The suicide bomber glitch, otherwise known as the javelin glitch, has been plaguing Modern Warfare 2’s multiplayer. The glitch results in immediate martyrdom, frustrating many a gamer online.

The following Modern Warfare 2 glitch actually works with any launcher in the game, and doesn’t even require any ammo.

All you have to do is equip the javelin (or another launcher), hold down the grenade button and then hit the ‘switch weapon’ button. With the javelin now in your hands, you can let go of the grenade button.  You’re now a walking time bomb, but be careful you can only knife, sprint or jump; otherwise the process gets cancelled out.

With the javelin glitch mobilised, you can now blow yourself up within any group of enemies. You’ll even spontaneously combust when they kill you. Bad times.

From the video below, you’ll certainly see that this is an annoying glitch that’s not terribly fun for those who encounter it. So what is Infinity Ward doing about it?

According to the developer’s community manager, Robert Bowling, the team is aware of the glitch and they will fix it in the game’s first major update. Bowling responded on Twitter:

Already have the coder responsible for the javelin writing a fix that will be included in the first title update.

Have you encountered the javelin glitch?

[UPDATE] – Microsoft won’t be taking any nonsense on Xbox Live, threatening anyone who uses the javelin glitch to have their account temporarily suspended.

Stephen Toulouse, director of policy and enforcement for Xbox Live, wrote on his Twitter account:

While IW works on getting the MW2 glitch fixed, people we catch using it will receive suspensions from LIVE. Play fair everyone.

For those asking, it’s not new that we issue suspensions for cheating/glitching, and we do it for more then just MW2.

Using a glitch in a game to get an advantage is explicitly called out in the Terms. It’s not like people are doing it by accident.

Expect your account suspension to last 24 hours for the first infraction, though Toulouse adds that “egregious cheating can be 2 weeks!”

As for PlayStation 3 gamers; Sony has made no such threats, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they pulled some punches. Then again, they could be waiting for Infinity Ward’s imminent patch.

[UPDATE 2] – Sony has confirmed to ConnectedConsoles that they will not be suspending any PlayStation Network accounts if they perform the javelin glitch. Lets hope for a quick patch.