Modern Warfare 2 outfitting XBL avatars

As part of its August firmware update to Xbox Live, Microsoft hung an open sign on the Avatar Marketplace. The microtransaction-fueled hub lets gamers trick out their Xbox Live avatars with new clothing and items, ranging from real-world apparel from the likes of Adidas, Quiksilver, and Tokidoki to...

As part of its August firmware update to Xbox Live, Microsoft hung an open sign on the Avatar Marketplace. The microtransaction-fueled hub lets gamers trick out their Xbox Live avatars with new clothing and items, ranging from real-world apparel from the likes of Adidas, Quiksilver, and Tokidoki to game-related fare from Gears of War 2, BioShock, and several Halo games.

With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's November 10 launch already a success if preorder figures are any indication, it comes as no surprise that Activision and Infinity Ward plan to offer Xbox 360 gamers themed avatar gear. In a post to his Twitter feed, Infinity Ward community manager Robert "fourzerotwo" Bowling confirmed that Modern Warfare 2-themed Xbox Live avatar items are on the way, some of which will "hopefully" be free.

Unfortunately, Bowling was less definitive on Avatar rewards, saying only that he was "not sure" whether they would be available. As their name suggests, rewards function in a way similar to Xbox Live achievement points, as they unlock avatar-related gear upon completing certain objectives within a game.

For more information on Modern Warfare 2, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

215 Comments

  • roadron

    Posted Oct 29, 2009 1:20 am PT

    This is the only time I wish I was in a Communist country, not a Capitalist with greedy SOBs like Microsoft. Damn man, taking my time from college and girls are already bad enough, leave my frigging wallet alone !

  • jimrx7

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 5:03 pm PT

    I have never payed for any DLC and I really don't feel like I have even missed out on anything. that said I don't see myself paying for such afterthought that should really be in the game already.

  • bagelnbutter

    Posted Oct 15, 2009 11:02 am PT

    good game looks awwsome gigity

  • aserbianguy

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    all the gear should be free, forza 3 is charging money, really? though it is a cool

  • DPhunkT

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 9:27 am PT

    "Hopefully" free? Not if MS has anything to say about it. Greedy ass Microsoft.

  • gameweasl

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 6:46 am PT

    I don't know when you guys are going to figure out that this stuff isn't going to be free anymore. This is the trend and why give it free if there are 100,000's of people that are willing to shell out the $5 or what ever to get what they want.

    Lets see:
    3,000,000 x Free(0) = 0
    300,000 x $5 = $1,500,000

    Which is better? And trust me the games will still sale also. I could probably count on one hand the amount of people that really didn't buy a game because the games DLC isn't free...

  • inspectercoley

    Posted Oct 14, 2009 2:53 am PT

    Its stupid cos the clothes are like free advertisement for the game so don't see why they are not free.

  • OF-5

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 8:01 pm PT

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2-epic win!
    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare avatar clothes-epic fail...

  • xKaTaHoMaSx

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 7:55 pm PT

    Since u have to buy points in a 500 to 1000 point increase, When i buy map packs i generally spend the 200 i have left on avatar gear since map packs usually cost 800 points.

  • rickster34

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 7:52 pm PT

    FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE PLEEEEEEEEEEASEEE

  • P0T

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 7:16 pm PT

    Microsoft and Sony need to stop this 'fake clothes & accessories' for fake avatar crap. MS sells you clothes for your avatar and Sony sells 'houses' and clothes and crap in Playstation HOME. Both lame, both will never get a cent from me.

  • Elvis4576

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 6:05 pm PT

    Ha free not gonna surprised when they over charge something that should be free.

  • shakensparco

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 5:20 pm PT

    Unless you spend all day playing 1 vs 100, what is the point of paying real money for some stupid digital clothes?

  • MazehcS0ul

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 4:39 pm PT

    Free, yes. that would be nice.

    Hopefully you can be dressed as an SAS member that would be cool. So maybe weapons as props? Pree-ordered it as 360. Gamespot Midnight madness

  • mesc420

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 4:26 pm PT

    free would be nice!

  • ColonelX24

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 3:27 pm PT

    It would be cool if they had a gun as an item. I don't care which one.

  • F1lth

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:59 pm PT

    "Hopefully" free - in the same sense that Valve wanted the 'Crash Course' Left 4 Dead content to be free (as it was on the PC), but MS forced them to charge for it as not to undermine the 'premium' games (Gears, Halo, Fallout 3) who charged for DLC when, in truth, it's in no way worth the £10 we pay for them. That's why everyone should take note of Valve.

  • TheHappyCamper

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:45 pm PT

    I agree that more games need to make use of the Avatar Award system. I have beaten the hell outta quite a few games and have nothing to show for it. Anyone out there actually get anything from this system? It seems like in theory this would keep people replaying the game if the rewards were worth it.

  • KittyHeart

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:44 pm PT

    microsoft is an evil genius with these xbl avatar things and i hope no one falls into their schemse and acutally buys stuff for their avatar. a lot of them are wayyy overprcied

    also, i do not want to see ps3 fanboys in here. please kindly leave. thank you

  • brandan1515

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:43 pm PT

    i reckon avatar cloths are waste of money

  • Hunt270

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:36 pm PT

    nice, wonder how they will work

  • Classic821

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:30 pm PT

    got this preordered for 360...uncharted 2 makes me wanna buy a ps3

  • MasterPotatoe

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:05 pm PT

    got this pre ordered for 360

  • Soilworker1234

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 2:00 pm PT

    definitely preordered this for PC

  • EdensFall

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:59 pm PT

    SalarianChemist is so hilariously one of those paid Microsoft forum browsers... seriously, read his post it is amazing! Anyway, this is lame, just get the game and play it, all this fluff is just ridiculous.

  • Hayabashi

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:56 pm PT

    What ever happened to Avatar Rewards? I would have sworn the first would have been attached to ODST but nope. Maybe this game will bring the first?

  • razorblad110

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:47 pm PT

    my 360 gaming life would have less "palm-in-face" moments without the avatars.....but god damnit...its just too tempting to buy ONE MORE thing for your avatar...f**k you capitalism!

  • eddy_purpus

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:41 pm PT

    MILK MILK MILK MILK MILK MILK

  • zaphod_b

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:40 pm PT

    PS3 fans, relax. We are getting dynamic MW2 themes, they are getting stuff for their avatars. Seriously, chill out.

  • benjy117

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:37 pm PT

    @gizzy82 LOL thats exactly what i said when i saw it. I also have ps3 and their items are no where near that expensive plus you can do more stuff with your avatar. My father in law bought that light saber but I wasn't going to waste 5 bucks on that... I would much rather buy an arcade game.

  • I_am_theOpus

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    Free stuff eh? We'll see what Microsoft thinks about that one.

  • abbnormmal

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:20 pm PT

    Regarding the PS3 complaints here (I own one, but my living room has 3 XBOX 360s networked in it):

    Would you really want stuff to buy to put on your Playstation "Home" character? I hardly want to buy anything for my "Avatar", but MS forces everyone to look at it everytime you turn on the box motivating people to de-queer it some. "Home" is retarded and pointless, but at least you dont have to see your garbage character when you fire up the box.

  • Slipstream720

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 1:01 pm PT

    Microsoft probably pays IW more money than Sony does, thats why they get special attention. Now deal with it.
    They better have some items available for customers with pre-orders!

  • crazyshooter93 posted Oct 13, 2009 12:42 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    crazyshooter93

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 12:42 pm PT (hide)

    @SalarianChemist you're such a fanboy, this article isn't even about the map packs, plus those map packs are only timed exclusives they will eventually come to the PS3

  • fulo005

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 12:36 pm PT

    WHAT IS WRONG WITH IW guys, are they married 2 Microsoft.... this sx XBOX this xbox that ...... ACTIVISION what about PSN users who play your games!

  • Vang665

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 12:08 pm PT

    give me an de or a rpg to combat that lightsaber

  • Urban_Flow

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 11:33 am PT

    It Woud Be Nice If It Was Free....But Then Again I Would'nt Mind Spending A Couple Of MS Points.....A Gun Prop Would Be Nice..

  • Flint247

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 11:20 am PT

    This could be indeed overpriced, but why are people acting like they are being forced to pay for it? If you don't care for it, don't buy it.

  • MajinDante

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 11:02 am PT

    my avatar needs an AUSTIN 3:16 t-shirt

  • ZONABOY_928

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:53 am PT

    It is a bit overpriced but hey if people want to pay for it then let them. To each is own. If people are working for their money then who cares what they spend it on at least i dont care. But i do agree i would rather spend it on a Game on Demand than waste 5 bucks on a Gears helmet

  • blursg2

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:46 am PT

    You people are all dumb... Avatars are the queerest idea xbox has ever come up with. Over priced? More variety? They are worthless... More over, spending any money on that s**t instead of games or equipment makes no sense at all. If you want to accessorize go to the store (in real life) and buy some clothes and s**t. Ridiculous...

  • earnhardtfan77

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:43 am PT

    couldnt agree more gizzy82

  • gizzy82

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:32 am PT

    Avatar Gear is overpriced! Make it free and rewards from playin games or scrub it completely. Seriously, 400pts for a lightsaber!? are you sh**ing me??

  • campbell153

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 10:01 am PT

    i think the avatars could do with more variety! this is a good thing i think?...

  • heatfanman101

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 9:59 am PT

    it would be pretty cool if u could get weapons from the game as props.

  • Ace77765

    Posted Oct 13, 2009 9:53 am PT

    "hopefully" be free. all you have to read from this article apart from the header done with this article...let's read on about that brutal legend...11/10 will be an amazing date but if you are expecting something free from these companies any of em you are sadly mistaken

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