In the famous mission in the game Call of Duty, the developers at Infinity Ward were "essentially trying to come up with the most atrocious events that could happen"

The 20th anniversary of the Call of Duty series and its original developer, Infinity Ward, was celebrated on October 28th. In honor of this milestone, some key designers shared their memories of the series' most memorable moments. Among the numerous iconic moments in Call of Duty's history, the significant impact of the original Infinity Ward team and their pioneering work on the Modern Warfare series cannot be overlooked.

Modern Warfare became known for its distinctive single-player campaigns that offered a unique perspective on contemporary geopolitics, sparking numerous discussions and debates. Additionally, the series set high standards for multiplayer gameplay that have influenced all subsequent installments.

One of the most controversial moments in the Call of Duty series was the "No Russian" mission in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. In this mission, players participate in an attack on a fictional Russian airport, where terrorists, including the player character, open fire on innocent civilians. This moment ignited extensive discussions about the role of entertainment, like Call of Duty, and the ethical considerations of such events in video games.

The concept for the "No Russian" mission originated from Steve Fukuda, one of the design leads of Modern Warfare 2. The mission aimed to immerse players in the role of American agents equipped with M4 rifles during the airport attack, with the mission title strategically intended to create a false impression regarding the attackers' nationality and incite conflict between Russia and the United States.

Initially, the mission was relatively short, but player reactions during testing led the development team to extend the scene where civilians are harmed to intensify the dramatic impact. Surprisingly, about 50% of playtesters refused to open fire on civilians, and some deliberately missed their shots. To respect players' choices, the option to skip the mission without penalty was introduced.

Despite initial doubts and objections, the creators decided to retain the "No Russian" mission with a content warning and a skip option, emphasizing the importance of player agency.

The "No Russian" mission remains one of the most iconic and debated moments in the history of video games. Its primary goal was to confront players with a moral choice and encourage reflection, and in this regard, it undeniably achieved its objective.