Internet reports claim that the console versions of Activision’s Modern Warfare 2 have been recalled in Russia due to the game’s controversial airport massacre mission.

An early level in the game gives players the option to gun down civilians in a Russian airport, although the section isn’t mandatory as players can opt to skip the mission following a warning about the content.

Censored console versions of Modern Warfare 2, with the mission removed entirely, are expected to be released within a month pending government approval, according to a translation of a Russian language report.

It’s also been reported that developer Infinity Ward has released an official patch for the PC and Steam versions of the game that removes the mission.

We’ve contacted Activision for confirmation of these reports.

UPDATE: Apparently it was only the “No Russian” mission that was removed from Russian copies.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this rumor turned out to be true. Personally I was a little annoyed at how bold Infinity Ward has become with Modern Warfare 2. Its an enjoyable game, few would argue otherwise, but I feel they have stepped a bit too far to build shock value. The game’s inability to offer an alternate moral decision in the “No Russian” mission was disappointing at best, disturbing at worst.

Some may argue that films and television often go further to push the bounds of shock value, and that this scene in MW2 could be considered tame by comparison. I oppose this notion, and argue that videogames are an interactive medium where instead of simply observing a character’s decision, the player must handle the moral dilemma him/herself.

In retrospect, I wish I had opted not to play the mission at all, not because it disgusted me, but rather because, to me, the “No Russian” mission was a sacrifice of player choice at the sake of cheap shock value.