Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 are adding dog companions and I guess I have to play Call of Duty now

Call of Duty
(Image credit: Activision)

Call of Duty is bringing back companion pets to fight alongside you in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer and Warzone 2, and don't worry, they can't be hurt.

Longtime Call of Duty fans will remember something similar from the oft-overlooked Call of Duty: Ghosts, which featured a playable German Shepherd named Riley, who would go on to make appearances in subsequent entries as a finishing move. Now, Call of Duty season 5 is introducing a new furry friend named Merlin, an utterly dapper canine available as part of this season's BlackCell, the premium upgrade to the normal battle pass. Once purchased, you can bring Merlin along with you in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer and Warzone 2's battle royale and DMZ modes.

You won't actually be able to play as Merlin; he'll just be equipped to your belt like an adorable accessory until you bust him out for his finishing move. And, thank goodness, Activision made very clear that Merlin "cannot be harmed in any way" despite being in the line of fire right next to you. 

Merlin is the only pet revealed so far, but there will be other pets available in the battle pass, and so help me God if there's a cat I will move heaven and earth to see Modern Warfare 2 added to our list of the best Call of Duty games and Warzone 2 bumped further up. 

Call of Duty season 5 launches Wednesday, August 2.

Only time will tell if our new pal Merlin joins the ranks of the best video game animal companions ever.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Diablo 4 Pets
How to unlock Diablo 4 Pets and what they do
A player wearing a gasmask and holding a gun during the shooter, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.
Call of Duty season 2 brings back Gun Game and a fan-favorite Zombies weapon we haven't seen in 10 years
Yasuke pets a dog in the hideout in Assassin's Creed Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows lets you add dozens of cute animals to your hideout, and all you have to do is pet them
Two Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 players using omnimovement to dive past each other on the Skyline map
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 2 brings back a beloved game mode fans have been begging for, but all I care about is a practically meaningless bug fix
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 screenshot
I swore I'd never even look at a Call of Duty game, but then I started falling asleep to the sound of Black Ops 6
Helldivers 2 Escalation of Freedom
Helldivers 2's funniest feature was removed last year, but it's finally been reinstated – although it won't save you from certain doom anymore
Latest in Games
Dune Awakening
Dune Awakening launches for $50 without a stay in early access, and while the survival MMO "will not have a monthly subscription" it will have "optional" paid DLC
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red won't make survival games just because they're popular, but Netflix's Edgerunners anime is fueling dreams bigger than RPGs
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe actor was terrified to perform until her first mocap scene earned "a standing ovation" on set: "Maybe I can do this mocap thing"
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke actor says that Naoe could beat his samurai in a fight: “Especially with that big a** helmet of mine”
The Legend of Dragoon
Beloved PS1 JRPG Legend of Dragoon wasn't meant to be a Final Fantasy 7 killer, Super Mario RPG's battle designer just said "I want to make a new RPG"
Fallout 76 screenshot showing an irradiated mutant man-like creature screeching, its sharp canine teeth showing
After 14 years at Bethesda, Skyrim and Fallout veteran made his final settlement in just 2 days – but only because he'd made some rough ones before that
Latest in News
Dune Awakening
Dune Awakening launches for $50 without a stay in early access, and while the survival MMO "will not have a monthly subscription" it will have "optional" paid DLC
Linda Cardellini as Laura Barton in Hawkeye
Linda Cardellini cast as Jason's mom, the original Friday the 13th killer, for Crystal Lake prequel series
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt Red won't make survival games just because they're popular, but Netflix's Edgerunners anime is fueling dreams bigger than RPGs
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe actor was terrified to perform until her first mocap scene earned "a standing ovation" on set: "Maybe I can do this mocap thing"
Daredevil: Born Again
Marvel may have just sneakily confirmed one of the biggest Daredevil: Born Again fan theories
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Yasuke actor says that Naoe could beat his samurai in a fight: “Especially with that big a** helmet of mine”