Russian Ultranationalist Imran Zakhaev, who plans to return his homeland to the times of the Soviet Union, draws international attention away from his plans by funding a coup d'tat in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, organized by a local separatist leader named Khaled Al-Asad.
The game's story follows the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Special Air Service (SAS), who take on missions to fight against a separatist group in the Middle East and an ultranationalist group in Russia. Development began after an online petition requesting a Modern Warfare remaster began circulation.