The British Board of Film classification has just slapped an 18 certificate on Modern Warfare 2. That makes MW2 the first title in the COD series to receive such a rating.

According to the BBFC website Modern Warfare 2 deserves such treatment due to the “strong bloody violence” it contains. Our own hands-on with the game last week revealed hitherto unseen levels of graphic reality and vivid close-quarter dust-ups that feature full on body checks and wince-inducing knife-based combat. So, yeah, we’d have to agree with the BBFC’s astute observation on the whole. Then again COD4 wasn’t exactly without such moments and that was deemed suitable for 15 year-olds.

The BBFC document also remarks on 40 minutes of “linear elements” such as cut-scenes and mentions that the adjudication was arrived at based on 45 minutes of actual gameplay footage. Furthermore, the words “Call of Duty” do not feature anywhere in the BBFC listing, thus laying to rest any remaining doubts about the game’s proper name.

Modern Warfare 2 it is, then. Always was, as far as we were concerned. But whatever you decide to call it, the game’s out for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on November 10th. Adults only!