How Call of Duty’s Start Exploit Works (& Why Players Are Mad)

Call of Duty Championships weekend is fast approaching, and players are keen to make sure they’re playing the game at the highest level. One exploit is irritating Call of Duty: Modern Warfare pro players and fans alike, and making the game a little easier for everyone else. It’s called the Start glitch, and while it’s not new, its presence is causing some pro players and fans to speak out.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the sixteenth game in the Call of Duty series and a reboot of the Modern Warfare series. The game was released on October 25th, 2019. The story is set in a separate timeline from other Modern Warfare games, though fan favorite characters make a return to the storyline. The first Modern Warfare game was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and it was released in 2007. Call of Duty esports gained popularity during the Modern Warfare era in the mid to late 2000’s, and the new battle royale mode Warzone is even more popular.

In the modern era, the start exploit in Modern Warfare gives players the chance to see the opposing team’s positions during a match. Knowing where your opponents are hiding is quite an advantage in every game mode. The start glitch has existed since 2009’s Modern Warfare 2 and remained in the game for over a decade. The way it works is players can open up the ‘START’ menu during a kill cam sequence, and it will show all of the player positions on the mini map. This could give players the chance to call out positioning, using something beyond sound and instincts to tell them where their opponents are hiding.

How To Block Modern Warfare’s Start Exploit

One way to avoid the glitch is to use the in-game perk called Cold-Blooded. The perk makes players undetectable to AI targeting systems and thermal optics, and also gives players immunity to snapshot grenades. The perk is effective against the Start glitch, but not all players want to change their load outs just to protect against cheating by the opposing team.

In pro play, there are a number of Gentleman’s Agreements to keep the competitive integrity of the game, and not using the Start glitch seems like it would be an obvious addition. The Call of Duty League Championship Weekend starts August 29th, and it will be the first Call of Duty Championship held since the new franchise format began and the first Championship event hosted online. The organizers, players, and fans hope for clean games leading up to and during the event, and that including avoiding exploits like the Start glitch. For Call of Duty: Modern Warfare players not planning on going pro, however, the problem remains.

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