If you're one of the many, many PC players of Modern Warfare 2 that was, shall we say, less-than-enthused about Activision and Infinity Ward's decision not to include support for dedicated servers, you may now put down your pitchforks and delete your online petitions: Modern Warfare 3 is getting dedicated servers.
You're going to have to find something else in Modern Warfare 3 to make the subject of your Hitler freakout video.This news of Activision's sudden 180 on the subject comes via IGN, who confirmed from Activision reps at Gamescom that Modern Warfare 3 will fully support dedicated servers on the PC. IGN says that this is part of a larger effort to show PC players that Activision is still very much dedicated to the PC platform.
While this news is no doubt exciting to potential Modern Warfare 3 players, the publisher evidently still has some concerns about opening up the servers in such fashion. Specifically, the inclusion of dedicated servers does mean that it would, in theory at least, be easier to cheat in online multiplayer matches. This is especially an issue given the upcoming debut of Call of Duty Elite, which Activision plans to use to hold a number of multiplayer-oriented contests with "millions and millions of dollars" worth of prizes.
With that in mind, Activision has apparently said that they will not ship Modern Warfare 3 until developers are sure they can keep the play environment fair and balanced. Given the unlikelihood of Activision missing its planned November 8 release date, we can presume then that the game will be as secure and cheater-proof as it possibly can be by that date, and that any suggestions otherwise will be treated as the maniacal ravings of the lunatic fringe that they most assuredly are.