Modern Warfare Remastered update introduces women soldiers to multiplayer

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered got a beefy title update yesterday, bringing the usual new maps and game types (all of it is free). Notably, it also brings female avatars to the landmark shooter's multiplayer for the first time.

Women soldiers weren't an option in the original Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which launched in 2007. Women were first playable in Call of Duty: Ghosts, which launched in 2013, the same year the U.S. military lifted its ban on women serving in combat.

Activision noted the addition with little fanfare or additional detail. Raven Software is the studio in charge of Modern Warfare Remastered, and obliquely referenced the addition in this remark:

We’re excited to support this great game with new content, beginning today with a ton of new customization items that allow for a level of personalization that wasn’t possible in the original release in 2007. Personalization is a big part of Call of Duty and something we’ve done in the series for a while now that fans really enjoy.

The December update also adds in the last six of the original Modern Warfare map set, bringing the total to 16. The maps are Bloc, Countdown, Pipeline, Showdown, Strike, and Wet Work.

The holiday-themed "Winter Crash," a variant on the Crash map, also returns. It was not available on consoles during Modern Warfare's original release. (It comes with two droll weapon camos, too: Gift Wrap and Ugly Sweater.)

Also, Supply Drops, a feature of Call of Duty multiplayer since Advanced Warfare in 2014, have been added into Modern Warfare Remastered. These are cosmetic items which can be obtained for free through play but also can be unlocked with Call of Duty Points, the virtual currency that can be bought with real money.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is playable only for those who have bought Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. For more on Infinite Warfare, see Polygon's review.