s weapons in the middle of a fight is definitely not as easy as it sounds, especially since there are other enemies around as well. In any case, Possession introduces a new and creative decision-making process that rewards players who recognize valuable targets instead of mindlessly killing everyone who stands in their way.
Possession seems to reward patience, self-control, and mechanical skill all at the same time.
Most FPS players have their own favorite weapons, and usually there is nothing wrong with that, because games don’t usually punish people who prefer to use assault rifles every time, for example. For most people, it always takes some practice to get comfortable with a particular weapon and learn its strengths and limitations. So choosing one weapon and sticking with it makes even more sense considering that players invest time in them as well. Unfortunately, those who prefer using the same weapon every time will have a pretty hard time surviving Possession.
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Image via GameRant; Source: Activision -
Infinity Ward / Activision -
Since Activision confirmed that eliminating an opponent also means that players will receive their loadout, players will often be forced to adjust their playstyle even after getting a kill. So, if you’re a fan of assault rifles, you might suddenly find yourself equipped with a shotgun, which would put you at a significant disadvantage if you don’t know how to use it. So basically, the game rewards experimentation and developing a variety of skills when it comes to weapons.
Possession Could Turn a Risk Into a Tactical Advantage
Although it seems like Possession will be introducing only disadvantages, it’s important to know that it could also be useful in certain situations. In fact, Activision specifically mentioned Hardpoint and Search and Destroy as modes where it could provide quite big advantages. These two modes involve objectives that basically require players to reach particular areas that are defended by the enemies. So in this case, the teleportation mechanic could be quite useful because it could help players approach these locations way faster than usual and without having to fight every single opponent that they may encounter along the way.
In any case, perhaps the most interesting thing about Possession is that it could make players develop completely different habits than in other FPS games, such as deliberately choosing not to eliminate an enemy, which in most other titles in the genre would definitely seem counterintuitive. Moreover, Possession seems to reward patience, self-control, and mechanical skill all at the same time, and players who immediately shoot at everything will have a lot of trouble with Possession. In any case, the way the community will respond to the new mode still remains to be seen, but generally, the idea of making players question everything they know about the FPS genre is more than intriguing.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
