Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare runs on a proprietary
engine and with features that include true world-dynamic lighting,
HDR lighting effects, dynamic shadows, and
depth of field.
[8] "Bullet Penetration" is calculated by the engine, taking into account factors such as surface type and entity thickness. Certain objects, such as cars and some buildings, are destructible. This makes distinguishing
cover from concealment important, as the protection provided by objects such as wooden fences and thin walls do not completely protect players from harm. Bullet speed and stopping power are decreased after penetrating an object, and the decrease is dependent on the thickness and surface type of the object. The game makes use of a dynamic
physics engine, not implemented in previous
Call of Duty titles. Death animations are a combination of pre-set animations and
ragdoll physics. Console versions of
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare run at a consistent 60
frames per second.
[8] Code was included to determine
spawning points based on the nearby weapons, and enemy positions and line of sight. The various criteria are meant to minimize players dying immediately after rejoining a match.
[22]
The game engine is also being used for two upcoming Activision games. An enhanced version of the original engine is being used for the next game in the
Call of Duty series,
Call of Duty: World at War,
[25] while a slightly altered version will be used for the James Bond video game
Quantum of Solace.
[26]
