Same as in previous COD titles, the action is told directly from the eyes of ordinary soldiers on the ground who became part in grand spectacle events, often showcasing events and set-pieces never before seen in the history of video games. Modern Warfare broke away from the historical roots of its predecessors and focused on the near-future conflict between the United States and Russia, bringing modern military hardware, tactics, and the ever-present fear of nuclear war to the gaming displays all across the world. As a part of the Call of Duty franchise, this game managed to re-use many popular aspects of the previous releases, but it also introduced a wide array of new features, online modes, gameplay, and narrative elements that immediately set it apart from its traditional WW2-focused past. Originally released in late 2007, this landmark title immediately became recognized as one of the most important game releases of the first decade of the 21st century, and a title that influenced countless similar FPS games in the upcoming years. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the fourth main game in the long-running first-person shooter franchise developed by Infinity Ward.