Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) are now available on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC as standalone downloads after having officially been separated from the Call of Duty HQ launcher.

The two legacy COD titles can now be downloaded without having the COD HQ launcher installed. However, legacy content from MW2 and MW3 will still be available in Call of Duty: Warzone. Legacy content within the COD HQ launcher will be removed with the start of Season 5 on August 7.

On Xbox, the decoupling move also means the new standalone versions of both MW2 (2022) and MW3 (2023) have brand-new achievement lists for players to unlock. Completionists can rejoice that they will no longer need to complete four years' worth of Call of Duty titles to earn all the achievements in any one mainline game.

Both titles maintain their original achievement lists, with one exception: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) received a new achievement for reaching Level 55 in multiplayer. The achievement automatically unlocks for players who had already achieved the milestone prior to the game's separation from COD HQ.

The move to separate the games from Call of Duty: Warzone and the COD HQ launcher has been widely celebrated by the community.

The evolution of the COD HQ launcher

Activision and the leading development teams for Call of Duty — including Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, and Treyarch Studios — have struggled to capitalize on the success of tie-ins between mainline premium titles and the integration of those releases with the free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale experience.

The introduction of the COD HQ launcher in 2022 alongside Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was intended to create a hub where players could access both Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer without requiring them to break up partied teams or relaunch different games.

The Call of Duty HQ launcher was designed to house everything in the COD universe in one place. However, it quickly earned the disdain of players who found it took too long to launch into their preferred Call of Duty experience.

With the launch of Black Ops 6, Treyarch Studios (along with the supporting Call of Duty teams) set out to refresh the COD HQ launcher in what the development team had dubbed a "Time to Fun" initiative.

"We are working on that whole process to try to get it cleaner," said Treyarch director of production Yale Miller in an interview at COD Next 2024, where he described the Call of Duty experience revival as a journey, "… It's about moving things in the ecosystem around and having it as a place where we can load all the games out of it."

The initiative kicked off with a significant reduction in file size for the COD HQ launcher, which had ballooned to over 300GB by the time Black Ops 6 launched — if you had all the titles and their DLC content installed, anyway.

The install size was only one problem the maligned COD HQ launcher faced, however. Its infinitely side-scrolling UI was also the bane of players. While there was some reprieve from the scrolling tiles with the launch of Black Ops 6, it was still a UI choice that showed up in seemingly random parts of the game.

If you wanted to add a camo to your weapon, for example, you would be scrolling right for an undetermined amount of time just to realize you didn't like any of them anyway.

That said, more UI changes have continued to roll out following the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, including changes to Warzone's buy station UI.

Preparing for Black Ops 7

With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 expected for a Fall or Holiday 2025 release window, the Call of Duty team seems to be taking feedback for the COD HQ launcher to heart.

The community has long requested that premium titles for the Call of Duty franchise be decoupled from the COD launcher to help streamline the process of launching into those games' campaigns and multiplayer experiences. It was even among my own wishlist of 7 things I want to see changed for Black Ops 7.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the first Call of Duty title to be included with Xbox's Play Anywhere program, meaning players who purchase the game on Xbox consoles benefit from dual entitlements and can play the game on PC at no extra cost.

The Play Anywhere promise may have been a driving force for why the legacy titles were decoupled from the COD HQ, as offering the games as DLC likely complicated the process.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope has posted on social media that a Halo crossover for 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was cancelled "for completely unknown reasons."
• The report was corroborated by the Call of Duty news site CharlieIntel in another post, in which it revealed it heard the collaboration was planned to come out in 2024 before it was scrapped.
• Allegedly, the collab would have been an Operator skin of Master Chief — Halo's main protagonist — similar to the skins of the Spartan that are available in games like Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege.
• It's unclear why the crossover was cancelled, though a plausible theory is that Microsoft chose to save it for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 instead. It's slated to release later this month on October 25, 2024.
• Notably, Microsoft now owns both Halo and Call of Duty following the completion of its $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition last year.

Years ago, the Call of Duty and Halo franchises were often thought of as some of the biggest first-person shooter (FPS) rivals in all of gaming. Today, though, they're both under Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios umbrella thanks to the company's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard — and according to a new leak, there was a crossover between the two planned for this year that ultimately never saw the light of day.

That info came in a post from Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope on X (Twitter) this week, in which they noted that the collaboration was coming to 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, but ended up getting axed. "Kinda crazy how a Halo x COD Master Chief collab was actually scrapped for MWIII for completely unknown reasons," they said, sharing an AI-generated mockup of a Master Chief cosmetic on Call of Duty HQ's in-game store. Allegedly, the Halo protagonist would have appeared in the shooter as an Operator skin.

The Call of Duty news site CharlieIntel corroborated TheGhostOfHope's statement, adding that the crossover was scheduled to release in 2024 before its cancellation. "We also heard about a possible collab happening earlier this year but reasons for its cancellation are unknown," it wrote in a post.

Neither party offered an explanation for why the collab was scrapped, noting that they're in the dark in regards to the rationale behind the decision. Some fans have suggested that Microsoft may have chosen to save it for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, which is slated to release later this month on October 25 (on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, notably) and a follow-up to 2020's Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Considering that Black Ops 6 is poised to be one of the biggest games of 2024 and has the potential to be one of its best Xbox games and best PC games, I'd say this theory is pretty plausible. However, it's also entirely possible that the crossover was shelved for a completely different reason. At the end of the day, we'll never know for sure why the project was discarded, if it's still coming, or if it was ever even real at all unless Microsoft or Call of Duty's developers come forward with statements or an announcement.

It's worth noting that there have been 11 Halo crossovers present in other games since the sci-fi FPS series kicked off in 2001, including recent high-profile Master Chief appearances in the popular titles Fortnite and Rainbow Six Siege. It stands to reason, then, that Microsoft would look to take advantage of the opportunity to bring the hero of its flagship Xbox property to the newly acquired and highly lucrative Call of Duty as a microtransaction cosmetic.

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Notably, this leak came at the same time Microsoft announced Black Ops 6 is coming to Xbox Cloud Gaming at launch. Earlier today, it also revealed new Black Ops 6 controller designs and console wraps for the Xbox Series X, with the former available now in Xbox Design Lab and the latter available to preorder for $55 on the Microsoft Store. The console skins are expected to ship on October 23 — two days before the game's launch day.

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Halo has been in the news recently, too; earlier this month, 343 Industries rebranded to Halo Studios and confirmed that future Halo games will be built using Unreal Engine 5, showcasing what the legendary franchise might look like on Epic Games' tech stack with a "Project Foundry" tech demo. At the same time, the studio revealed that multiple new Halo projects are in development, though no further details were given.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is slated to launch on October 25, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. In a first for the series, it'll be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass day one, as well as being available to play through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty is a long-running first-person shooter franchise developed by multiple studios, including Treyarch, Infinity Ward, and Sledgehammer, and published by Activision (now a part of Xbox Game Studios.)
• With the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), subsequent annual premium CoD titles were bundled into one launcher with the free-to-play battle royale Call of Duty: Warzone. This resulted in a massive game file that took a long time for many to download.
• A new series of updates is set to deploy ahead of the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in October. These updates will optimize the Call of Duty experience, decouple premium titles from Warzone, expand on texture streaming tech, and streamline the UI.
• The first step in the update series launches alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Season 5 Reloaded update on August 21.

A new slate of updates to the Call of Duty HQ will lay the groundwork for a new streamlined UI, smaller file sizes, and more direct access to games ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's release in October.

Call of Duty is a popular blockbuster franchise, but the king of first-person shooters is not immune to criticism. The title's considerable install size has been an ongoing gag for several years. While optimization efforts have attempted to shrink the game's file size, a decision in 2022 to lump Call of Duty: Warzone (then dubbed Warzone 2.0) and each new premium title together in a Call of Duty HQ launcher seemingly undid all the progress with each new seasonal update.

To combat Call of Duty HQ's ongoing takeover of millions of hard drives, new updates will begin later this month, and lead up to the October release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will aim to optimize the game's file size. The updates will also address player feedback with the UI, streamlining the experience and making it easier for players to jump into the game experience they want more easily.

The road to Black Ops 6 starts with MW3 Season 5.5

The first update is scheduled for August 21 as part of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Season 5 Reloaded update. This patch will reorganize the content in Call of Duty HQ with new tech for texture streaming. Texture streaming allows the development team to cycle content that players less frequently use to a streaming cache. By streaming this content, it no longer needs to sit on the player's storage device until it is used. 

The "On-Demand Texture Streaming" setting in the Call of Duty HQ menu will be changed to "On-Demand High-Quality Streaming" with two options: Optimized (Default) and Minimal. When set to minimal, users may notice that the graphical quality of streamed textures is lower, but this setting requires less internet bandwidth than high-fidelity texture streaming. The optimized setting will require more internet bandwidth than minimal, but it will produce cached textures at a higher fidelity. 

Another significant element of the August 21 update will be the official decoupling of Call of Duty: Warzone from the default download of annually released titles. Instead of automatically downloading Warzone with each new Call of Duty title, only the game-specific files will be included in the download. Players can still choose to install Warzone independently at any given time. On the official Call of Duty blog, the Call of Duty team writes, "Flexibility and choice matter. We want to give players the choice to download each Call of Duty, including Call of Duty: Warzone, when and how they wish."

According to the CoD Team, the first step in restructuring Call of Duty HQ will require a large upfront download, which will "pave the way over the next several weeks and ultimately lead to a better experience when Black Ops 6 arrives." While the first download will not add to the space Call of Duty currently takes up on your hard drive, it will require a fresh installation to properly reorganize the game's files and add new tech. After the initial Season 5 Reloaded update, the amount of space Call of Duty takes up on player hard drives should decrease thanks to the new optimizations. For players on Xbox and PC, the update will require one singular download and will mimic traditional updates required before launching Call of Duty.

To show appreciation for the community's patience in the lead-up to Black Ops 6, the CoD Team and Activision will gift players a pack of in-game consumables. The consumables gift, consisting of 10 1-hour Double Player XP tokens, 10 1-hour Double Weapon XP tokens, and 10 Battle Pass Tier Skips, will be available for players when they log in for Season 5 Reloaded.

Preparing for the Black Ops 6 Open Beta

In part, the update rollout is designed to prepare the Call of Duty HQ launcher for the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Beta content for Black Ops 6 can be preloaded beginning on August 28, with the Beta going live on August 30. For those with Call of Duty HQ already installed, the Beta will be installed automatically as an update. If you're jumping into Call of Duty for the first time or do not currently have Call of Duty HQ installed, the beta can be downloaded from the Xbox storefront, the PC Game Pass App, or the Microsoft Store. Steam, Battle.net, and PlayStation players can also download the beta from their respective storefronts.

Once the Beta ends, the Season 6 update for Modern Warfare 3 will automatically remove the content. 

The file size for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has not yet been finalized, as the game undergoes final polish and optimizations before release. There was speculation that the final size could hit 300 GB, but that has been debunked. Additional optimizations and Call of Duty HQ changes will lower the file size requirements. 

Future updates to Call of Duty HQ

File size may be a running joke for the Call of Duty community, but the HQ's UI layout has been a thorn in players' side since the release of Modern Warfare 2 in 2022. The UI introduced with MW2 and Warzone 2.0 resembled what you would see on a video streaming platform, with rectangular boxes of options infinitely scrolling to the right. It led to long scrolls that were frustrating to the point that things in the middle were often overlooked. There have been some efforts to update the user interface with the release of MW3 and support post-launch content, but the rollout of Black Ops 6 will make substantial changes to the Call of Duty HQ UI.

A new Call of Duty landing zone will present featured content all together on one page with no scrolling. The most recent Call of Duty title and Call of Duty: Warzone will both be featured prominently on the landing page, with other Call of Duty titles being accessible either through the player's library or via the Last Played tile. The initial rollout of the new landing page will be part of an update in mid-October, right before the launch of Black Ops 6.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is available for preorder now. Our helpful guide can help you choose between the Vault Edition and Standard Editions of Black Ops 6.

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What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was recently added to Xbox Game Pass, the first from the franchise to be available via the subscription service.
• The launch led to an influx of new cheaters who took advantage of PC access via the Microsoft Store to bypass previous bans.
• New detection efforts and anti-cheat mediations were enacted just before the weekend, including a ban sweep that affected 65,000 cheaters and boosters in Modern Warfare 3's Ranked multiplayer and Warzone's Ranked battle-royale modes.

If you've played Call of Duty: Warzone or Modern Warfare 3 in recent weeks, you may be wondering if your first-person shooter skills are waning or if something else entirely has led to you having a significantly worse gameplay experience. 

Turns out, it's the latter, as Activision's TeamRICOCHET anti-cheat enforcement has issued a ban sweep that has removed approximately 65,000 cheaters and boosters from Ranked lobbies in the two competitive gameplay modes.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) was recently introduced into the Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass subscription catalog, allowing an influx of new players to jump into the annual blockbuster's multiplayer playlists. Players on PC Game Pass were able to access the game on their personal gaming computers, only for the in-game icon representing the player's system to show an Xbox logo. This was because they were signed in with their Xbox account on PC, but it led to frustration in the Call of Duty community among players who did not wish to utilize cross play between console and PC gameplay.

The rash of new cheats certainly did little to help assuage those concerns. However, Activision's development teams working on Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 have since remedied that issue by adding new icons to make it easier to distinguish between Xbox and PC players on the Microsoft Store edition of the game. The new icons were on a small step, with large-scale mitigation efforts rolling out across Warzone and MW3 alike.

TeamRICOCHET, the anti-cheat enforcement team put together by Activision to maintain fairness across the Call of Duty franchise, frequently rolls out a variety of cheat mitigation tactics. In the past, unique measures like cloaking, gun jamming, and the much beloved SPLAT mechanic that cuts cheaters' parachute cords have been used to trap and expose cheaters while providing useful info to the enforcement team.

Activision shared that the most recent wave of enforcement efforts has resulted in 65,000 players being issued bans for cheating or boosting. Warzone and MW3's ranked playlists were primary targets for cheaters, coinciding with past reports from Team RICOCHET that the majority of cheating occurs at the top of Ranked leaderboards. Following the ban wave, Activision reset the Season 5 leaderboards for Call of Duty: Warzone and MW3's ranked playlists.

Modern Warfare 3's summer launch into Xbox Game Pass came as a poorly kept surprise, as many anticipated this fall's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to be the first Call of Duty title to officially launch into the subscription service. Black Ops 6 will still be the first COD title to launch in Game Pass on Day One.

What you need to know

• Last week, we corroborated reports that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is Xbox Game Pass bound for July. 
• Now, Microsoft has confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023's flagship CoD) is now coming to Xbox Game Pass on July 24, 2024. 
• This will give users a taste of the Call of Duty experience ahead of Call of Duty Black Ops 6, which will be the first Call of Duty to drop straight into the subscription service.  

If you ever looked at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and thought "wow, $70 is too much," well this news is for you. 

Last week, we corroborated reports that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 from last year would be hitting Xbox Game Pass this July. Microsoft's all-you-can-eat gaming subscription service has been on a good run this summer, dropping excellent titles like Dungeons of Hinterberg and Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess into the library. With Call of Duty hitting the service, July 2024 could prove one of the service's biggest months for growth, maybe ever. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 comprises the standard modern Call of Duty experience, with campaign, zombie horde modes, and its much-loved multiplayer experiences. The game's price has rarely come down from its standard $70 price point, as is typical for Activision games. There's a large cohort of users in Xbox Game Pass who will likely be trying it out for the first time now, giving Modern Warfare 3 a big boost. 

The game has had various high-profile seasonal cross-overs of late, including recent features with Fallout, The Boys TV show, and WWE wrestlers. 

Dropping Call of Duty in early could serve as something of a test run for Microsoft, who have invested a lot in integrating the Call of Duty HQ app into the Xbox Game Pass system. Going in without a full-bore without a proper test when Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches later this year probably wouldn't have been the smartest thing to do. 

Unfortunately, though, it seems Xbox Cloud Gaming is going to be left out of the fun. Per Microsoft's Activision-Blizzard acquisition agreements with the UK regulator CMA, Ubisoft owns the rights to where Activision-Blizzard games appear in the cloud, sadly. This is why we have yet to see Diablo IV hit a cloud service, despite its popularity on console and PC, and despite how obviously great it would be on mobile devices. 

RELATED: What's next for Xbox Game Pass?

Still, getting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III onto Xbox Game Pass early gives us a taste of what the future of Activision-Blizzard titles will be like for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users, who now get new games day and date exclusively since Microsoft's recent Xbox Game Pass changes. 

What you need to know

• Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King in October 2023, adding the  teams behind Call of Duty and World of Warcraft to Xbox. 
• According to Insider Gaming, Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which first launched in November 2023, is joining the Xbox Game Pass lineup later in July. 
• This information lines up with details previously heard by Windows Central.
• The next mainline game in the franchise, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, is coming day one to Xbox Game Pass when it launches on Oct. 25, 2024.

If you haven't played the latest Call of Duty game yet, I've got great news. 

Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is coming to Xbox Game Pass later this month, according to a report from Insider Gaming. The outlet claims that "several sources" indicate Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is being added to Xbox Game Pass at some point in July 2024, though they couldn't nail down an exact date. This information is corroborated by Windows Central's sources.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 first launched back in November 2023, where it quickly became the second best-selling game of the year, just behind Hogwarts Legacy. As the direct sequel to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), Modern Warfare 3 continues the rebooted story of Task Force 141 hunting down the terrorist Makarov across the world. 

Activision Blizzard titles are gearing up to roll out on Xbox Game Pass

This report comes just after a report that indicated the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is headed to Xbox Game Pass in August, which Windows Central was also able to verify is accurate. 

The move appears to indicate that Xbox is getting ready to launch several Activision Blizzard titles across its subscription service several months after Microsoft's massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard King finalized. The first game to join the service was Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo 4, which was added to Xbox Game Pass back in March 2024. 

This also comes just as Microsoft is reworking the Xbox Game Pass tiers, raising the prices of tiers Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass and phasing out Xbox Game Pass Console with a new "Standard" tier that doesn't include day-one games, though existing Console subscribers are being allowed to keep their membership. 

Analysis: Good to see, but let's get more

I'm glad that there's more and more movement happening for Activision Blizzard games joining Xbox Game Pass. It's taken longer than I (or indeed, anyone I know) really expected, but things are now in motion.

I do have to point out that saying something is coming to Xbox Game Pass now feels like it warrants a bevy of asterisk marks. Is this game coming to every tier? Almost certainly. But a game that comes day one to Xbox Game Pass, like this year's upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, will be included in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but not Standard. It's an amusing and frustrating point of clarification that's now needed every time.

What you need to know

• A collaboration between Call of Duty and Fallout is coming to Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile on June 20.
• Vault Dweller-themed operator skins for classic Call of Duty characters Captain Price, Ghost, Gaz, and Soap will be available, as well as blueprints for Fallout inspired weapons.
• A special Fallout: Vault Dwellers event will also take place in Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer and Zombies modes, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile.

Fallout fever continues to rage on as the Bethesda IP leaps over into the world of Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. The crossover kicks off at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET on June 20 when a new operator bundle and Fallout-themed event drops in Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile. A teaser for the collaborative event was sent out on the Call of Duty blog.

The teaser message was in the form of intercepted comms from a ghoul in the Fallout universe by the name of Edward Deegan. Deegan's message alludes to Vault 141 escapees, a portmanteau of Call of Duty's Task Force 141 and Fallout's numbered vaults. 

The message then goes on to describe the members of Task Force 141, popular protagonists from the Modern Warfare campaigns. Captain Price, the leader, is described as a "wicked shot" while Gaz is painted as "a bit moody" albeit it "tasty with a pistol." The message suggests the masked Ghost may be a fellow ghoul. Deegan finishes describing the group by echoing a statement about Soap previously made by Captain Price from the Modern Warfare campaign, "Wonder how a Mole Rat like him passed selection?"

Content from the collaboration will include the Tracer Pack: Fallout Vault Dweller Bundle, which will include 15 in game items that can be accessed across Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile. The upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is confirmed to not utilize Modern Warfare 2 and 3's "Carry Forward" program, so these items will be inaccessible in Black Ops 6 when it launches in October. However, they will remain accessible in Warzone.

The items in the Tracer Pack: Fallout Vault Dweller Bundle include:

• "Vault-Tec Approved" M16 Weapon Blueprint
• "Atomic Disintegrator" HRM-9 Weapon Blueprint
• Four “Vault 141” Operator Skins
• “Atomic Disintegrator” HRM-9 Weapon Blueprint
• “Vault-Tec Approved” M16 Weapon Blueprint
• “Let’s Do This!” and “Fatman” Charms
• “Wasteland Workshop” Calling Card
• “You’re Special” Large Decal
• “Vault-Tec Engineer” Emblem
• “Nuka-Cola Spacer” Sticker
• Six Loading Screens including “Nuka-Cola,” “Please Stand By,” “Survivors’ Journey,” “Sanctuary Hills,” “Vault 141,” and “Restoring Democracy”

A collaborative in-game event will launch simultaneously with the new Vault Dweller bundle which will introduce an XP boost to any players who are using any of the four Vault Dweller skins. Additional Fallout-themed cosmetics like the "New California Republic" weapon decal, "Nuka-Cola Caps" emblem, and "Nuka-Cola Quantum" Weapon camo can be unlocked during the limited event, which runs until 8 AM PT/11 AM ET on June 26.

Call of Duty is published by Activision, while Fallout is published by ZeniMax, both of which are owned by Xbox. Call of Duty is no stranger to collaborative efforts, having introduced events featuring Gundam, Attack on Titan, and King Kong vs Godzilla. The Fallout: Vault Dweller event is the first to feature other Xbox franchises, leaving the door open to other potential crossovers in the future. Master Chief on Rebirth Island or Marcus Fenix on Fortune's Keep? It could happen!

With the Xbox Showcase coming in early June, followed by a Call of Duty Direct for Treyarch's upcoming Black Ops 6, there's already plenty for Call of Duty fans to be excited about. That doesn't mean Sledgehammer and the support studios behind the massive franchise are slowing down on Modern Warfare 3's post-launch support. There's a fresh new battle pass to keep you busy as Season 4 arrives ahead of the upcoming reveal event with a brand-new lineup of content. 

Call of Duty Season 4 release date

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile Season 4 went live on Wednesday, May 29 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. 

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Call of Duty Season 4 — Modern Warfare 3 maps, modes, and events

Before the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, lead developers Sledgehammer Games and publisher Activision committed to fans that the game would receive no less than 12 new maps in its post-launch seasonal content. Sledgehammer has stuck by that commitment, and players can look forward to two brand-new maps in Season 4. The new maps for Season 4 will bring the post-launch map count to 17, not including Vortex variants. 

While Season 3 appeals to small map lovers, Season 4 is making a play for more medium-sized maps.

New map: Tokyo

Nightlife, baby! Modern Warfare 3 has been surprisingly lacking in nighttime maps, so it's nice to see the neon lights of Tokyo against a midnight sky. A Hotel and Manga buildings positioned on the sides of the main road are sure to be heavily sought-after power positions, thanks to the potential for verticality on an otherwise grounded map. 

Tokyo eschews the three-lane map design, though it does appear to have potential flanking routes, and SMG-runners are sure to find plenty of CQC opportunities in the tight corners of the Arcade and Center Courtyard. Expect a lot of gunplay to happen on the more open left-hand side of the map as presented in the overview, while players fuss that the remaining right-hand side is just wasted space.

The neon lights of Tokyo will light up for 6v6 playlists with the launch of Season 4 on May 29.

New map: Paris

Tokyo brought the neons, but it's Paris that is known as the City of Lights. Sadly, the new Paris map for Modern Warfare 3 is lit by the sun, but it still offers a mid-sized playground featuring a centralized Police Station and Gallery surrounded by ground level streets. Additional buildings provide cover from killstreaks and the small interior zones of the Bookstore and Shop invite close-quarters opportunities.

Players can expect to spawn at the Backlot to the North or the Plaza to the South. Both primary spawns are well protected, making them relatively safe zones for those who want to call in killstreaks that require care package drops like Juggernauts or Emergency Airdrops.

Paris will be available at launch in 6v6 core multiplayer playlists.

New mode: Demolition

There's a mode we haven't seen in a while! Demolition is a popular tactical mode from Call of Duty past that hasn't actually been present in multiplayer playlist rotations since Modern Warfare (2019)'s Season 3 content drop. The mode is a round-based objective that closely resembles the ever popular Search & Destroy mode, but with a few notable changes. 

Teams alternate between attacking and defending bomb sites placed on the map, but successfully detonating or defusing a bomb is not enough to end the round. All players spawn in with a bomb package, and respawns are turned on. Rounds end only when both bomb sites are destroyed or when the timer runs out. The attacking team can pack a few extra minutes onto the clock by successfully detonating a bomb at one of the two sites.

Demolition will be added to playlist rotations at the launch of Season 4.

New mode: Hyper Cranked

I love team-based modes in multiplayer, but it always seems like there is that one guy at the bottom of the leaderboard shouting about how their team held them back. Cranked is the playlist that requires all of us to actually 'put up or shut up', as they say. Dropping enemies in Cranked kicks off a timer, forcing the player to continue racking up enemy kills as quickly as possible to save their own hide. The payoff is a package of perks like faster reload, weapon swap, and quicker movement. Take too long to secure the next kill, however, and you explode.

This hyper-variant of the nerve-wracking playlist turns the dial to 12, starting every player in a cranked state right when they spawn. Don't go boom.

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New: Playlist modifiers

Season 3 introduced a playlist modifier that turned every map into a dangerous minefield. The concept seemingly was a hit with players, as Sledgehammer has extended the premise and added more playlist modifiers throughout Season 4. One more event-based modifiers can crop up in a multiplayer game in the modified playlist at any time. Modifiers include:

• Looping Killstreaks: Streaks reset fully once you reach the upper end of your current streaks, allowing you to earn unlimited streaks in one life.
• Earning Killstreaks: You receive points added to your streak if you slay an enemy player with your Killstreak, or Assist in killing a player with your Killstreak.
• Killstreak Cache: When a player is eliminated, they drop a cache containing a percentage of their earned Killstreak progress. Grab the cache and add it to your own progress!
• Critical Countdown Event Items: During the forthcoming Critical Countdown Event, expect enemies to drop [[REDACTED]] in-game items that can be collected to more quickly progress the Event.

New perk: Mission control vest

Killstreaks are a dominant player in Season 4, with the new Mission Control Vest allowing players to become streak specialists. The Mission Control Vest provides 6 equipment slots in all: Tactical, lethal, field upgrade, gloves, and 2 gear slots of your choosing. It reduces kills required by 1 for all killstreaks, or for those using scorestreaks it reduces the requirement by 125. 2 kill assists or cross-fire assists now count as 1 kill or 125 score. However, this can not be stacked with the Mission Control comlink and will instead gain the effects of the High Gain Antenna instead of duplicating.

New perk: Compression Plate

With all that incoming killstreak damage, there's got to be a new way to counter it. Compression plates will fill a gear slot and allow players to immediately regenerate health after getting a kill with a primary or secondary weapon, or a kill with a throwing star or knife. There's no need to wonder if this perk is working, either. An icon will appear on the HUD when regeneration is active.

New killstreak: Intelligent Munitions Systems (I.M.S.)

Tick, tick. Boom. The IMS returns to Call of Duty after an extended absence. This brutal killstreak packs smart explosives that detonate when triggered by an enemy combatant or vehicle. The IMS launches an explosive skyward, which then locks on and propels toward its intended target. Tight corners and cubbies are hotspots for these large ground-level kill streaks that can quickly wipe out an unsuspecting team. Stack 7 kills or earn 875 score to earn one of these bad boys.

New killstreak: Loitering Munition

If you can rack up 8 kills or earn 1000 score in one life, you can unlock the latest killstreak: the loitering munition. This little unmanned drone will peruse a targeted zone before bombarding targets with a shower of rockets up to three times. Danger close, soldiers! 

New killstreak: Missile drone

The cruise missile has long been broken in Modern Warfare 3, so the Missile drone feels like Sledgehammer Games' attempt to get us to use literally any other killstreak. It does take an 11 kill streak or 1375 score to get your hands on this small, piloted drone that can fire guided missiles. What could go wrong?

New killstreak: DNA bomb

Nukes. MOABs. More nukes. Call of Duty has a long history of the secret killstreak that can bring a match to its finale. Sledgehammer Games is throwing in it's own take on the biggest bang of them all. Like its predecessors, the DNA bomb can only be acquired via kills without dying. Sorry, scorestreakers. Unlike standard nukes, the DNA bomb will only kill enemy players on the opposing team, and it doesn't bring the match to an end. Yes, you can keep on demolishing the enemy even after dropping a DNA bomb. Provided they don't rage-quit.

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Call of Duty Season 4 — Multiplayer patch notes

With a brand-new season comes a laundry list of changes to weapon balance, accessories, perks, and killstreaks. Of course, there's some updates for stability and performance thrown in, too. For good measure, of course.

Stability and performance

• Addressed various issues causing improper first-person animations.

Customization

• Camos can now be equipped on the B.E.A.S.T. Glove Blueprint for the Gladiator.
• Know No Fear Weapon Decal no longer has a white border while equipped.
• Equipping the Karaage skin on the MCW Assault Rifle will no longer result in an error. 
• Fixed an input device exploit allowing unowned Blueprints to be equipped.
• JAK Glassless Optic is now unlocked as expected upon purchasing a relevant Blueprint.

Multiplayer UIX

• Weapon Mastery and Unlock Challenges can now be added to Tracked Challenges.
• XP Bonus potential from compatible Operator Skins is now displayed while in the lobby but not in a party.

UIX bug fixes

• Corrected a spelling mistake in the Red Camo challenge for the WSP Swarm.
• Player icons on the minimap will no longer appear to follow the Wheelson-HS.
• Vests that disallow primaries will no longer prompt to Quick Equip invalid Weapons.
• Adjusted Pros and Cons displayed for specific Attachments to better reflect their actual statistics.
• Fixed improper tile placement in the Gunsmith while the Compression Carrier Vest is equipped.
• Activate prompt is now longer displayed on completed Armory Unlocks.

Gameplay

• Spawn protection is now disabled when the player inflicts damage or locks onto a Killstreak.
• Fixed a bug causing spawns to not match the intended directionality of a map.
• Increased detection distance for nearby enemies in small map spawn selection.
• Decreased volume of footstep sounds from enemy players.

Progression

• Collateral kills now progress Battle Rage kills Challenges as expected.
• Kills with Battle Rage Challenges now track progress correctly.
• Fixed an issue causing the ISO 9mm to not unlock upon Challenge completion.

Maps

• 6 Star: Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and spawns.
• Das Haus: Corrected orientation of the vertically hanging American Flag.
• Growhouse: Added the ability to mount at various locations where functionality is expected.
• Highrise: Environmental explosives are no longer present in CDL and Ranked Play modes.
• Underpass: Improved spawn safety assessment near the Train Yard.

Modes

• Arcade: Unlimited Ammo and Grenades power up timer now disappears upon death.
• Cutthroat: Allies needing a revive are now indicated as such on the scoreboard.
• One in the Chamber: Lifestreaks are now correctly tracked on the scoreboard.

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Weapon changes

• BP50: Decreased movement speed from 5m/s to 4.8m/s (-4%). Decreased sprint speed from 5.7m/s to 5.5m/s (-4%). Decreased tactical sprint speed from 7m/s to 6.8m/s (-3%).
• JAK Revenger Kit: Decreased movement speed from 5.5m/s to 5.1m/s (-7%). Decreased crouch movement speed from 2.6m/s to 2.4m/s (-8%). Decreased sprint speed from 6.2m/s to 5.8m/s (-6%). Decreased tactical sprint speed from 7.7m/s to 7.1m/s (-8%). Decreased ADS movement speed from 3.3m/s to 3.1m/s (-6%). Decreased maximum damage from 32 to 28 (-13%). Decreased near-medium damage from 28 to 25 (-11%). Decreased medium damage from 25 to 23 (-8%).
• MCW: Increased head damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.25x.
• FJX Horus: Decreased recoil gun kick from 42.5deg/s to 35.4deg/s (-17%). Increased maximum damage range from 10.2m to 17.8m (+75%). Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 25.4m (+25%). Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x. No Stock Mod: Increased ADS movement speed benefit from 9% to 12%. Lopper LX-D Stock: Added 3% ADS movement speed penalty.
• RAM-9: Increased maximum damage range from 11.2m to 12.4m (+11%). Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• AMR9: Increased maximum damage range from 14m to 15.2m (+9%). Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• Rival-9: Fixed an issue causing the Trebuchet Brake Attachment to be unavailable. Increased maximum damage range from 10.2m to 11.4m (+13%). Increased near-medium damage range from 21.6m to 22.9m (+6%). JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion:  Increased rate of fire from 682rpm to 882rpm (+29%). Increased maximum damage from 26 to 33 (+27%). Increased near-medium damage from 24 to 30 (+25%). Increased minimum damage from 22 to 28 (+27%). Decreased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1.5x to 1.1x. Decreased lower arm and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x.
• HRM-9: Increased maximum damage range from 16.5m to 17.8m (+8%). Increased near-medium damage range from 24.1m to 25.4m (+5%).
• Striker 9: Increased maximum damage range from 14m to 15.2m (+9%). Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• Striker: Increased maximum damage range from 9.7m to 10.9m (+13%). Increased near-medium damage range from 21.6m to 22.9m (+6%).
• WSP-9: Increased maximum damage range from 18.5m to 24.1m (+30%). Increased near-medium damage range from 25.1m to 31.8m (+26%).
• MCW 6.8 Full-Auto Conversion Kit:  Resolved an issue causing recoil overcorrection after firing.
• RGL-80: Decreased aim down sight time from 310ms to 260ms (-16%). Decreased explosive damage by 80% in Hardcore game modes.

Perks

• Gunslinger Vest: Fixed an issue causing Throwing Star kills not to refresh stamina.
• Gunner Vest: Updated description to remove mention of Handgun ammo benefit, aligning with existing functionality.
• Compression Carrier (Vest): Fixed an issue causing Throwing Star kills not to trigger health regeneration.
• Assault Gloves: Updated description to mention recently-added reticle spread benefit.

Killstreaks

• Precision Airstrike: Decreased delay before damage occurs by 2s. Increased explosive damage radius from 7.6m to 8.9m (+17%).
• Cruise Missile: Increased explosive damage radius from 15.2m to 22.9m (+50%)
• SAE: Decreased delay before explosive damage occurs by 2s. Increased explosive damage radius from 19m to 20.3m (+7%). Removed stun effect on victims before death.
• Remote Turret: Increased cost from 7 Kills (875 Score) to 8 Kills (1,000 Score). Decreased hits required for turret destruction for specific damage types. Melee: from 12 hits to 3 hits Launchers: from 3 hits to 2 hits. Improved detection of EMP hits from the Stormender Launcher.
• Wheelson-HS: Increased cost from 8 Kills (1,000 Score) to 9 Kills (1,125 Score).
• Overwatch Helo: Increased cost from 8 Kills (1,000) Score to 9 Kills (1,125 Score). Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%.
• Emergency Airdrop: Decreased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 9 Kills (1,125 Score).
• Carpet Bomb: Decreased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 8 Kills (1,000 Score). Increased explosive damage radius from 10.2m to 12.7m (+25%). Increased bomber flight speed by 40%.
• VTOL Jet: Increased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 11 Kills (1,375 Score). Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%. Decreased machine gun explosive damage from 27 to 20 (-26%). 
• Gunship: Increased cost from 12 Kills (1,500 Score) to 13 Kills (1,625 Score).
• Chopper Gunner: Increased cost from 12 Kills (1,500 Score) to 13 Kills (1,625 Score). Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%. Decreased turret explosive damage from 45 to 35 (-22%). Decreased turret explosive damage radius from 1.7m to 1.3m (-23%).
• EMP: Decreased cost from 13 Kills (1,625 Score) to 12 Kills (1,500 Score). Visual effects will no longer play twice if the player dies during detonation.
• Swarm: Fixed an issue causing drones to divebomb immediately after the player who summoned it dies. Fixed an issue causing drones to spawn away from the playspace on Das Haus and Mercado Las Almas.

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Call of Duty Season 4 — Warzone maps, modes, and events

The DNA bomb hasn't just shown up in Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer during Season 4. It's made its way to the Warzone battlefield, as well. There's no damage to maps at launch, or at least it seems all is well. Things can always change with the mid-season update, however. 

Urzikstan update

If you're jumping into Warzone during Season 4, you're likely to notice that new Gulag silos have opened. Players will randomly drop into one of the silos upon death, with each requiring the players to shake up their gulag strategies to redeploy to their squad. The availability of silos will continue to shift throughout Season 4.

Returning mode: Buy Back Royale Solos

The wealthy get to do whatever they want — especially in Buy Back Royale Solos. The popular mode returns to Urzikstan, blending Plunder, Resurgence, and standard solo BR together into one chaotic mode. Connect enough money and you can redeploy automatically. No gulag, no squadmates. Just you and your willingness to take a risk for some cold, hard cash.

Additional access feature: Specialist perk

All hail the coveted Specialist perk. Specialist allows players to have the default perks available to all operators along with 29 additional perks for the remainder of a match. This is rare ground loot, so don't bank your strategy on acquiring the specialist perk. If you do happen to find one, though, you're likely to be in for the long run. At launch, the specialist perk will only be available on Urzikstan, and it will include the following perks:

• Perk Slots 1 and 2 (all Perks active): Battle Hardened, Double Time, E.O.D., Focus, Irradiated, Mechanic, Mountaineer, Scavenger, Shrapnel, Sleight of Hand, Spotter, Strong Arm.
• Perk Slot 3 (all Perks active): Cold-Blooded, Escapist, Payout, Primed, Quick Fix, Resupply, Stalker, Survivor, Tempered, Tracker.
• Perk Slot 4 (all Perks active): Birdseye, Combat Scout, Flex, Ghost, High Alert, Resolute, Shrouded.

New feature: Tactical Spring Boots

Urzikstan's bunkers are an interesting anomaly in their own right, but now you can look forward to finding a brand-new perk hidden among them. The Tactical Spring Boots perk will now increase your base movement speed and give your Operator infinite Tactical Sprint movement.

New vehicle: Polaris RZR

Zip across the battlefield in Urzikstan with the new Polaris RZR Pro R, modeled after a real-world side-by-side UTV. This little rail buggy can scoot thanks to immediate acceleration, but that doesn't take away from its handling or durability. This three-seater may mean someone on your squad is left hoofing it, but it makes up for the lack of space with tighter turns. 

New feature: Loot hot zones

Loot Hot Zones are making their way back to the Warzone. These points of interest on the map feature increased tiers of loot, ensuring you've got the best  stuff right off the bat. You may have to fight to the death for it, however. These zones are going to be attractive to players looking to loot up and move along quickly, so expect some serious brawls in these zones.

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Call of Duty Season 4 — Warzone patch notes

UI/UX

• Match Stats Quality of Life
  • The new statistics panel from Multiplayer has been adapted to Warzone allowing players to consult their match and weapons statistics during a match. 
  • Match stats are also viewable in the After Action Report (AAR).
•  3rd Person Parachute Quality of Life
  • Added a new setting that allows players to see their Operator parachuting from a third person perspective.
•  Squad Widget Info Quality of Life
  • Icons for armor plates, a gas mask, and killstreaks will now appear under squad member health bars to indicate what they currently have in their inventory.
•  Contract Timer Quality of Life
  • The contract widget will now display a visual timer (bar) indicating the remaining time on the contract.

Performance and customization

• Addressed various issues causing improper first-person animations.
• Camos can now be equipped on the B.E.A.S.T. Glove Blueprint for the Gladiator.
• Know No Fear Weapon Decal no longer has a white border while equipped.
• Equipping the Karaage skin on the MCW Assault Rifle will no longer result in an error. 
• Fixed an input device exploit allowing unowned Blueprints to be equipped.
• JAK Glassless Optic is now unlocked as expected upon purchasing a relevant Blueprint.

Bug fixes

• Fixed an issue causing the Resupply perk to have an incorrect secondary description.
• Fixed an issue causing some players to experience stuttering when moving the cursor on the Tac-Map.
• Fixed an issue that caused player names to overlap with reward text while completing a Bounty contract.
• Fixed an issue preventing players from pinging the Gulag Entry token in the Buy Station.
• Fixed an issue causing the Tac-Map to display the incorrect reward amount for a contract during a Contractor Event.
• Fixed an issue causing the player to get kicked to the Front End after selecting the 'View division rewards' in the 'Rank & skill division' tab of the Ranked Play.
• Fixed an issue that would rarely cause the “pickup” popup on objects to disappear.
• Fixed an issue that caused the player to be kicked to the front end after selecting “Reset Filter” while editing weapons.
• Fixed an issue causing inconsistencies with the “Squad Fill” option when the player queues with the Play Again.
• Fixed an issue with the Ranked Resurgence SR Overview menu incorrectly displaying iridescent SR milestone breakpoints.
• Fixed several occlusion issues allowing players to exploit the map.

Urzikstan

• Player Count: Increased the player count in Battle Royale modes to 120, up from 100.
• Bunker Buster
  • This is a special type of missile that can vertically decimate a building through multiple floors. 
  • After impact, it also creates a vertical column of gas that can additionally force people out of cover.
• Utility Box
  • The Utility Box combines Ammo and Armor Boxes, allowing players to resupply everything ranging from bullets to lethal equipment.

• Initial Circle
  • The delay time before the initial circle begins to shrink has been increased to 2 minutes, up from 1.

• Redeployment Weapons
  • Players will now respawn from Gulag with updated primary and secondary weapons.
• Gulag Loadouts
  • Updated some primary and secondary Gulag loadout weapons.
  • Adjusted weapon loadouts in the ‘Locked and Loaded’ and ‘Climb and Punishment’ Gulag events.
  • C4 has been removed from Gulag loadouts. 
• Loot Updates
  • Loot has received a general balance pass. Many items have had their rarity adjusted, making some items more common in ground loot, while other items are exclusively rare in chests.
  • The overall acquisition rate of cash via ground loot and Supply Boxes has been reduced by 50%.
  • The density of ground loot has been reduced by 15%.
  • Supply Boxes
    • Overall frequency increased by 20%.
    • Frequency of basic rarity has been reduced by 9%.
    • Frequency of legendary rarity has been increased by 5%
    • Frequency of reusable rarity has increased by 4%.
  • Gulag Tokens
    Very low chance in general loot
    Guaranteed from Most Wanted
    Limited inventory at Buy Station
    
  • Redeploy Pack
    Doesn't spawn in general loot
    Low chance as reward for Most Wanted
    
  • Redeploy Flares
    Low chance in legendary chests
    Lower chance where support items can spawn such as medical cabinets
  • The following legendary items are now exclusive to certain locations:
    • Durable Gas Mask: 
      • Bunker Chests
      • Intel Contracts
    • Redeploy Pack: 
      • Blacksite
      • Most Wanted
    • Foresight: 
      • Bunker Chests
    • Specialist Perk Pack: 
      • Buy Stations

Rebirth Island, Resurgence

• Late-Game Circles
  • Circles may now end on a wider variety of locations than before.

All maps and modes

• Champion’s Quest Contract Stealing
  • When a team on the Champion’s Quest contract is fully eliminated, the Champion’s Quest tablet will drop and the first team that interacts with the tablet can now steal the contract and continue the quest.

• Ground Loot Weapons
  • No weapon went unturned in this season's ground loot weapon update. Players will find updated ground loot builds across every weapon class.
•  Gas Mask Quality of Life
  • The Gas Mask now has a manual, automatic, and semi-automatic setting.
  • A new keybind has been added to allow for manual behavior.
•  Buy Station Improvement Quality of Life
  • Purchased weapons will now drop behind the player to make them easier to distinguish from nearby loot
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Weapon adjustments

• BP50: Decreased movement speed to 4.8m/s, down from 5m/s. Decreased sprint speed to 5.5m/s, down from 5.7m/s. Decreased tactical sprint speed to 6.8m/s, down from 7m/s. JAK Revenger Kit: Decreased movement speed to 5.1m/s, down from 5.5m/s. Decreased crouch movement speed to 2.4m/s, down from 2.6m/s.  Decreased sprint speed to 5.8m/s, down from 6.2m/s. Decreased tactical sprint speed to 7.1m/s, down from 7.7m/s. Decreased ADS movement speed to 3.1m/s, down from 3.3m/s.
• BAL-27: Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 49.53 meters, up from 39.37. Mid Damage Range increased to 60.96 meters, up from 50.8. Lower Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.1x, up from  1x.
• Holger 556: Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 50.8 meters, up from 45.72. Leg Modifier increased to 0.95x, up from 0.85x.
• SVA 545: Mid Damage decreased to 22, down from 24. Headshot Modifier decreased to 1.3x, down from 1.4x.
• MCW: Min Damage increased to 22, up from 20.
• MTZ-556: Max Damage Range increased to 40.64 meters, up from 35.56. Near-Mid Damage Range increased to 50.8 meters, up from 48.26. Headshot Modifier increased to 1.25x, up from 1.2x.
• Kastov 762: Mid Damage Range increased to 57.15 meters, up from 51.81. Arms and Hand Modifiers increased to 1.15x, up from 0.96x. Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1.15x, up from 1x. Leg Modifier increased to 1x, up from 0.96x.
• Chimera: Near-Mid Damage increased to 26, up from 24. Arm Modifier increased to 1.15x, up from 1x. Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1.15x, up from 1.1x.
• ISO Hemlock: Mid Damage increased to 25, up from 24. Min Damage increased to 21, up from 20. Arm Modifier increased to 1.16x, up from 0.95x.
• AMR9: Max Damage increased to 29, up from 27. Max Damage Range decreased to 10.66 meters, down from 17.78. Near-Mid Damage increased to 27, up from 25. New Damage Range Added: Mid Damage set to 25; Mid Damage Range set to 34.29 meters.
• FJX Horus: Max Damage increased to 28, up from 27. Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 23. Mid Damage increased to 21, up from 19. Min Damage increased to 19, up from 16. Max Damage Range increased to 10.16 meters, up from 7.62. Headshot Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 1.4x. Arm and Hand Modifiers increased to 1x, up from 0.95x. Lower Torso Modifier increased to 1x, up from 0.95x. Leg Modifier increased to 1x, up from 0.95x. Decreased recoil gun kick to 35.4deg/s, down from 42.5deg/s. No Stock Mod: Increased ADS movement speed benefit to 12%, up from 9%. Lopper LX-D Stock: Added 3% ADS movement speed penalty.
• Rival-9: Increased bullet velocity to 500m/s, up from  450m/s. JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion: Increased rate of fire to 882rpm, up from 682rpm.
• Striker-9: Min Damage decreased to 21, down from 23. Max Damage Range decreased to 11.17 meters, down from 12.19. Headshot Modifier decreased to 1.25x, down from 1.3x.
• WSP-9: Max Damage Range decreased to 15.49 meters, down from 18.03. Near-Mid Damage Range decreased to 23.36 meters, down from 26.67. Mid Damage Range decreased to 33.02 meters, down from 38.1. Lower Arm and Hand Modifiers decreased to 1x, down from 1.1x.
• DG-58 LSW: Headshot Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 1.4x. Decreased bullet velocity to 780m/s, down from 880m/s.
• Holger-26: Headshot Modifier increased to 1.3x, up from 1.2x.
• XRK Stalker: Neck Modifier decreased to 1.2x, down from 2x.

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Call of Duty Season 4 — Weapons, operators, and bundles

New weapon: Superi 46

This pistol-caliber submachine gun packs some serious stopping power despite its lightweight frame. Built around handling, mobility, and adaptability, the Superi 46 can be modified to work in just about any combat scenario. It can be unlocked via a Battle Pass blueprint in Sector 20, and requires 21 levels to reach max.

New weapon: Kar98k

The beloved (or dreaded, if you're not a sniper) Kar98k returns to Call of Duty this season. The bolt-action rifle from the WWII era has only five rounds in the mag, but it's a powerful marksman that accurate with devastatingly high damage output. Don't miss that shot, however, or the enemies will have time to seek you out while you're slowly rechamber some more ammo. The Kar98k can be unlocked in Battle Pass sector 15 and has 15 levels to reach max.

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Aftermarket parts

Eight new aftermarket parts are now available as part of Season 4. An old reliable from MW2 gets new life for MW3 armaments, giving you a shot at some truly unusual weapon modifications. These aftermarket kits can primarily be unlocked via weekly weapon challenges. Warzone Mobile players will also be able to unlock the aftermarket parts using Arsenal coins for access in all game types.

• JAK Harbinger Kit — Compatibility: M4 Assault Rifle (MWII)
• JAK Gunslinger — Compatibility: Basilisk Handgun (MWII)
• JAK Volkh — Compatibility: KV Inhibitor Sniper Rifle (MWIII)
• JAK Scimitar Kit — Compatibility: FJX Horus Submachine Gun (MWIII)
• JAK Thumper-656 — Compatibility: RGL-80 Launcher (MWIII)
• JAK Requiem — Compatibility: Kastov 762 Assault Rifle (MWII)
• JAK Decimator — Compatibility: Lachmann Shroud Submachine Gun (MWII)
• JAK Intimidator — Compatibility: Renetti Handgun (MWIII)

Call of Duty Season 4 Battle pass and Blackcell

Season 4 is finally allowing us to properly grieve for Johnny "Soap" MacTavish. By utterly butchering his likeness for a very unusual Tier 100 Battle Pass skin.  The "Nautilus" skin for Soap unlocks at Tier 0 alongside the new operator, Hammer.  An addition 110 pieces of unlockable content can be found in the various sectors, with two free base weapons, two new Operators, and new skins for Hammer, Hush, Soap, Ripper, Jet, Pathfinder,Nolan, Void, and Alpine.

If there's just not enough for you in the standard Battle Pass, the Blackcell upgrade has a few extra goodies for you in an exclusive sector. Two new Operators, Dupe & Copy, will enter the battlefield in black, gold, and green cloaks packing an exclusive finisher that allows the player to "steal" another Operator's skin should they be able to effectively pull off the move. The "Identity Theft" effect lasts until the player's next respawn. The Blackcell upgrade also includes 1100 COD Points, "Ailed Caress Blackcell" blueprint for the Holger 556 with "Cellular corruption" tracers, and the "necrosis" death effects. 20 tier skips for the battle pass are also included.

Operator bundles and blueprints in the store

A whole host of new Operator bundles and weapon blueprints with colorful camos will hit the Call of Duty store during Season 4. Fans of Gundam can expect to see multiple new bundles with Operator skins, while a bundle of The Boys' operator skins will now be available for one lump purchase. The Champs Tracer Pack will drop to celebrate OpTic Texas' victory in the Major III Tournament in Toronto for the Call of Duty League. A collection of molded ultra skins, Wildlife Wanted: Bite Me party pack, and the emoting Ultra Skin Party Pack will all be available for purchase throughout the season.

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Call of Duty Season 4 — [[CLASSIFIED]] event

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is just on the horizon. Reveals and teasers are already trickling into the wild, and the official Call of Duty Direct showcase will take place immediately after the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase on June 9. Reveal events for new premium Call of Duty titles have had massive success with being implemented into Call of Duty: Warzone, and it would come as no surprise if a similar event was planned for Black Ops 6. 

The Call of Duty blog alludes to a [[CLASSIFIED]] event with heavily redacted information taking place in-game on or around June 19. Two separate [[REDACTED]] in-game events are expected to take place during Season 4 in June, with both events likely tied to marketing Black Ops 6. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty is the multi-billion-dollar first-person shooter franchise from Activision that typically releases a new premium title annually.
• The games receive 6 bi-monthly updates following launch that add additional content like operator bundles, battle passes, and in-game events featuring crossovers with popular franchises.
• Twitter account @CODWarfareForum shared a post with a screenshot of code from Call of Duty following the most recent Season 3 Reloaded update that indicates crossover events with Fallout, Gundam, and The Crow could be part of Season 4.
• Season 4 is expected to land in early June, and will likely also include a reveal for 2024's Call of Duty installment, developed by Treyarch and rumored to be Black Ops set in the Gulf War.

Call of Duty Warzone and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 have both been on a crossover bender for the last couple of years, and it looks like data miners have uncovered three more coming with the Season 4 update in June. 

Twitter account @CODWarfareForum has shared a screenshot of code discovered by data miners following the Season 3 Reloaded patch that point to potential new crossovers with Gundam, Fallout, and The Crow.

Activision's Call of Duty and Bethesda's Fallout may seem like an unlike duo, but Microsoft owns both publishers following the closing of the Activision Blizzard King acquisition in late 2023. Fallout has also seen an intense resurgence in player interest following the success of the recently released Fallout TV series adapted by Amazon's Prime Video service. 

As for The Crow, the original 1994 movie starring Brandon Lee is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary re-release in theaters around the time that Call of Duty's Season 4 is set to start. However, the crossover is likely meant to promote the remake, starring Bill Skarsgard, which is set for release later this summer. Call of Duty has previously held events to tie in with movie releases, including bundles featuring Godzilla, King Kong, and characters from Dune.

Crossover events with Call of Duty typically entail a week-long event where players can unlock in-game rewards by earning XP across Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer modes. The events also include Operator bundles available for purchase individually.

However, a recent crossover event with the Warhammer 40K franchise opted to add an armored skin for the Juggernaut kill streak as opposed to having an operator wearing full Warhammer armor on the battlefield the entire match. We could see something similar with the Fallout and Gundam crossovers, where a Juggernaut skin is suited up with Fallout's Power Armor or a Gundam mech.

Or, we could just straight up see a pip-boy operator standing alongside a Gundam and Eric Draven because it's Call of Duty and things have gotten real weird out here, lately.

Microsoft's big Xbox event in June comes with a [redacted] Direct event right after, which many expect to be Call of Duty Black Ops set in the Gulf War. The next Black Ops, developed by Treyarch, is expected to take place during the Gulf War, and will mark one of the franchise's longest development cycles to date. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 received an update adding free and paid content for Season 3 on April 6.
• The content drop featured a return of the fan-favorite Resurgence map, Rebirth Island, for Warzone and included a free weekend-long trial for Modern Warfare 3.
• Player stat tracking website, SteamDB, recorded a peak player count for Call of Duty on Steam, hitting nearly 167,000 players following the kick-off of Season 3.

Call of Duty's latest content drop may have brought on a resurgence—in more ways than one. Tracking website SteamDB.info picked up a record number of players joining Call of Duty on Sunday afternoon.  The new 24-hour peak at 166,772 concurrent players, and the previous 24-hour peak record was over a year old. Twitter account @CharlieIntel originally reported the record-breaking player count.

Steam players on Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, and Warzone are all factored into player numbers on SteamDB as the three games are listed as one on Steam. SteamDB does not take into consideration console player counts, either. When making the jump to Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 in 2022, team leads from Raven Software and Infinity Ward shared that the majority of Call of Duty's players were still using last-gen consoles as their primary platform.

The influx of players came on the heels of Call of Duty's Season 3 content drop, which brought about new maps and gameplay modes to Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer, with significant changes to Call of Duty: Warzone. The most notable change was the return of the fan-favorite map Rebirth Island. Rebirth Island was originally available in the classic version of Call of Duty: Warzone. It was added as a second map option with a twist. 

Rebirth Island was much smaller than Verdansk, the standard Battle Royale map at the time, and introduced 'resurgence' gameplay. In the standard battle royale mode, when a player is eliminated from the game, they have a chance at redemption in the gulag. Success in the gulag gives a second chance to return to the battlefield with any remaining squad mates (or alone). Resurgence Mode stripped out the gulag fight in favor of an endless loop of respawns, provided at least one member of your squad was also alive on the battlefield until the countdown timer reached 0. 

However, Rebirth Island was eventually removed from Warzone when the game was shifted to Warzone Caldera shortly after the launch of Warzone 2.0 in 2022. Since its removal, players have pined for its return, and multiple other small resurgence maps, including Fortune's Keep and Ashika Island, were eventually released in its place. Still, fans continued to request the return of Rebirth, and with Season 3 of Modern Warfare 3, Raven Software and Beenox finally obliged. 

Rebirth Island on Warzone 2.0 (now just called Call of Duty: Warzone after Warzone Caldera's servers were shut down.) was added to the game on April 6, after previously being made available on Warzone Mobile.  The map rejoins Fortune's Keep and Ashika Island in Resurgence mode playlists, and is currently the setting for Warzone's Ranked Play in Season 3.

In addition to the return of Rebirth Island for Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 may have contributed to the influx of players by offering a free trial weekend for multiplayer. While Call of Duty: Warzone is free-to-play, the franchise's annual premium releases lock other core multiplayer components behind a $70 paywall.  That said, there has been an ongoing trend with Modern Warfare 3 where the weekend following a new season is marked with a free, albeit limited, trial of multiplayer and a notable discount for those who purchase.

The new player base diving into Call of Duty has been met with sweeping bans from enforcement. TeamRICOCHET has actively cracked down on cheat software, targeting players using unlocks and other tools to violate the game's service agreement. During the free trial weekend, TeamRICOCHET reported that 27,000 accounts were banned for cheating software. An additional 58,000 were banned at the beginning of this week, with more ban waves to come as the team improves detection and mitigation systems.

Call of Duty: Warzone is celebrating the return of Rebirth Island for Resurgence modes with the launch of Season 3. That’s not the only thing shaking up the meta, though. Season 3, which just launched, marks the halfway point of the year of post-launch support for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. 

There are only 3 seasons left before Call of Duty 2024’s launch, so the teams behind Warzone and Call of Duty are beginning to prep for the future at this point. Modern Warfare 3’s story, which has been tied to Warzone and Zombies, needs to find some sort of closure and lay the foundations for where Call of Duty 2024’s story will pick up in those game modes.

With that said, here’s what COD players diving into multiplayer, Zombies, or Warzone can expect to find during Season 3 and how those changes may affect the game.

Call of Duty Season 3 — Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer

It’s hard to believe that when the seasonal content drops for Call of Duty began, we were excited just to see 1 or 2 new maps added to the rotation. This new season will have a total of six (!) new maps, two of which were a collaborative effort between Sledgehammer Games and Beenox.  

New map: 6 Star

Welcome to the Hadiqa 6-Star Resort in Dubai. Sledgehammer Games has developed a fondness for placing battle zones atop skyscrapers, having refreshed Highrise for the launch of Modern Warfare 3 and adding back fan-favorite Das Haus but on a skyscraper. The setting has become a running theme for some reason. Like Das Haus, the brand-new 6 Star map will also be on top of a skyscraper, but at least it’s got some stunning views. Just don’t get caught marveling at the horizon when an enemy comes running by. 

6 Star is a medium-sized map with a lot of alternative pathing potential, however as a fan of small maps and constant combat, I did find it a little too lacking in engagement opportunities. It works well for modes like Hardpoint and provides plenty of flanking routes for Domination, but modes like Kill Confirmed and Team Deathmatch drone on. It shouldn’t take a minute and a half to encounter a combatant when moving around the map in a match that only lasts 7–10 minutes.

6 Star is available at launch in core 6v6 multiplayer playlists.

New map: Emergency 

New season, new small map. Sledgehammer Games has really been leaning into the small map lovers with Modern Warfare 3’s seasonal content. Emergency will join the ranks of chaotic play spaces like Das Haus, Shipmas, and Stash House. This small map takes place in an Arizonan medical facility. It’s not on a skyscraper, though. This one’s on a mountain range, and the hallmarks of war are everywhere. Black smoke billows up from the valley, providing a daunting backdrop for those who are engaging in frantic close-quarters action in the State Disease Control Agency facility. 

Despite its smaller size, Emergency offers players who are working on weapon camo challenges some opportunities for long shots with a little careful planning. It provides plenty of quick combat engagement scenarios for those who always want to be in the thick of it.

Emergency is available at launch in core 6v6 multiplayer playlists.

New Map: Growhouse

Remastered maps have been all the rage in Modern Warfare 3. Sledgehammer Games revived the popular Das Haus small map from Call of Duty: Vanguard, and the team has seemingly gone back to that well to bring us Growhouse. This small map is a remaster of Vanguard’s Sphere, though it has undergone significant changes compared to its predecessor. Growhouse is smaller than Meat, which debuted during the launch of Season 1 and quickly became popular among players for its chaotic, close-quarters combat. 

The remastered map is a narrow zone, providing an opportunity for long sight lines, and takes on a more rural, drug den in the foothills vibe. The central POI is a barn that has been damaged by missile fire, and there are plenty of ladders and points of entry to keep everybody on their toes.

Growhouse is available at launch in core 6v6 multiplayer playlists.

New map: Tanked

While Sledgehammer Games is certainly attuned to giving us small map fans the chaos we crave, there is still room for multiplayer fans who like maps with a little more space to spread out. The Vondel Zoo, originally part of the battle royale map, Vondel, has been repurposed as a medium-sized 6v6 map by Beenox. Tanked focuses on the main Aquarium, though it has been reworked to be more suitable for Multiplayer with longer sight lines and a secondary interior of the reptile house. There’s not a lot of verticality in Tanked, so you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled when navigating the tiki bar, petting zoo, concession stalls, or the Smiling Noodles restaurant. 

Tanked is available at launch in core 6v6 multiplayer playlists.

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New mode: Capture the Flag

After all these years, Capture the Flag is finally coming to multiplayer. Two teams will battle it out to capture the opponent’s flag and return it to home base, while also defending their flag from enemy attack.

New mode: One in the Chamber

We love a good party game. Originally popularized in Call of Duty: Black Ops wager matches, One in the Chamber has become an oft-requested playlist. This free-for-all mode begins with each player armed with only a single bullet in the chamber of their pistol. Taking out fellow combatants requires a single shot, and landing a one-hit-kill nets your bullet back to you. Miss, and you’re going to have to get in close for a melee kill to secure a new bullet. Be careful, or you’ll find yourself in spectator mode if you lose all three of your lives.

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Call of Duty Season 3: Warzone changes

The map that started Resurgence has come back home. Rebirth Island was released for Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile in March, but the start of Season 3 marked Rebirth Day as the small map returned to the battle royale scene on console and PC. 

Returning map: Rebirth Island

Veteran resurgence players will find that Rebirth Island is fairly similar to its Warzone 1 predecessor, with recognizable points of interest. Unlike Fortune’s Keep, there haven’t been any shocking changes to the map’s topography or structures, apart from some cosmetic wear and tear. There is one new building on the island, however, a small power plant dubbed Building No. 6. Developed by Beenox, Rebirth Island will become the home of resurgence gameplay for Treyarch’s Warzone Ranked playlist for the duration of Season 3. 

Rebirth Island players will recognize the following POIs:

• Overview
• Bioweapons
• Industry
• Hilltop
• Helipad
• Chemical Engineering
• Smokestack
• Factory
• Building No. 7
• Dock
• Sewage Treatment
• Power Room
• Lookout
• Wharf and Freighter
• Control Center
• Prison
• Prison Yard
• Water Tower
• Harbor
• Warehouse
• Old Office
• Comms
• Power Station
• Headquarters
• Lighthouse
• Command Center
• Garrison
• Factory
• Factory office
• Dockside and Freighter
• Apartments
• Building No. 9
• Basecamp
• Switchbacks
• Stronghold

Rebirth Island is available from launch and will feature 44 player count lobbies for Resurgence game modes.

New mode: Warzone Bootcamp 

Diving into Warzone as a first-timer can be stressful. Sometimes you don’t want to play against the sweatiest of movement kings and just need to try out a new class or learn your way around a map with minimal risk. Warzone Bootcamp will serve as the training grounds in those scenarios. Players will be put in a lobby with up to 20 human players and 24 bots for 44 player count matches on Urzikstan. Bootcamp will allow you to test your mettle before diving into Battle Royale, but it does have limitations. Players will not be able to unlock calling card challenges, weapon challenges, or complete daily/weekly challenges in Bootcamp. The Champion’s Quest and o 

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New contract: Spy drones 

You and your squad can now pick up the Spy drones contract and band together to take out drones that are gathering data at a specific location. Neutralize the swarm quickly enough, and you can earn some extra rewards for armor plates, redeploys, and maybe even an advanced UAV. The loot isn’t free and clear, however. Enemy operators can steal the rewards should they reach the zone and take out the drones before you and yours.

New contract: Resurgence Champion’s Quest 

For those not in the know, the Champion’s Quest in Call of Duty: Warzone is a multipart contract that requires teams to earn multiple victories just to get an attempt at it. Should you successfully pull off the requirements, however, your team can detonate a nuke and end the match with a decided victory. Setting off a nuke nets you additional rewards, including an animated calling card, charm, sticker, weapon camo, and operator skin. 

New equipment: Squad Rage 

New field upgrade, incoming! Squad Rage is an enhanced version of the Battle Rage tactical equipment. Huff the field upgrade from the gas mask, and you and your team members who are close range will be safe from the collapsing gas circle, immune to enemy tacticals. Your affected squad mates will also be emboldened by tactical sprint and increased health boosted by improved health regeneration.  

New feature: Biometric Scanner

Rebirth Island has been fitted with 10 Biometric Scanners for players to activate and utilize. These terminals, when active, can be approached by a player once per match for a statistic check. The scanner will then spit out a key card for the player that includes the Operator’s name, clan tag, and access level along with an XP reward. The key card takes up one slot in the operator's backpack and can be assigned one of six different rarities. 

• Bronze (common)
• Silver (relatively common)
• Gold (uncommon)
• Platinum (rare)
• Polyatomic (very rare)
• Orion (incredibly rare)

The rarity of your specific key card can be influenced by a multitude of unknown factors, but keeping your squad close by and rerunning the scanning process every few days can potentially change your status. Using your key card (or somebody else’s) at a buy station opens a special menu with unique items that you can purchase in exchange for the card. Potential rewards include: 

• Bronze: Random ammunition, Cash ($), Armor Plates, Lethals, and Tacticals.
• Silver: Random ammunition, Cash ($$), Armor Plates, Lethals, Tacticals, Perk Package.
• Gold: Random ammunition, Cash ($$$), Armor Plates, Lethals, Tacticals, Perk Package, Plate Carrier, Field Upgrade.
• Platinum: Random ammunition, Cash ($$$$), Armor Plates, Lethals, Tacticals, Perk Package, Plate Carrier, Field Upgrade, Killstreak.
• Polyatomic: [[REDACTED]] free equipment selects at the Buy Station, [[REDACTED]] Weapon.
• Orion: [[REDACTED]] free equipment selects at the Buy Station, [[REDACTED]] Weapons, additional [[REDACTED]].

It’s certainly worth it to revisit biometric scanners in subsequent runs for potential unlocks and rewards.

New feature: Smart displays 

The Konni Group was quite destructive when it came to Fortune’s Keep, even destroying large sections of the map. They were decidedly less so in Rebirth Island, however. Instead, the group has invested in large propaganda displays throughout the island, showing weather updates for the new dynamic weather system coming later in the season. These displays can also show information on players who have hit certain kill requirements during the match, have acquired biometric key cards, or show ‘heat zones’ of high combat activity. Use this info accordingly to change up strategies as needed. 

New feature: Squad Assemble/Squad Play Bonus

Players who stay close to their squad mates can earn bonus rewards during infil in Resurgence or Battle Royale. When one player from a squad lands, they create an unseen radius around them. If the remaining squad members land within that radius, as well, in-match rewards will be doled out including XP, cash, and supply UAV to find out where those legendary crates are hidden. These rewards can not be earned in Ranked Play, however.

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Call of Duty Season 3: Weapons, battle pass content, and equipment

A new season brings with it a new battle pass and new weapons for that camo grind.  

New weapon: FJX Horus

This ultra-compact SMG is aiming to overtake the WSP Swarm for close-quarters takedowns. It's a versatile machine pistol with a ridiculously high fire rate that leads the pack in mobility and handling. With the right adjustments, it knocks out the competition in recoil control, too. Can’t imagine that being broken. 

The FJX Horus is available as of the launch of Season 3, but you will need to unlock it using battle pass tokens in Sector 8.

New weapon: MORS 

The Military Operated Rail Sniper is a monster, taking out combatants with a single high-damage shot even at long range. This sniper is peak accuracy and damage, but you have to make its single-shot count. Thankfully, it has a reasonable reload rate to mitigate its downfalls. 

The MORS sniper rifle is available in Warzone and Modern Warfare 3 at launch, but Warzone Mobile players will not have access to it until a later date. It can be unlocked in battle pass sector 4.

New weapon: Gladiator 

This one’s for the melee fans. This punchy, stabby little guy has a history of being used by gamblers and politicians, but it can still find its place on the battlefield. The Gladiator dethrones the Karambit as a super mobile, easy-to-handle melee weapon with ridiculous damage output. If you can get close enough to use it.

The Gladiator punch knife is available in the game now and can be unlocked in battle pass sector 15.

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New perks and equipment

The right perks can make or break a loadout, and new ones are always a welcome change up to game play tactics. Season 3 will feature three new perk vests, new boots, and new gear. New field upgrades will also be added with Season 3 Reloaded.

Gunslinger Vest (Launch)
Secondary Weapon specialist.
Weapon Slots: No Primary Slot, Secondary Weapon Slot (2)
Equipment Slots (4): Tactical (2), Lethal, Field Upgrade
Gear Slots (4): Gloves, Boots, Gear (2)
The following benefits apply to Secondary Weapons only:

Refreshes stamina on kill.
Improved reload speed.
Reload while sprinting.
Increases weapon swap speed by a minimum of 40% (swap speed bonus differs between weapons).
Spawn with maximum Reserve Ammo.

Duplicate effects do not stack. If equipped with Quick-Grip Gloves or Commando Gloves, gain the effects of Marksman Gloves. If equipped with Mag Holster, gain the effects of Mission Comlink.

Modular Assault Rig Vest (Launch)
Lethal and Tactical scavenger.
Equipment Slots (5): Tactical (2), Lethal (2), Field Upgrade
Gear Slots (3): Gloves, Boots, Gear
Start with maximum Reserve Ammo. Resupply Lethals and Tacticals from dead players.

Compression Carrier Vest (Launch)
Assisted healing and gas protection.
Equipment Slots (1): Lethal
Gear Slots (3): Gloves, Boots, Gear
Immediately regenerate health after a kill or objective capture. Reduced effects from gas grenades.

Reinforced Boots (Launch)
Immune to movement reduction effects.
New Perk (Gear): High-Gain Antenna (Launch)
The minimap is zoomed out for you and nearby allies.
Enemies remain on radar longer for you and nearby allies if a nearby ally has the CCT Comms Vest Perk.
See nearby ally radar pings from Intel Jacker and compass indicators from nearby ally Signal Jammers.

New weapon attachments: 8 aftermarket parts

A whole slew of aftermarket parts are heading to Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile over the launch period of Season 3. Seven of the eight new attachments will be unlocked via weekly challenges. However, one unlock's requirements are still currently redacted.

JAK Cutthroat (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: MCW (MWIII), MTZ (MWIII), M4 (MWII) (Assault Rifle), and AMR9 (MWIII) (Submachine Gun) Platforms
This 3D-printed stock provides an unrivaled combination of speed and stability while aiming down sights.

JAK Revenger Kit (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: BP50 (MWIII) (Assault Rifle)
This conversion kit turns the BP50 into a CQC legend. A 9mm caliber conversion with shortened receiver and high-capacity magazine.

JAK Jawbreaker (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: KV Broadside (MWII) (Shotgun)
Converts this Shotgun into a hard-hitting, automatic Battle Rifle.

JAK Shadow Titan Kit (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: Bruen Mk9 (MWIII) (Light Machine Gun)
Converts the Bruen Mk9 into a compact and integrally suppressed light support weapon chambered in 300 blackout.

JAK Patriot (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: M16 (MWII) (Assault Rifle)
Converts the M16 into a fully automatic rifle with a heavy ported barrel built to provide superior recoil control and firing aim stability.

Wardens (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: Lockwood Mk2 (MWII) (Marksman Rifle)
Relive the glory days, stir up the hornet’s nest, and take down your enemies, leaving no loose ends with these museum-worthy akimbo lever-action Shotguns.

JAK Atlas Kit (Weekly Challenge Unlock)
Compatibility: AMR9 (MWIII) (Submachine Gun)
Converts the AMR9 into an extremely lethal and accurate 5-round burst carbine chambered in 556.

Photonic Charge Barrel ([[REDACTED]] Unlock)
Compatibility: MORS (MWIII) (Sniper Rifle)
This hyper-advanced barrel is more than simply a barrel. Holding the trigger charges the rifle and releasing fires a single, high-power energy projectile.

Aftermarket parts between weapons will not be immediately available in Warzone Mobile, but will be unlockable throughout the season using Arsenal Coins in the Arsenal Store instead of completing challenges. Once unlocked, they will be compatible across MW3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile.

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New operator bundles: Stasis, Makarov, Snoop Dogg and more

We all want to look good on the battlefield, and the battle pass and new operator bundles are here for Season 3 to make that happen.  Players who pick up the Blackcell pass for Season 3 will gain instant access to the brand-new Stasis skin. Stasis is digitized and animated in shimmering gold glyph streams, plated tattoos, and golden glitch-wear masks. The suit fabric is black with vibrant teal accents. Stasis is arguably one of the nicer Blackcell Operator skins we’ve seen in a while, but it may not fare as well on the battlefield with more popular skins that are better at providing camouflage in the heat of battle. 

For those who don’t want to shell out the extra cash for Blackcell, there are plenty of other operator skins in the battle pass and individual store bundles, as well.  Purchasing the battle pass gives instant access to Vladimir Makarov’s Dominus skin instantly, while his Fenrir skin can be unlocked by completing tier 100. Snoop Dogg’s II skin is also an instant battle pass reward, marking the first time the rapper’s likeness has been part of the battle pass and not part of a special bundle.

Fighting Irish lass Orla Murphy (call name Banshee) joins team KorTac, and can be unlocked in Sector 13 along with the former farmhand Bashiir Shirwa (call name Hush) from Mogadishu who can be unlocked at Tier 100.

In the store, Cheech & Chong’s tracer park brings the smoke, featuring operators voiced by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong. Another Godzilla x Kong crossover adds more operator bundles, as well, with new Godzilla, Skar King, and Shimo bundles featuring operator skins, blueprints, charms, and more. Throughout the season, players can also look forward to the Stony Sloth, CODasaurus Ultra, Big Brain Ultra, and Horseman v1.rus ultra skins.

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Call of Duty Season 3: Midseason content preview

New multiplayer maps: Checkpoint and Grime

Both Checkpoint and Grime are labeled for release mid-season when we get Season 3 Reloaded, sometime in early May. Checkpoint will feature the Stronghold checkpoint from Rebirth Island repurposed as a 6v6 core map produced by Beenox. Grime is a brand-new offering to 6v6 featuring graffitied walls, piles of trash, and rundown London canals on a mid-sized tile. 

Checkpoint and Grime will both be available for core 6v6 multiplayer playlists, with the Season 3 Reloaded update coming later in the season.

New multiplayer mode: Minefield

Have you ever played “The floor is lava” but instead of lava, the floor was a minefield? Well, this playlist is your chance. Sledgehammer Games will turn Minefield on for a variety of modes, including Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint. Once switched on, Minefield playlists will follow the same rules as its pure format, but with a twist — all players will drop a proximity mine at their corpse once eliminated. Mines can not be picked up, and it is deadly to enemy team members (but not friendlies, thankfully). The more eliminations your team racks up, the more dangerous the battlefield becomes. 

New multiplayer mode: Escort

Gamers love escort missions. Right? Season 3 Reloaded will feature the return of a limited-time mode from Warzone previously known as Payload. Two teams, with unlimited respawns, will battle it out across a variety of maps while protecting an MAW. One team must help the MAW reach its destination, while the other attempts to defend and disable the vehicle by any (and all) means. This mode will feature two rounds, with the teams swapping objectives after the first round. The team that disables the MAW the quickest declares victory. 

Returning multiplayer mode: Vortex

The Vortex playlist will return with the midseason refresh, bringing with the preternatural variants of popular maps. Airborne, Satan’s Quarry, Skidgrow, Sporeyard, and Tetanus will all return for a limited Mosh Pit playlist along with a new arcade mode featuring gameplay modifiers. 

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Modern Warzone Zombies Season 3

If you were hoping for new zombies content at launch in Season 3, I have some bad news. If you’re okay with waiting for Zombies content, I have better news. Modern Warfare Zombies will have a continuation of the Dark Aether Storyline tasking players with saving Dr. Jansen before she is consumed by the darkness, along with a third rift and an all-new warlord battle. Sadly, Zombies players will need to hold out until Season 3 Reloaded to get that fresh content. 

New Warzone modes

Players can look forward to modified Rebirth Resurgence modes coming to Warzone during Season 3 Reloaded. These include Rebirth Resurgence Loaded, Rebirth Lockdown, and a new event dubbed Rebirth Infil Strikes.

New feature: Variable time and weather (Rebirth Island only)

Rebirth Island underwent a multitude of changes during its time as a resurgence map for Warzone 1, featuring various times of day and weather scenarios. Rather than just choosing one set time or weather event to settle on for Rebirth Island’s return, the powers that be have finally brought variable time and weather to Warzone. 

While sunny with clear skies is the standard time and weather you can expect, there will be occasional changes when the sun begins to set or broody clouds blot out the sun. There can also be instances of intense sea fog creeping over the island. The weather may change mid-match or stay stagnant for the entire play-through, and new items will be added to help with the changing conditions. 

This is a battle pass progress checkpoint — How are we all doing with Season 2 of Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 3? Have we hit the level cap, yet? Are we all prestiged out? I hope not, because there's a smorgasbord of new events on the horizon, fresh new operator bundles, new weapons, and more to keep us all grinding until Season 3 starts in early April.

Season 2 Reloaded is already live, so let's take a little time to break down what content dropped in the mid-season refresh and reflect on what those changes mean for players.

Call of Duty Season 2: Mulitplayer reloaded

Multiplayer is my preferred stomping ground, and there is only one thing I've been asking Sledgehammer Games for. Okay, that's not true. There were actually 7 things I wanted to see changed in Modern Warfare 3. But the one thing I secretly wanted most of all was the return of Call of Duty: Vanguard's chaotically small Das Haus map.

Ask and ye shall receive!

New map: Das Haus

There was nobody more excited about the return of Das Haus than me, and Season 2 reloaded kicked off with a Das Haus 24/7 playlist option to boot. When Das Haus first hit map rotation in Call of Duty: Vanguard, it was a small training facility with destructible walls and the perfect mid-row sight line for lobbing noob tubes. Das Haus in Modern Warfare 3 is a bit different, primarily because COD fans found no love for destructible walls, but also because it has been remastered as new construction atop a skyscraper. In fact, you can even see another popular Call of Duty tower (Highrise) from one spawn point. 

The remastered changes are a bit more than I anticipated, however. The map is now set during the daytime, as opposed to being shrouded in darkness as it was in Vanguard. The walls that were bearing destructible elements in Vanguard are now wide open, replaced with the occasional pillar or post. There is less overhead cover, as well, making players more susceptible to air strikes. 

Das Haus' new daytime mode has made me stop and take notice of just how few nighttime maps there are in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. 

New map variants: Airborne, Skidgrow

If you are pining for darker, hazy maps, the best way to find this is in the new Vortex playlists. These reimagined versions of classic maps are often gritty and grimy, and appeal to fans who like Call of Duty's light horror elements.  I'm not going to go into too much detail on Airborne (a variant of Terminal) and Skidgrow (a variant of Skidrow) here, as I covered them at the start of Call of Duty Season 2. These map variants are limited to the Vortex playlist, where players can jump into Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint on these eldritch-themed alternatives to classic COD maps.

New mode: Juggermosh

Everybody loves being the juggernaut, but not everybody can earn one of these high-score requirement kill streaks. Thanks to a crossover event with Warhammer 40K, that's about to change — at least in one playlist. Joggermosh is a third-person perspective jug fest in Kill Confirmed and Domination. The juggernauts are decked out in Warhammer crossover skins, with one team rocking "Ultramar's Vengeance" armor while the other dons "Baal's Wrath". Despite the sweet new skin, the juggernaut's capabilities will remain the same as the ones set for the Recon Juggernaut kill streak. 

The center of the map holds a Chainsword, and the wielder of this magnificent weapon can pull off one-hit-kill (OHK) melees on their foes as they tremble with fear in their juggies. 

If you like the Juggernaut skins and want to keep them permanently to trigger flashbacks to those who have fallen to the Chainsword after the event is over, there's good news for you! The two armor variants will be available as part of the Warhammer 40K tracer pack in the store, so you can rock it in all playlists (if you can earn it.)

Additional multiplayer changes

That's right — there's more! In addition to general bug and UI fixes, there are a few other major changes for multiplayer. This year's Shipmas map, added temporarily for the holiday season, has returned as the permanent replacement for Shipment. Shipmas '23 was coated in ice and snow, making the small, nighttime map brighter and limiting places where operators clad in dark apparel could easily hide.

Along with Shipmas '23 replacing Shipment, Dome from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is returning to the Quick Play playlist rotation thanks to Carry Forward. 

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Call of Duty Season 2: Warzone reloaded

The return of Fortune's Keep to Call of Duty: Warzone's resurgence mode was heavily anticipated by a lot of players. I wasn't lying when I said you'd find me in the lighthouse. There have clearly been some complaints about players holing up in the keep, the cellar, and other well-entrenched areas as Season 2 Reloaded introduced a new kill streak to combat popular hidey-holes. A new point of interest (POI) was also introduced to Fortune's Keep, and a popular field upgrade from Warzone's past has resurfaced.

New killstreak: Bunker buster

I've got a bone to pick with Raven Software over this one. The bunker buster is a giant missile that drops down onto everybody's favorite lookouts, sending a shocking blast that wipes out armor plates and incapacitates allies (I refuse to die to one of these things.). The bunker buster then proceeds to spread gas down multiple levels, just to add insult to injury. 

If you, like me, want to hang out on the lighthouse taking potshots with sniper rifles from the safety of the ring, the bunker buster is here to spoil your fun. There are some caveats to it, though. An indirect blast will break out your plates, so you can survive the first assault if you're hiding inside when the missile hits. Gas masks or a PDS (I'll get to these in a moment) can also protect you from the gas that spreads throughout. You'll need to actually be in a position to acquire all those goods, however, if you're going to survive the bunker busters. 

Using a bunker buster is a breeze. It's a kill streak, so pushing right on the D-pad when one is equipped, pointing the green laser at your target, and pulling the trigger is all it takes. Then wait for the evacuating survivors to bail from the gas to rack up a squad wipe or two. Bunker busters can only be picked up as ground loot and earned as rewards. At least we're spared from the people who like to sit at the buy station and spam mortar strikes on the lighthouse, having a more lethal weapon readily available.

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New field upgrade: Portable Decontamination Station

Portable decontamination stations were all the rage in the original Warzone. Hard fought battles were won and lost over the ability to hoard one of these bad boys until the final circle. These field upgrades clear gas from a small area, but dispersing a concoction of chemicals into the air. The radius is fairly small, and you have to stay close to it to benefit from the air cleansing capabilities, which comes with its own risks. 

The reintroduction of the PDS can help alleviate the stress of a potential bunker buster being dropped on your hiding spot, as it can clear the air when that dreadful gas works through the building after the missile's impact. The PDS is one of those field upgrades that genuinely has the ability to turn the tide of battle. Throw one on a vehicle and drive off into the gas with a sweet little bubble of protection. Stock upon masks and PDS upgrades and see how long you can outlast the competition.

New POI: Research vessel

While we were all very excited about the return of Fortune's Keep, the developers were busy finding new ways for players to experience the map. To kick things off, the grotto was completely destroyed by Konni activities, leaving a giant crater in the central zone that exposed an underground laboratory. It's all very cool, but now it's time for something new. Say hello to the Research Vessel, a mobile POI floating off the coast of Fortune's Keep. 

The giant pontoon boat will float around the island for the first two minutes of a match, then eventually it will drop anchor at one of its predetermined destinations. On board, players will feed a myriad of benefits, but only if they can hold control of the ship. A built-in decontamination station in case you get pummeled by a bunker buster. A UAV tower and a special buy station can also be found on the Research Vessel. There's an easter egg to uncover a special loot-filled room, and of course, you can toot the horn. This is Call of Duty, after all.

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Call of Duty Season 2: Weapons and bundles reloaded

Two new weapons have joined the armory with the mid-season refresh, though you will need to work a little bit to unlock them for your own loadouts.

New weapon: Soulrender

The first half of Season 2 was all about that crossover with AMC's The Walking Dead, so it makes sense that there's a sweet new blade to go along with the Michonne Operator bundle. This rapid slashing melee weapon can be unlocked via a set of challenges introduced with the battle pass's mid-season sector. A new Omnigenesis weapon camo has also been introduced for those who want to complete a Soulrender-specific weapon challenge.

New weapon: SOA Subverter

Packed with 7.62 rounds, the Subverter is a heavy hitter in the battle rifle class, ideal for longer range engagements. The Subverter offers the highest fire rate in the BR class and a predictable recoil, and packs enough of a punch to take out an enemy without armor in just three to four shots. It also features three new weapon camo challenges. Unlock the SOA Subverter with a weekly challenge in order to make it part of your favorite loadout.

New aftermarket parts: Backsaw kit, Outlaw-277 kit

Switch up your loadout with two new aftermarket kits: the JAK Backsaw Kit and the JAK Outlaw-277.  The Backsaw kit can be attached to the Holger 556 assault rifle and features a high-capacity drum mag with a double barrel (whyyyy!?) configuration, allowing it to fire two bullets at once. The Outlaw-277 fits the BAS-B battle rifle and turns it into a lever-action rifle. The rate of fire becomes significantly slower, but the accuracy and damage it kicks out certainly makes up for it. 

New Operator bundles: Warhammer 40k, Kong, Dune

I see crossovers. So, so many crossovers. These are probably my least favorite part of each new season. As someone who has stuck by Calisto's Witch operator skin for the last two games, I much prefer original Call of Duty character bundles instead of these partnerships. That doesn't stop these crossover bundles from being fruitful money trees for Activision. 

The Walking Dead and DUNE crossover events have come to pass, and for the second half of Season 2 it's Warhammer time! Three Warhammer 40K bundles are available in the store, including the Sisters of Battle Tracer Pack, the Astra Militarium Tracer Pack, and the Space Marines Tracer Pack. Each pack includes designated weapon blueprints, calling cards, finishing moves, and more.

When the first iteration of Warzone was shut down to make way for the current version, players were dismayed at the loss of the operator bundles they had purchased, which were not able to carry forward. This included Mecha-Godzilla and Kong skins. While we haven't gotten a new CODZILLA vs KONG event, we are getting another Kong operator bundle to celebrate Godzilla x Kong: New Empire. A very heavily armored Kong operator skin is bundled up with new LMG and assault rifle blueprints, tracer rounds, a Kong-smashing finisher move, and the usual weapon charms and stickers.

New event: Warhammer 40K: For the Emperor!

Even in space, you must heed the call of duty. Starting on March 13 and lasting until March 27 a brand-new Warhammer themed event will be taking place, with players able to earn XP to unlock in-game rewards. Purchasing a bundle and equipping either the "Ultramarines" Operator Skin or "Blood Angels" Operator skin can boost your XP gain during this event. The following rewards will be available to unlock:

• “Inquisitorial Seal” Weapon Sticker.
• “Know No Fear” Large Decal.
• “For the Emperor” Emblem.
• “Righteous Hatred” Weapon Charm.
• “Psyk-out” Grenade Tactical Skin.
• “Sons of Sanguinius” Animated Calling Card.
• “March for Macragge” Calling Card.
• “Innocence Proves Nothing” Animated Emblem.
• “Adeptus Astartes” Loading Screen.
• “Righteous Storm” WSP-9 SMG Weapon Blueprint.

New event: Vortex: Decay's Realm

The blight is back, and so is the opportunity to drop into some twisted and rotting map variants, including the new ones for Season 2. Vortex: Decay's Realm will span March 27 through April 3rd, with the following unlocks available:

• “Apocalyptic” Calling Card.
• “Valve Replacement” Emblem.
• “The Swarm” Weapon Charm.
• “Grave Worm” Weapon Sticker.
• 1 Hour Double Weapon XP Token.
• “Wriggler” Weapon Camo.

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Call of Duty Season 2: Zombies reloaded

If you read my write-up about Season 2 for Modern Warfare 3, you'll notice it was light on Zombies content. That's because there were no updates at the start of Season 2 for Zombies, with all new content for the popular mode being shelved until the Season 2 reloaded launch. Modern Warfare Zombies is spearheaded by Treyarch Studios, who are currently toiling away on Call of Duty 2024, which is rumored to be Black Ops Gulf War. 

The studio is also saddled with managing Call of Duty's Ranked Play modes. With Treyarch spread thin, there's only so much zombie content that we should be looking forward to for the next four seasons of Modern Warfare 3. There's also no promise that the mode will continue with the next Call of Duty title (though, with it being a Treyarch release, a zombie mode of some form is very likely.)

Before we get ahead of ourselves thinking about the future of the MWZ, let's appreciate what Season 2 Reloaded has given us.  

New story mission and dark aether rift

As the dark aether closes in on the exclusion zone, a new story mission featuring new enemies and another anomaly come with it. Operation Deadbolt players will be guided by Sergei Ravenov as they take on Terminus Outcomes mercenaries and zombies alike. Completing the story mission opens a brand-new dark aether rift full of cryptic clues and timed tasks for new limited rewards.

New warlord: Keres

There's a new warlord to track down, and this time players are stalking the elusive chemical warfare specialist, Keres. She can be found at the Killhouse in the Orlov Military Base, but an army of snipers, turrets, and traps must be dealt with before you can even get a chance to battle it out with this toxic warlord. 

New schematics

Schematics in the exclusion zone allow players to bring special equipment and gear in with them that they would otherwise have to grind to easter eggs or quests for. The Wonder Vehicle, for example, is a purple flame-spouting motorcycle that plows through enemies, is nearly indestructible, and can even ride over water. With Season 2 reloaded, you can now craft a Blood Burner Key to instantly summon the wonder vehicle without all the hassle of finding the one that spawns natively on the map.

The same is true for the V-R11 Wonder Weapon. With the new schematic, you can craft a V-R11 and take it with you into the exclusion zone, then use it to freely transform zombies and mercenaries into friendlies. It can even save your squad, as shooting a friendly with the V-R11 provides them temporary immunity from the horde.

The third new schematic is one that, on the surface, doesn't sound that impressive. In practice, the Mag of Holding will allow players to skip the reload and continue to draw on their weapon's ammo reserves to mow down the undead.

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Call of Duty Season 2: RICOCHET update

As with any update, the more that gets patched, the more issues manage to crop up. Season 2 reloaded, unfortunately, brought with it some significant issues with RICOCHET anti-cheat. Players were quick to voice their frustrations with Season 2's bugginess, reporting issues like flying vehicles, increased use of third-party hardware, and an increase in cheat tactics taking place in Ranked modes.

Team RICOCHET, the Activision team behind cheat mitigation and management of the RICOCHET anti-cheat system, shared an update on Twitter about efforts to mitigate negative behavior. Patches for flying vehicles, enhanced protections and increased response times for kernel-level drivers on PC, optimizations to improve the speed of cheat detections in Ranked play, and improved detection of third-party hardware were all introduced with Season 2 Reloaded. 

When it comes to anti-cheat mitigation, Team RICOCHET has been open about its unconventional measures to deter cheaters. From cloaking to damage mitigation and most recently SPLAT, cheat mitigation has relied on keeping confirmed cheaters in a game to collect data on the cheat tools being used while preventing them from negatively affecting the game for innocent players. With Season 2 Reloaded, Team RICOCHET has introduced the aptly named BOOM method as a cheat mitigation for those who still manage to get on the flying vehicle trend. Any vehicle that shouldn't be airborne can now randomly explode.

Call of Duty: Looking ahead

Season 3 of Call of Duty: MW3 and Warzone is expected to launch at the beginning of April. While it's impossible to know for sure what the development team has up its sleeve for a new season, there are some things we can make reasonable guesses about. Season 2 brought an absolute onslaught of multiplayer content, and it's likely Season 3 will offer a similar number of maps. 

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile is expected to launch on March 21, and will include cross-progression and cross-buy support with the PC and console versions of the game. Content for Season 3 will need to tie in with Warzone Mobile, which would technically be on its first season. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is expected to have 6 seasons, which puts April's seasonal update at the halfway mark for post-launch support.

Crossover bundles and events are also likely to continue, and it looks like the new trend of a new event every 2 weeks may be here to stay. At least until Call of Duty 2024 launches, however. Speaking of COD '24, we know that Treyarch Studios is spearheading this next premium title, the first to be released following the finalization of Xbox's merger with publisher Activision Blizzard King and the devastating layoffs that ensued. It will also be the first Call of Duty release that is free from the PlayStation marketing arrangement that has had a grip on the franchise for the last several years.

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What you need to know

• Call of Duty servers encountered an error overnight that is reportedly wiping playing progression for weapons, Ranked Play, and battle passes.
• To combat the issue, the Call of Duty teams have disabled player access to Ranked Play and Modern Warfare Zombies while the bug is under investigation.
• There is no time frame for how long the issue will take to resolve or whether player progression will be restored.
• An update was deployed to fix the progression issue and restore player progress across impacted games.
• All Ranked Play modes and the Champion's Quest for Warzone remained disabled until progression restoration was complete.

Update #2 (Feb. 24: 12:31am ET): Ranked play modes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer and Call of Duty: Warzone are now back online. Players can access Modern Warfare Zombies, and Warzone's Champion's Quest challenge has also been reactivated.  As previously mentioned, a Double XP event had been activated for the weekend. The end of the double XP event has been extended until Tuesday, February 27 and players can also collect double the skulls for the currently active Horde event.

There are still minor bug fixes for the COD team to roll out heading into the weekend, including an issue with player-controlled cruise missiles in multiplayer patches not behaving accordingly.

Update #1 (Feb. 23, 7:47pm ET): The official Call of Duty social media accounts have announced a fix has been deployed to restore player progression in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone. However, Ranked Play modes and the Champion's Quest challenge for Warzone will remain disabled until the progression restoration process is completed. Double XP has also been activated.

Original story: Players who logged into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Warzone in the early morning were staring at an unfortunate surprise where their player level and weapon progression had reset to 1. Along with player progression, some found their purchased store bundles inaccessible. Issues were reported across Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Modern Warfare Zombies. 

The Call of Duty team has posted on social media that access to Ranked Play in both Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone and player access to Modern Warfare Zombies has been disabled while the issue is being investigated. The Call of Duty: Warzone Champion's Quest has also been disabled, though a fix for loadouts has already been deployed. The issues are actively being investigated.

CharlieIntel initially reported on Twitter that Skill-based Match Making, the algorithm used to balance matches in online play, had also been affected. According to players, matchmaking rules for Modern Warfare 3 were dramatically relaxed, and matches seemed easier to handle while the issues were ongoing. While it is still possible to access multiplayer (at least at the time of this writing) to try out Modern Warfare 3 without active SBMM, players will likely see unusual behavior with their player ranks and weapon progression if they play during this time. 

Sledgehammer Games, the lead studio behind Modern Warfare 3, recently gave players an explainer of how SBMM works for the massively popular first-person shooter. The developers had even shared plans to create an experimental playlist to allow players to join matches without SBMM, though no date for the experiment had been publicly shared. 

The outage comes just on the heels of Call of Duty being declared the best-selling game of January 2024. The massively popular first-person shooter franchise from Activision is under the wing of Xbox following Microsoft's purchase of the publisher for a record-breaking $70 billion, officially closing last October. In January, Microsoft laid off 1900 employees, including many from Activision and Activision-owned studios responsible for Call of Duty's development and ongoing maintenance. 

Xbox has also had a challenge with adding Call of Duty titles to Xbox Game Pass, partly due to the prolonged legal challenges to the deal that limited collaboration between the companies involved in the merger until the deal was closed. 

This is a developing story...

What you need to know

• The latest report from Circana shares details on the best-selling games and gaming hardware of January 2024 in the U.S.
• Per Circana, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the best-selling game of January 2024. 
• This chart does not include data from Palworld, which launched into early access in January 2024. 
• Xbox console sales were up year-over-year, but were unable to offset drops for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. 

The latest sales data for video games in the U.S. is here. 

2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the best-selling game of January 2024 in the U.S, as shared by Circana executive director and analyst Mat Piscatella on Friday. That marks the third month in a row for the game being at the top, as it also topped the November 2023 and December 2023 charts. New launches Tekken 8 and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League are right behind in the #2 and #3 spots, while Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown came in at #13. 

For gaming hardware, PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console of the month, with Nintendo Switch second place in units sold and Xbox Series X|S second place in revenue. Despite this, Xbox Series X|S consoles were up year-over-year, while PlayStation and Nintendo hardware was down year-over-year. Overall, the U.S. gaming industry saw $5.1 billion overall in January 2023, 15% growth over January 2023. 

Below, you can see the full details on the best-selling and most-played games of the month. Please remember that some companies, such as Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive and Epic Games, do not share digital sales data, which is one reason why games like Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3, and Palworld are absent from most of the charts.

January 2024 Circana: Here are the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

2. Tekken 8

3. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

4. Persona 3 Reload

5. Madden NFL 24

6. Hogwarts Legacy

7. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

8. EA Sports FC 24

9. The Last of Us Part 2

10. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

11. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*

12. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

13. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

14. Elden Ring

15. Mortal Kombat 1

16. Gran Turismo 7

17. Minecraft

18. Mario Kart 8*

19. Jujutsu Kaijen: Cursed Clash

20. God of War Ragnarok

* No digital data shared

Analysis: Going steady

Things for this month are about where they were expected, no real surprises. The only caveat is that it's a big shame we don't have data from Palworld, as I'd be really curious how that placement would affect things. 

Overall though, the industry needs more big games to drop soon. Xbox first-party has a large number of releases lined up for 2024 like Avowed or Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, as well as four ports of Xbox games to other platforms, but right now Nintendo, PlayStation, and most third-party publishers are looking thin for most of the year. 

On the topic of Call of Duty, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer recently affirmed that the franchise would be coming to Xbox Game Pass, though there isn't an exact date for players to look forward to right now.

Hurry and get those battle passes finished up, folks, as the first season of post-launch content for Modern Warfare 3 is quickly drawing to a close. There's a fresh new slate of content on the horizon for Season 2, including a brand-new battle pass, new operator bundles, and the return of a fan-favorite map for Warzone. Let's take a moment to break down the content we can look forward to over the next 60 days.

Call of Duty: Season 2 — Release date

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will both receive the update to kick off Season 2 on Wednesday, February 7 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. While Season 2 contains an absolute onslaught of new content, including the most maps released for multiplayer in a season in recent memory, we don't have the full set of patch notes just yet. Those can be expected closer to launch.

Call of Duty: Season 2 — MW3 multiplayer maps

The Call of Duty teams are pulling out all the stops for multiplayer this season, releasing more new maps and map variants than we've been accustomed to seeing for Seasonal patches these last few years. Players can look forward to four new 6v6 Core maps: three brand-new battlegrounds and one remaster of a fan-favorite from Sledgehammer Games' Call of Duty: Vanguard.

New map: Das Haus

I'm starting to think Activision and Company are listening in on my friends and me when we are putting in our time on the Shipment 24/7 playlist. There have been no less than a dozen times when we've each uttered the phrase, "Shipment's great, but what if they could just give us back Das Haus." 

That may sound crazy, given how widely unpopular Call of Duty: Vanguard was, but dominating that tiny map with RPGs and grenade launchers was one of the best things that the game had to offer. Now we get to relive that rush of racing for 100+ kill matches by launching grenades and drill charges down that hallway all over again, and I, for one, can not wait.

There are some changes, however. The cover of the night is gone, and things are much brighter and more visible than the previous iteration of this small map. The building is now situated atop a skyscraper under construction near Highrise. The destructible covers from Vanguard are now gone, giving better lines of sight for picking off foes (Or being the one that gets picked off. I'm not here to judge your E/D ratio.) Rooms have new compass names, and there are fresh new blue and orange spawn points that are easier to differentiate. Plus, everything has a sweet new "penthouse" look.

Unfortunately, we do have to wait until the mid-season refresh halfway through Season 2. Expect Das Haus to join the playlist rotation in early March.

New map: Departures

Departures takes players back to Zakhaev International Airport in a brand-new 6v6 Core map that is absolutely massive, especially in comparison to Terminal. Watch for snipers who are sure to utilize the long sight lines and benefit from the verticality of this combat arena, but don't be fooled into thinking that the nooks and crannies are safe here. The size and diversity of this map allow for plenty of opportunities for players to find themselves in close and mid-range combat scenarios.

Recognizable POIs on Departures include a restaurant, a cosmetics store, and Burger Town.

Small maps are incredibly popular in Call of Duty multiplayer, but their dominance has not completely edged out the space for these large "sniper haven" maps. Seasonal maps more often cater to the medium and small map fan bases, so it's great to see a completely new map that gives everybody some breathing room. Departures will join the playlist rotation at launch.

New map: Stash House

Speaking of small maps, look at this thing. It's tiny. It's going to be a bomb-fest. Not only that, but it's like they looked at Nuketown, the quintessential small map, and said, "Let's cut it in half." Stash House appears to be an attempt at pushing just how small a small map can be. The map has the same size footprint as Shipment and is centered entirely around one little bitty suburban house set in the Bay Area that was recently raided by the Feds. 

Pallets of cash provide cover in the garage, and once inside, you'll find a quaint little home complete with glass windows, an open-plan living room, a den, and a kitchen surrounding a central atrium. Take a break from the action to have drinks at the outside bar, soak away your wounds in the hot tub, or visit the tiny home in the backyard. 

Stash House will keep us busy until we get to go back to Das Haus, as it will be available at the launch of Season 2 on February 7.

New map: Vista

But wait, they're not done! Sitting atop a Brazilian mountaintop resort with gift shops, restaurants, and trams is a brand-new midsize map named Vista. Vista embraces the three-lane map design and has a footprint similar to Shoot House, with tight centralized zones that encourage close-quarters combat flanked by long sight lines. We've even got a bit of verticality with this one. There's a raised walkway in the center, an upper bar, and a sunken-in area to the north with some jungle foliage, so you have a safe place to hide while calling in those kill streaks. 

Given the release of Vista alongside some new small maps, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sledgehammer Games channel a Shoot the Ship or Shoot House style playlist for rotation to break up the domination of Rustment 24/7. Expect a Das Vista 24/7 playlist shortly after this one launches at the start of Season 2.

New map variant: Airborne

Modern Warfare 3 season 1 introduced the Vortex event, which spawned some interesting variants of classic Modern Warfare maps like Satan's Quarry and Sporeyard. The Call of Duty team will continue with the Vortex variants in the midseason refresh for Season 2. Terminal will get a new variant known as Airborne that is covered in goopy alien pustules, with a plague of locusts darkening the sky. The plane's fuselage is consumed with ooze, and even Burger Town is creepy and crawling with a cockroach infestation. 

New map variant: Skidgrow

Skidrow is getting the Vortex treatment in the midseason refresh of Season 2, as well. Now dubbed Skidgrow, the map will be covered in various plant life that has taken over. Thick kudzu-like ivy drapes over the walls of the tenement, with mold and moss lurking just about everywhere. Vehicles are engulfed in rust and greenery alike. 

New War mode map: Operation Tin Man

Fans of Modern Warfare 3's War mode have so far only had one mission to keep them entertained since the game's initial launch back in November 2023. Thankfully, that changes with Season 2 as a brand-new, large-scale operation thrusts players into downtown Urzikstan. Nostalgia will creep in for us old-school Call of Duty players as Operation Tin Man takes us through a multi-level construction site based on the map Overwatch from the original Modern Warfare 3 (2011). 

One team will be designated to protect the structure while the other plants bombs and attempts to demolition their way further into the skyscraper. Should the invaders be successful, they'll move on to the next phase, where they must break into a laboratory and escort a Modified Armored Wheelson to hack data servers. Should the defending team fail to hold the attackers at bay, the action moves to an urban park as the attacking team attempts to establish an exfil point at a Portable Decontamination Station and extract via helo. 

Operation Tin Man will be available at launch for Season 2.

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Call of Duty: Season 2 — MW3 multiplayer modes

New mode: Team Gun Game

Gun Game has a long history with Call of Duty since it originally showed up as a wager match in Black Ops. However, the mode has always been limited to a free-for-all playlist type of every man for themselves. There were even periods where the playlist would appear in a Call of Duty title, but it could only be played by those who were solo queuing. No parties allowed. While Modern Warfare 3 does allow parties to queue for special free-for-all modes like Gun Game and All or Nothing, it has retained the "every-player-for-themselves" ruleset until now. 

Team Gun Game utilizes Team Deathmatch rules of engagement with a few twists. Teams of six players will all receive the same weapon loadout—no custom loadouts allowed—and will need to work together as a team to eliminate players from the other squad. In traditional Gun Game, the weapon loadout changes with each successful player elimination. For Team Gun Game, the teams will need to score ten eliminations collectively with a loadout before automatically changing to the next one. 

Like with free-for-all Gun Game, there are risks and benefits to going in for melees and Finishers. Pulling off a close-quarters attack and completing a finisher will remove one elimination from the enemy team's score, setting them back and requiring them to earn extra eliminations to reach the goal for the next loadout. There are eight predetermined weapons to cycle through as a team. The ones who cycle through them all and reach a score of 75 points win. Team Gun Game will be available at launch.

New mode: Snipers only

Quickscopers, it's your time to shine. Season 2 will feature a new mosh pit playlist comprised of Team Deathmatch and Domination on a myriad of maps, with just one caveat: All weapons besides Sniper Rifles are restricted. No noob tubes, no grenades, no tacticals. It's just you, the sight line, and the power of your magnification scope. Don't forget to hold your breath. The Snipers Only mosh pit playlist will be available at launch for Season 2.

New mode: Juggermosh

Everybody loves the Juggernaut, but the kill streak is notoriously difficult to attain for many players. The new mode from Sledgehammer Games blends a third-person perspective experience with the infamous kill streak. That's right, it's Juggernauts for everyone on this mosh pit playlist of Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint. 

You may be wondering how anybody gets the upper hand when everybody is a heavily armored monster with a minigun. The answer is a uniquely powerful melee weapon capable of knocking out a juggernaut with a one-hit kill. This ridiculous melee stick of power spawns in a centralized zone of the map that will require a team of juggernauts to work together to secure. Pick up armor from your fallen foes to keep yourself protected, and aim for the head to eliminate enemies.

There's no need to be concerned with cluster mines, sentry guns, or other ground-based kill streaks in this mode. Helos, VTOLs, and other air support are still a threat, however. Fall damage is also of no concern, as dropping off of higher platforms will result in a stunning 'ground-pound' effect. 

Juggersmosh will not just be a playlist when it launches as part of the midseason refresh for Season 2 in early March. The limited-time mode is expected to correlate with a timed event, as well.

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New mode: Hordepoint

Sledgehammer Games is once again reaching into its bag of past tricks to reimagine Modern Warfare 3. This time, it's the game mode Hordepoint, which first showed up in Call of Duty: WWII (2017). This twist on Hardpoint mode sees players grappling not just with human enemy combatants but also with the swarms of the undead. Once a player breaches the boundary of the hard point, a rift opens up and begins spewing an angry mob of rotting flesh sacks at the players. Corpses do not care about team allegiances and will take out both teams indiscriminately.

Hordepoint will be available at launch on February 7.

New mode: Bounty

Bounty is another twist on the classic Team Deathmatch playlist that we can look forward to with the midseason refresh in March. Like TDM, players have unlimited lives and will battle it out with the enemy team for the duration of the match. However, the player at the top of the team's leaderboard will be marked as a High-Value Target. HVT designation is alternated between the two teams, and the elimination of an HVT adds extra points to the score. 

Limited-time playlist: Decay's Realm

The Vortex event with the creepy, crawly map variants from Season 1 was seemingly a success. Not only will players receive two new map variants in Season 2, but we can also look forward to a new limited-time mosh pit playlist. Cycle between Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Hardpoint during the midseason refresh Vortex event in early March with an increased map pool of the modified maps. Tetanus, Satan's Quarry, Sporeyard, Skidgrow, and Airborne will all be on rotation. 

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Call of Duty: Season 2 — Warzone map and gameplay

When the powers that be behind Call of Duty made the decision to pull support behind Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, COD's free-to-play battle royale fans lost more than just the Caldera map. We also lost the maps from Resurgence mode, Rebirth Island, and Fortune's Keep. In the case of Fortune's Keep, the map was instantly popular but lasted only a few short months. While many thought we'd never see Fortune's Keep again, the Call of Duty team did reveal during the 2023 COD Next showcase that the Resurgence map would be back in 2024. Well, it's 2024, so welcome back, Fortune's Keep! 

Returning map: Fortune's Keep

Don't celebrate just yet, however. You may have time under your belt to dominate the enemy on Fortune's Keep, but that may not necessarily translate to this new iteration. The Vanguard-era map has undergone a bit of a facelift, with new underground areas and a plethora of new Easter eggs to discover tucked away with your favorite Points of Interest. Here are the 11 POIs we can expect:

• Terraces
• Keep
• Gatehouse
• Konni Outpost
• Winery
• Pier
• Lighthouse
• Overlook
• Town
• Graveyard
• Ground Zero

If you're lucky enough to find yourself in a match of Resurgence with me, the odds are going my squad, and I will be hanging atop the lighthouse. Like many other parts of Fortune's Keep, however, the structure has seen nominal damage. The Grotto has fared far worse, however, becoming little more than a crater now dubbed Ground Zero following the attacks by Konni Group.

The Winery, too, has sustained substantial damage, leading to giant cracks and flooding of the wine cellar. If you want to explore the treasures found down there, your squad is going to have to risk draining the waters. You can forget ditching the cellar for the high ground of the accompanying church bell tower, by the way, as it now lies in pieces.

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New gameplay: Zombie nests and eradication contracts

Zombies seem to be gradually working their way into every aspect of Call of Duty at this point, and they're not waiting for The Haunting to do it. A limited-time mode available at launch will introduce seismic events and the rise of the dead across Fortune's Keep. New eradication contracts can be picked up, sending players on a tracking mission to find and investigate corpses before being led to a zombie nest. Can you destroy the cysts, alternating Zombie HVTs, and complete the contract to save Fortune's Keep from being overrun by the undead horde?

If not, you may be able to get a bit of a boost from limited-time Zombies Power-Ups. Seven zombies mode power-ups will buff your Operator in addition to your existing perks and can be found across the map in caches or as a reward for eliminating other players. The list of Power-ups includes four familiar boosts alongside three new ones.

• Double Points: 60-second duration. Doubles Plunder from ground loot and kills, and score events in Resurgence (that contribute to teammate respawn timers).
• Full Armor: Instant buff. Fully fills your active Armor slots on pickup.
• Max Ammo: Instant buff. Fully fills ammo for all your carried weapons on pickup.
• Fire Sale: 90-second duration. Reduces the price of all shop items for a small duration of time.
• Looting Spree: 60-second duration. Adds bonus items to caches, with a very high chance of a bonus Common item, and a small but significant chance of an additional Legendary item.
• Zarkour: 60-second duration. Increases movement speed by around 10%, with infinite Tactical Sprint and Reloading while Sprinting, and disables Fall Damage.
• Undead Sight: 45-second duration. Operators or AI enemies within the range of your vision are highlighted red, and friendly squad mates are blue. Tracker footsteps are active.

New gameplay: Extendable bridges

With the Konni Group having destroyed the Grotto and severely damaged other parts of Fortune's Keep, they've had to construct three extendable bridges in order to gap some of the destruction. While not portable, players can interact with the bridges to extend or retract them using a small control console. These extractable bridges can be strategic strong points and can be activated with both melee damage and from a distance. 

New public event: Rogue signal

A new competitive event will be shaking up Warzone. Rogue signals will not pop up periodically, putting players against other Operators and their teams for a 90-second objective-based mission. The winner will be rewarded with in-game cash, XP, and a unique Reward Cache. Objectives can vary and include instructions such as "Get the most kills," "Deal the most damage to players," and "Open the most caches." Players have 90 seconds to complete the challenge, but only the top three teams will receive cash prizes and the location of the rewards cache. Only one team can open the cache; rewards are random, and they're only valid for the current match. 

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CALL OF DUTY: SEASON 2 — Weapons, Battle pass, and Operators

Four new weapons. Seven aftermarket attachments. A new 100-tier battle pass. Undead elite BlackCell pass. A crossover with The Walking Dead. Season 2 is nowhere near done with the content yet; there's still plenty to look forward to in the Call of Duty store.

New weapon: BP50

We love a good bullpup AR, and the BP50 comes complete with 5.56 ammo and a high rate of fire with exceptional accuracy. The rifle offers handling and maneuverability at stock, but a well-thought-out collection of attachments can further improve the BP50 to be suitable for all manners of combat. Unlock the BP50 from the Battle Pass in Sector B7 at launch.

New weapon: RAM-9

The assault rifle counterpart to the RAM-9 hits like a truck, but it's a bit on the slow and cumbersome side when it comes to mobility. The SMG variant, however, offers exception recoil control and is packed with the most rounds per magazine of any SMG. A little powerhouse, the RAM-9 sacrifices accuracy for high damage and a high rate of fire. You can unlock the RAM-9 from the Battle Pass in Sector B6 at launch.

New weapon: SOA Subverter

It's not often we get a new battle rifle in the armory, especially a hard-hitter with 7.62 ammo and a respectable rate of fire. Solid at long range, the Subverter offers a surprising amount of movement speed and sprint-to-fire times, making it viable even in quick-thinking scenarios where a sniper would be at more of a disadvantage. It is slow to ADS, but that's nothing a few attachments couldn't fix. 

The SOA Subverter will be free to unlock via weekly challenges at some point during the season.

New weapon: Soulrender

Ooh, shiny. The Soulrender is a snazzy, razor-sharp ceremonial blade made of forged steel capable of quick, one-handed slices. It has the unique benefit of offering a guard stance, as well as a first for melee weapons in Call of Duty. Releasing the guard allows for an instant attack with high damage and even higher mobility. 

Soulrender will be available in-season, though any additional info about this unusual melee weapon is still redacted.

New aftermarket parts

If you're one of those players who feel there are not enough attachments to choose from when you're putting together your weapon loadout,  then Season 2 is for you. Seven new aftermarket parts will be available to unlock. Some will be available immediately at launch, while others will be unlockable later in the season. Aftermarket parts include:

• JAK Burnout (battle pass unlock): Compatible with Holger 26
• JAK Tyrant 762 Kit (weekly challenge unlock): Compatible with Longbow
• JAK Backsaw Kit (weekly challenge unlock): Compatible with Holger 556
• JAK Limb Ripper (weekly challenge unlock): Underbarrel attachment compatible with several weapons
• JAK Maglift Kit (weekly challenge unlock): Compatible with Haymaker
• JAK Outlaw-277 Kit (weekly challenge unlock): Compatible with BAS-B
• JAK Glassless Optic (weekly challenge unlock): Optic attachment compatible with several weapons.

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Operator bundles

The undead are haunting nearly all the Operator bundles for Season 2, including a crossover with The Walking Dead that adds Rick Grimes and Michonne as playable characters. Campaign fans can also look forward to Laswell finally joining the roster for Multiplayer, as well as John Doe, the skeleton. We're not asking questions about that last one.

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What you need to know

• Call of Duty's matchmaking system has long been a mystery, but recent experiences have left players speculating that Skill-based and engagement-based matchmaking may be making lobbies, and the game experience as a whole, worse.
• Sledgehammer Games committed to discussing multiplayer practices and demystifying the process before the 2023 holiday break. 
• The latest intel drop on the Call of Duty blog is the first to give players a look at the actual multiplayer matchmaking process, with the team stating "Ping is King" as it reiterates efforts to prioritize connection over skill for the matchmaking ecosystem.

In today's intel drop on the Call of Duty blog, Sledgehammer Games follows through on its promise to be more transparent with players about the matchmaking process. The system that the top first-person shooter franchise uses to match make multiplayer lobbies has long been shrouded in mystery and the source of many gaming conspiracy theories. 

Call of Duty players often disparages the game's use of "Skill-based matchmaking", a process that prioritizes a player's skill and performance in the game to match with others of similar skill and performance. The idea is that Skill-based matchmaking, or SBMM, improves the multiplayer experience for casual players by ensuring that the more skilled players are locked behind a skill wall. Stuck with other "sweats" or "try-hards", the game supposedly becomes harder and less enjoyable for those with more skills. 

SBMM theories have even gone so far as to evolve into Engagement-based matchmaking theories, recently. Players have begun speculating that Call of Duty's multiplayer system can detect when you are about to quit out of frustration, at which point it adjusts the lobbies to be easier so that you will continue playing. The intel drop from the Call of Duty team paints a different picture, minimizing skill as one of the lesser factors among the following list of priorities:

• Connection
• Time to Match
• Playlist diversity
• Recent maps/modes
• Skill/performance
• Input device
• Platform
• Voice chat

Prioritizing connection and latency

The Call of Duty Staff's breakdown of matchmaking points to a system that is much more inclined to prioritize player connectivity over skill ranking, however. According to the development teams, "Ping is King" and the player connection is the most critical factor for the Call of Duty matchmaking process. The teams behind matchmaking feel that decreasing latency is among the most pivotal improvements to the multiplayer system that can be made, and are therefore dedicated to prioritizing player connection above all else. 

Following up on connectivity and ping, the time it takes to match make is the second most important factor for the Call of Duty team.  The aim is for players to spend as little time searching for matches as possible. However, the process sometimes leaves players waiting, which then leads to them canceling the search and starting it again. This recycling of the process has led to some unintended results, especially when players are doing it to choose a more preferred map or game mode. 

How Call of Duty uses Skill-based matchmaking

Skill-based matchmaking has been a component of Call of Duty since as far as back as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007). Despite its existence in the franchise, the system is considered to be one of the lesser factors in the matchmaking process. The Call of Duty multiplayer system determines skill based on a player's overall performance, including kills, deaths, wins, losses, mode selection, and more to determine the lobby makeup of enemies and teammates. According to the Call of Duty staff, player data shows that the current state of matchmaking results in players of all skill levels experiencing a proportional amount of wins and losses.

This balanced win/loss ratio is necessary to keep lower-skilled players from quitting the game out of frustration, which can lead to increased matchmaking times and a smaller player pool overall that is mostly composed of high-skilled players. Players who find themselves complaining that they are already locked into those "try-hard" lobbies with the "sweatiest" players would then be in for an even worse time. 

Despite the need for this balance, however, the developers have acknowledged that high-skill players want a more varied matchmaking experience. Many of us have fond memories of loading into Call of Duty in late December to rack up kills on "Christmas Noobs", a multiplayer hazing ritual that has gone by the wayside in recent years with tighter SBMM metrics pushing for that golden win/loss ratio that keeps players engaged.

Matchmaking questions and answers

In addition to sharing a behind-the-scenes look at how matchmaking and the factors that are prioritized when assembling lobbies, the Call of Duty staff blog also answered questions from the community. Those questions focused on player engagement (time played), microtransactions, and special consideration for content creators.

The Call of Duty team made a point to address that player engagement does not determine a player's position in matchmaking. There were also rumblings in the community that players who recently made purchases in the COD store would receive a 'boost' in multiplayer, further encouraging them to spend more to continue doing well. Call of Duty's development team has said that this is not true and that money spent is in no way a factor in multiplayer matchmaking. We can effectively consider the theory of engagement-based matchmaking dispelled.

The team also addressed the potential of matchmaking affecting in-game elements like hit registration, player visibility and aim assist. Players have become increasingly concerned that these gameplay elements were being adjusted to allow other players or teams to have better results to keep them engaged and playing for longer. However, Call of Duty's teams have said that is not the case, and these elements are not impacted during matches.

Similarly, players were concerned that bots were being injected into multiplayer. In some cases, players expressed that high-scoring enemies were bots set in place by the game to prevent a low-skilled team from losing against high-skilled players. In other scenarios, players expressed concerns that they were placed into 'bot lobbies' to prevent them from quitting out of frustration. The team says there are no current instances of bots being deployed to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer. Any changes to bot deployment would be shared with the community beforehand.

The future of multiplayer matchmaking

While multiplayer matchmaking has utilized some semblance of SBMM over the years, the team has said it continues to balance and adjust the match-making algorithm as player data and feedback roll in. It is unlikely that any sort of Opt-out system could be integrated into multiplayer in the future, as the data has shown it would result in negative player consequences. However, SBMM continues to be tweaked and adjusted, with some tests having been run over the years to remove it from various playlists and modes. The timing of those tests is kept under wraps, however, to prevent players from skewing the results. 

While engagement-based matchmaking rumors seemed to have been put to rest with Sledgehammer Games and the rest of the Call of Duty team's newfound transparency, it does also appear that Skill-based matchmaking is here to stay. The questions and answers provided from this particular intel drop pertain exclusively to multiplayer, though the team has shared that more intel on Warzone and Ranked Play matchmaking will be forthcoming.

Call of Duty is published by Activision, whose record-setting acquisition by Microsoft was finalized in October 2023. While there have yet to be any indications of how the acquisition will affect Call of Duty's history of tight release schedules, the studios behind the billion-dollar-a-year gaming franchise were all hit with sweeping layoffs when Xbox cut 1900 employees earlier this month. 

What you need to know

• The latest report from Circana reveals that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the best-selling game of December 2023 in the U.S.
• This wasn't quite enough to overtake the lead of Hogwarts Legacy, which was the best-selling game of 2023 in the U.S. overall. 
• The PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console of the month in dollar sales and units sold, with the Nintendo Switch second place in both measures. 

2024 has kicked off, but we've got some insights into how 2023 shaped out with video game sales in its final weeks. 

The latest report from Circana executive director and video game analyst Mat Piscatella shows that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the best-selling game of December 2023. Despite its second month in a row being on top, Call of Duty is #2 for the year overall, with Hogwarts Legacy taking the #1 spot for the year as a whole, with over 22 million copies sold worldwide. 

For consoles, the PlayStation 5 was the best-seller in dollar sales and units sold, with the Nintendo Switch second in both measures. Despite being third place, Xbox consoles set a new high for unit sales during December, dethroning the prior record of December 2021. Piscatella notes that growth in PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S sales balanced out a decline in Nintendo Switch sales for the month.

Below, you can see the full details on the best-selling and most-played games of the month. Please remember that some companies, such as Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive and Epic Games, do not share digital sales data, which is one reason why games like Alan Wake 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 have been absent from most of the charts.

December 2023 Circana: Here are the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

2. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*

3. Madden NFL 24

4. Hogwarts Legacy

5. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

6. Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

7. EA Sports FC 24

8. Mortal Kombat 1

9. NBA 2K24*

10. Mario Kart 8*

11. Super Mario RPG*

12. Sonic Superstars

13. Minecraft

14. God of War Ragnarok

15. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

16. Elden Ring

17. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*

18. Just Dance 2024

19. Assassin's Creed Mirage

20. UFC 5

2023 Circana: Here are the best-selling games in the U.S. for the year

1. Hogwarts Legacy

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

3. Madden NFL 24

4. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*

6. Diablo 4

7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

8. Mortal Kombat 1

9. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

10. EA Sports FC 24

11. Starfield 

12. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*

13. Resident Evil 4 (2023) 

14. MLB The Show 23** 

15. Dead Island 2

16. Final Fantasy 16

17. Street Fighter 6

18. Elden Ring

19. Mario Kart 8*

20. Minecraft

*   No digital data shared
** No digital data shared for Xbox or Nintendo platforms

What does the top 20 games bought and played means for players?

Diving into individual platform results, some interesting pictures emerge. Naturally, some of the biggest games are present everywhere, with Hogwarts Legacy the #1 game sold on PlayStation, #2 on Xbox, and fifth place on Nintendo Switch, despite the latter version launching toward the end of the year in November. 

Console exclusive Marvel's Spider-Man 2 was in second place on PlayStation 5, while Bethesda Game Studios' science-fiction RPG Starfield was #7 on Xbox. Blizzard Entertainment's hack-and-slash adventure Diablo 4 is present on both consoles, taking the #4 spot on Xbox and the #8 spot on PlayStation. 

The Dead Space remake, which arrived back in January 2023, is also in the top 20 for both consoles, at #15 on Xbox and just barely making the list at #20 for PlayStation. 

While longevity of games sold is always going to drop off for some time, it's safe to infer that interest in big-budget RPGs and well-crafted, nostalgic survival-horror is still going strong.

Analysis: A year of great games, but hardware took a hit

Seeing the range of games that were sold and played and where they landed at the end of the year is always fascinating to me. While 2023 was a great year for games, it was decidedly less fantastic for hardware as a whole. I'll be curious to see if the leaked Xbox console refreshes pan out this year and how the market responds to those launches. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty's Season 1 Reloaded update is now available to download on all platforms.
• The update includes bug fixes, weapon balances, and new content for Warzone and Modern Warfare 3.
• The update has led to some new bugs, including a Fetching Data loop error and a bugged state for players attempting to open loadouts, which Raven Software is actively investigating.
• Ranked play, covert exfils, and the Champion's Quest for Warzone have all been delayed during the S1R launch window.

Activision and the dev teams behind Call of Duty have released a massive new update today to mark the start of Season 1 Reloaded. Modern Warfare 3 players can look forward to a new 6v6 map, playlist rotation, and some new modes, which we explained in detail in our MW3 Season 1 Reloaded explainer. 

Call of Duty: Warzone was expected to receive new win conditions for the battle royale modes with today's update. However, fan reaction was overwhelmingly negative, leading Raven Software to exclude the Covert Exfil conditions from the January 17 patch. Raven Software also posted to social media that the studio was dissatisfied with the quality of the Champion's Quest for Warzone and would be disabling it until it could be re-evaluated. Ranked play, developed by Treyarch for Modern Warfare 3, has also seen a launch delay and is not immediately available with Season 1 Reloaded. 

Even without covert exfils, Ranked play, and Champion's quests, there are still plenty of changes in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone that were shared today via the Call of Duty Blog, starting with weapon buffs and nerfs.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded weapon balance

Weapon balancing

Assault rifles

• SVA 545 : Increased maximum damage from 29 to 30 (+3%).
• Holger 556: Increased sprint to fire time from 231ms to 252ms (+9%).
• DG-56: Decreased maximum damage range from 35.6m to 20.3m (-43%). Decreased medium damage range from 44.5m to 30.5 (-31%).
• FR 5.56: Increased medium damage from 36 to 40 (+11%).
• MCW: Increased sprint to fire time from 220ms to 241ms (+10%).
• 16.5" MCW Cyclone Long Barrel: Decreased damage range benefit by 6%. Decreased bullet velocity benefit by 7%. Increased sprint to fire time penalty by 1%. Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 5%. Decreased tactical stance spread penalty by 5%.
• RB Regal Heavy Stock: Decreased gun kick control benefit by 11%. Decreased horizontal recoil control benefit by 5%. Decreased vertical recoil control benefit by 5%. Increased sprint speed penalty by 3%. Increased tactical sprint speed penalty by 3%. Increased sprint to fire speed penalty by 1%.
• JAK Raven Kit: Increased arm damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%). Increased hand damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
• STB-556 (MWII): Increased maximum damage range from 15.2m to 30.5m (+100%). Increased near-medium damage range from 29.5m to 39.4m (+34%). Increased medium damage range from 47m to 54.6m (+16%).
• Kastov 762 (MWII): Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 0.96x to 1.1x (+15%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.96x to 1.1x (+15%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.96x to 1.1x (+15%).
• Chimera (MWII): Increased near-medium damage from 28 to 29 (+4%).
• Tempus Razorback (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 28 to 29 (+4%). Increased maximum damage range from 12.7m to 22.9m (+80%). Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%).
• FR Avancer (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 25 to 29 (+16%). Decreased maximum damage range from 34.9m to 24.8m (-29%).
• M16 (MWII): Decreased upper-torso damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1x (-17%). Decreased arm damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1x (-17%). Decreased hand damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1x (-17%). Decreased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 189ms (-10%). Decreased aim down sight time from 290ms to 240ms (-17%).
• Kastov-74u (MWII): Increased minimum damage from 19 to 22 (+16%). Increased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 30.5m (+33%). Increased medium damage range from 36.8m to 47m (+28%). 
• Kastov 545 (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 32 to 34 (+6%). Decreased maximum damage range from 24.9m to 15.2m (-39%). Decreased aim down sight time from 240ms to 225ms (-6%).

Battle rifles

• Sidewinder: Decreased recoil and gun kick while firing.
• Lachmann-762 (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 44 to 52 (+18%).
• Full-Auto Fire Type: Decreased upper-torso damage multiplier from 0.95x to 0.9x (-5%). Decreased lower-torso damage multiplier from 0.95x to 0.9x (-5%). Increased arm damage multiplier from 0.75x to 0.9x (+20%). Increased hand damage multiplier from 0.75x to 0.9x (+20%).
• Cronen Squall (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 31 to 32 (+3%).
• FTAC Recon (MWII): Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.3x (+30%). Decreased aim down sight time from 270ms to 250ms (-7%). Full-Auto Fire Type: Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1x (+11%). Increased arm damage multiplier from 0.85x to 1x (+18%). Increased hand damage multiplier from 0.85x to 1x (+18%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.85x to 1x (+18%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.85x to 1x (+18%).
• SO-14 (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 41 to 46 (+12%). Full-Auto Fire Type: Decreased neck damage multiplier from 0.85x to 0.8x (-6%). Decreased upper-torso damage multiplier from 0.85x to 0.8x (-6%). Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 0.74x to 0.8x (+8%). Increased arm damage multiplier from 0.63x to 0.8x (+27%). Increased hand damage multiplier from 0.63x to 0.8x (+27%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.59x to 0.8x (+36%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.59x to 0.8x (+36%). 

Submachine guns

• WSP Swarm: Increased maximum damage range from 4.6m to 6.6m (+50%). Increased near-medium damage range from 7.9m to 11.7m (+48%).
• Rival-9: Decreased horizontal recoil slightly.
• MTZ Marauder Stock: Decreased firing aim stability benefit by 5%.
• Striker 9: Increased maximum damage from 27 to 29 (+7%).
• Lachmann Shroud (MWII): Increased maximum damage from 30 to 38 (+27%). Increased near-medium damage from 28 to 32 (+14%). Decreased maximum damage range from 12.2m to 10.7m (-13%). Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.2x (-14%). Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.02x (-15%). Decreased upper-torso damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.02x (-15%). Decreased arm damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.02x (-15%). Decreased hand damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.02x (-15%).
• ISO 9mm (MWII): Incompatible Underbarrel Attachments can no longer be equipped.
• Fennec 45 (MWII): Increased maximum damage range from 10.7m to 12.7m (+19%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%). Decreased aim down sight time from 200ms to 190ms (-6%). Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 99ms (-10%).
• BAS-P (MWII): Decreased maximum damage range from 18.8m to 16.3m (-14%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1x (+5%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1x (+5%). 
• Lachmann Sub (MWII): Increased near-medium damage from 28 to 29 (+4%). Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x (+10%). 
• MX9 (MWII): Increased upper-leg damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1.04x (+16%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1.04x (+16%). Decreased aim down sights time from 220ms to 200ms (-9%). Decreased sprint to fire time from 110ms to 88ms (-20%).

Shotguns

• Lockwood 680: Increased sprint to fire time from 184ms to 200ms (+9%).
• Sawed Off Mod Stock: Decreased movement speed benefit by 2%. Decreased sprint to fire time benefit by 5%. Decreased aim down sight time benefit by 3%. Decreased recoil control penalties by 10%. Decreased hipfire spread benefits by 6%.
• Lockwood 300 (MWII): 12 Gauge Slug Ammunition Decreased minimum damage from 75 to 57 (-24%). Maelstrom Dual Trigger Action Decreased maximum damage range from 3m to 2.3m (-25%). Decreased near-medium damage range from 6.4m to 5.3m (-16%).
• Expedite 12 (MWII): Increased medium damage range from 10.4m to 12.4m (+20%). Decreased pellet spread while aiming down sight by 20%.
• Bryson 800 (MWII): Decreased sprint to fire time from 182ms to 145ms (-20%). Decreased aim down sight time from 350ms to 300ms (-14%).
• Bryson 890 (MWII): Increased rate of fire from 150rpm to 164rpm (+9%).

Light machine guns

• Holger 26: Increased minimum damage from 25 to 29 (+16%).
• DG-58 LSW: Decreased sprint to fire time from 294ms to 231ms (-21%). Decreased aim down sight time from 370ms to 320ms (-14%).
• Bruen Mk9: Incompatible Underbarrel Attachments can no longer be equipped.
• Sakin MG38 (MWII): Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.15x (+15%). Decreased aim down sight time from 430ms to 410ms (-5%).
• HCR 56 (MWII): Decreased sprint to fire time from 250ms to 225ms (-10%). Decreased aim down sight time from 390ms to 310ms (-21%).

Marksman rifles

• DM56: Increased sprint to fire time from 168ms to 199ms (+19%).
• MTZ Interceptor: Decreased head damage multiplier from 2x to 1.62x (-19%). Decreased neck damage multiplier from 2x to 1.62x (-19%).
• EBR-14 (MWII): Decreased sprint to fire time from 270ms to 216ms (-20%). Decreased aim down sight time from 255ms to 240ms (-6%).
• Lockwood Mk2 (MWII): Incompatible Underbarrel Attachments can no longer be equipped. Decreased aim down sight time from 250ms to 240ms (-4%). Decreased hipfire spread while standing by 10%.
• Tempus Torrent (MWII): Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1x (+5%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1x (+5%).
• Crossbow (MWII): Increased minimum damage from 100 to 125 (+25%).
• Brightblaze 20” Bolts: Increased maximum damage from 85 to 105 (+24%). Increased upper-torso damage multiplier from 0.98x to 1.2x (+22%). Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1.2x (+26%). Increased arm damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1.2x (+26%). Increased hand damage multiplier from 0.95x to 1.2x (+26%). Increased leg damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1.2x (+33%). Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1.2x (+33%).
• LM-S (MWII): Decreased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 189ms (-10%). Decreased aim down sight time from 270ms to 245ms (-9%).

Sniper rifles

• KATT-AMR: Zang-34 Barrel Decreased damage range benefit by 9%. Decreased bullet velocity benefit by 8%.
• KV Inhibitor: Added medium damage at 129 to 61m. Decreased minimum damage from 129 to 99 (-23%). Decreased maximum damage range from 38.1m to 30.5m (-20%). Decreased near-medium damage from 58.4m to 48.3m (-17%).
• Victus XMR (MWII): Increased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1.05x to 1.5x (+43%). 
• Carrack .300 (MWII): Increased recoil center speed by 100%.

Handguns

• Renetti: JAK Ferocity Carbine Kit View will no longer be obstructed while aiming down sight with certain Optic Attachments equipped.
• TYR: Increased near-medium damage from 90 to 100 (+11%). Increased minimum damage from 70 to 75 (+7%). Decreased near-medium damage range from 15.2m to 11.4m (-25%). Increased upper-torso damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1.5x (+15%). Decreased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%). Decreased arm damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%). Decreased hand damage multiplier from 1.3x to 1x (-23%). Decreased trigger action delay from 150ms to 90ms (-40%). Incompatible Chrios Holo Optic Attachment can no longer be equipped. Ullr's Fury Trigger Action: Decreased trigger action delay from 70ms to 60ms (-14%). Odin's Judgement Trigger Action Decreased trigger action delay from 210ms to 150ms (-29%).
• 9mm Daemon (MWII): Added far-medium damage at 26 to 31m. Increased maximum damage from 34 to 40 (+18%). Increased near-medium damage from 30 to 34 (+13%). Increased medium damage from 26 to 30 (+15%). Decreased maximum damage range from 9.4m to 7.4m (-22%). Decreased near-medium damage range from 20.6m to 11.4m (-44%). Decreased medium damage range from 31m to 20.6m (-34%).

Launchers

• Stormender: EMP effects will now disable and/or destroy the following items: Drill Charge (Lethal); Smoke Airdrop (Field Upgrade); Inflatable Decoy (Field Upgrade); Swarm (Killstreak)

Attachment and equipment balancing

Attachments

• Corvus Torch Underbarrel Attachment is now available to equip on many Assault Rifles and Battle Rifles.
• Resolved an issue in which Lasers and Underbarrels would visibly overlap. 
• View is no longer obstructed in Tac-Stance while the KR Intlas LSJ-3 Optic Attachment is equipped.
• SL Razorhawk Laser Light: Increased aim down sight speed benefit by 5%. Increased sprint to fire speed benefit by 7%.
• FSS OLE-V Laser: Decreased aim down sight speed benefit by 2%. Decreased sprint to fire speed benefit by 4%.
• FTAC Grimline Laser: Decreased sprint to fire speed benefit by 7%.
• Verdant Hook Box Laser: Increased sprint to fire speed benefit by 3%.
• .50 Cal Spire Point Rounds Ammunition: Increased damage range benefit by 2%. Decreased bullet velocity benefit by 19%.
• XRK Nightfall Suppressor XL: Decreased damage range benefit by 6%. Decreased bullet velocity benefit by 8%. Decreased recoil control benefit by 3%. Increased aim down sight speed penalty by 7%. Increased sprint to fire speed penalty by 3%.
• Round Nose Ammunition: Revised description to accurately reflect its true effects. Dramatically reduces bullet range while increasing flinch.

Perks

• Tac Mask (Gear): Added immunity to enemy EMP effects from the Stormender (Launcher).
• Bone Conduction Headset (Gear): Revised description to better reflect its existing effects. Reduces player combat and environmental sounds to allow improved focus on hearing other footsteps. 
• Signal Jammer (Gear): Addressed an issue that prevented proper functionality while equipped with the Engineer Vest.

Equipment and field upgrades

• Thermobaric Grenade (Lethal): Increased minimum explosive damage from 25 to 75 (+200%).
• Trophy System: Enemy Cruise Missile (Killstreak) will no longer be targetted and destroyed.
• A.C.S.: Addressed an issue that prevented objectives from being captured in Hardcore game modes.
• Suppression Mine: Visual effects are no longer activated for the player who deployed the mine.

Killstreaks

• SAM Turret: Decreased lock-on delay from 3s to 2s (-33%). Increased cooldown between missiles from 1.25s to 1.75s (+40%). Adjusted number of missiles required to destroy multiple Killstreaks. VTOL Jet: 4 missiles, up from 3; Gunship: 5 missiles, up from 3; Chopper Gunner: 4 missiles, up from 3. Advanced UAV (Killstreak) will no longer be targeted and destroyed.
• Remote Turret: Dying while attempting to control the turret will no longer prevent the player from controlling it upon subsequent attempts.
• Overwatch Helo: 100 XP and 75 Score are now awarded upon destruction.
• EMP: Announcer voiceline will now play upon enemy usage. Destroyed Equipment and Killstreaks will no longer grant Killstreak progress.
• Swarm: Announcer voiceline will now play upon enemy usage.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Ranked Play launch

If you're waiting anxiously for Ranked play to go live, you will need to wait just a bit longer. While Season 1 Reloaded is officially live, the rollout for Ranked play will lag behind. Players who want to hop into Ranked will need to hit level 55 in Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer before they may do so. Ranked play utilizes CDL agreements and restrictions for the available playlists. 

Ranked play maps and modes

CDL Search and Destroy

• Highrise
• Invasion
• Karachi
• Skidrow
• Terminal

CDL Control

• Highrise
• Invasion
• Karachi

CDL Hardpoint

• Invasion
• Karachi
• Skidrow
• Sub Base
• Terminal

Weapon restrictions (MW3)

• Assault Rifles
  • Holger 556
  • DG-58
  • FR 5.56
  • MTZ 556
• Battle Rifles
  • All
• Shotguns
  • All
• Marksman Rifles
  • All
• LMGs
  • All
• Sniper Rifles
  • Longbow
  • KV Inhibitor
• Launchers
  • All
• Melee
  • Riot Shield
• Pistols
  • WSP Stinger
  • COR-45
  • TYR
    

All MW2 weapons will be restricted from Ranked play in Modern Warfare 3.

Attachment restrictions

• Muzzle
• All Suppressors
• All Melee Damage Muzzles
• Barrels
  • All Silencers
  • Lasers
  • All
  • Optics
  • All Thermal Optics
    • All Night Vision Optics
  • Ammunition
    • All
    • Underbarrels
    • All Launcher and Shotgun Underbarrels
    • Trigger Action
    • All Fire Rate Triggers
    • Grip
    • All Akimbo Grips
    • Aftermarket Parts
    • All

All MW2 attachments will be restricted from Modern Warfare 3 Ranked play.

Equipment, gear, and killstreak restrictions

• Lethal
• Proximity Mine
• Molotov Cocktail
• C4
• Claymore
• Thermite
• Throwing Knife
• Drill Charge
• Thermobaric
• Throwing Star
• Breacher Drone
• Tactical
  • Shock Stick
  • Decoy Grenade
  • Stim
  • Snapshot Grenade
  • Tear Gas
  • Flash Grenade
  • EMD Grenade
  • Battle Rage
  • Scatter Mine
  • Smokes (Hardpoint and Control Only)
• Field Upgrades
  • Tactical Camera
  • Inflatable Decoy
  • DDOS
  • Deployable Cover
  • Munitions Box
  • Loadout Drop
  • Portable Radar
  • Tactical Insertion
  • Recon Drone
  • Smoke Airdrop
  • Suppression Mine
  • Anti-Armor Rounds
  • Heartbeat Sensor
  • Comm Scrambler
  • Med Box
  • A.C.S.
• Vests
  • Engineer Vest
  • Demolition Vest
  • CCT Comms Vest
  • Overkill Vest
  • Gunner Vest
• Gloves
  • Scavenger Gloves
• Gear
  • Control Comlink
  • Bone Conduction
  • Blacklight Flashlight
  • L/R Detector
  • Threat Identification
  • Data Jacker
  • Signal Jammer
  • Hijacked IFF Strobe
  • Ghost T/V Camo
• Killstreak Restrictions
  • UAV
  • Mosquito Drone
  • Sam Turret
  • Bomb Drone
  • Care Package
  • Guardian-SC
  • Counter UAV
  • Cluster Mine
  • Precision Airstrike
  • SAE
  • Mortar Strike
  • Overwatch Helo
  • Juggernaut Recon
  • Wheelson-HS
  • VTOL Jet
  • Emergency Airdrop
  • Advanced UAV
  • Chopper Gunner
  • Gunship
  • Carpet Bomb
  • Remote Turret
  • SAE

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Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded UIX and Gameplay fixes

In a first-person shooter, weapon balancing is essential. But a good weapon balance doesn't mean a thing if the game is buggy and has bad UI. Sledgehammer Games and the support studios behind Modern Warfare 3 have heard the players' feedback during the pre-season and first half of Season 1, meaning there are some changes and bug fixes to look forward to as part of this update.

UIX

• Faction emblems are now displayed while viewing the Scoreboard.
• Minor visual adjustments to the Prestige animation in the After Action Report.
• Corrected inaccurate Pros and Cons displayed for several Attachments.
• Revised several Attachment descriptions to better reflect their true effects.
• Addressed multiple issues with equipping a Conversion Kit that resulted in incompatible Attachment combinations.
• Resolved issues causing the player to be unexpectedly kicked back to the menu in multiple scenarios, such as:
• Viewing Daily Challenges.
• Reporting a player in another group.
• Resetting to default Settings.
• Completing a Mastery Camo Challenge for the Pickaxe (Melee) will no longer cause the Loadout menu to unexpectedly appear.
• The Accessibility preset to enlarge text will now work as intended when option is set to Largest.
• Inspecting dual-wield Melee Weapons will no longer cause one arm to remain still.
• Addressed an exploit that allowed Weapons to be fired faster than intended while set to Semi-Auto fire type.
• Teammates will no longer play enemy sound effects upon sliding and landing from a fall.
• Improved footstep audio for players walking on puddle surfaces.
• Resolved issues with audio during the infiltration sequence on multiple Maps.
• Enemy Remote Turret, Wheelson-HS, and Chopper Gunner Killstreaks will now disable nearby spawn points.

Spectating in the third-person is no longer allowed in the following modes:

• Control
• Cutthroat
• Search and Destroy
• War

Progression

• Fixed issues that prevented progression of several Challenges.
• Resolved a bug in which players would not receive Prestige Emblems upon reaching the requirements.
• Corrected unlock requirements displayed for several Weapons and Attachments.
• One Shot, One Kill score event is no longer awarded when an elimination is achieved with two Handguns.
• Added missing Mastery Emblems for the MTZ-762 (Battle Rifle).

Maps

Estate

• Kitchen Control capture point can no longer be contested from the Main Room.

Derail

• Addressed exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.

Highrise

• Garbage bins near the Elevators will no longer open and obstruct the line of sight.
• Players in the Actibase Tunnel will no longer take damage from explosives on the surface above.
• Railings on the Helipad staircases can now be mounted by players.

Skidrow

• Improved collision to prevent the Recon Drone (Field Upgrade) from accessing unintended locations near the Back Alley and Playground.

Sub Base

• Addressed exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.

Terminal

• Addressed multiple exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.

Underpass

• Addressed exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.

The following maps have had capture point locations, sizes, and spawn points adjusted for the Hardpoint mode.

• Highrise
• Invasion
• Karachi
• Scrapyard
• Sub Base
• Terminal
• Underpass

Operation Spearhead (War)

• Players can no longer exit the playable area using a Deployable Cover near the Police Office.

Modes

If you've been playing Infected, you may have noticed that using a field upgrade would disable it from becoming available for the remainder of the match. That has now been patched. Deployable cover field upgrades will also now properly deploy upon placement.  Search & Destroy fans get a much requested change, as well, as sliding while planting or defusing the bomb no longer puts the player in a standing position at the end of the slide. Instead, the player will remain crouched once the slide has ended.

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Call of Duty Warzone S1 Reloaded weapon balancing

Keeping Warzone's weapons balanced is a constant challenge, especially with players discovering new metas around the clock. Season 1 has led to some problems with players creating loadouts centered around the MTZ Interceptor and WSP Swarm. While there are balances, buffs, and nerfs included for Warzone with the Season 1 Reloaded patch, these two common weapons will continue to receive additional balancing adjustments in future updates.

Weapon balancing

Assault rifles

• Holger 556 (MWIII)
  
  • Max Damage increased to 35, up from 32
• M13B (MWII)
  • Max Damage reduced to 23, down from 25
  • Near-Mid Damage reduced to 21, down from 24
  • Min Damage reduced to 19, down from 22
• MCW (MWIII)
  • Max Damage increased to 28, up from 24
  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 24, up from 20
  • 16.5” MCW Cyclone Long Barrel
    • Damage range benefits reduced by 6%
    • Velocity benefits reduced by 7%
    • Hip fire and tac-stance penalty reduced by 5%
    • Sprint to Fire penalty increased by 1%
  • RB Regal Heavy Stock
    • Gun kick benefit reduced by 11%
    • Horizontal and vertical benefit reduced by 5%
    • Mobility penalties increased by 3%
    • Sprint to Fire penalty increased by 1%

Battle rifles

• MTZ 762 (MWIII) 
  
  • Max Damage reduced to 42, down from 45
  • Near-Mid Damage reduced to 38, down from 42
  • Min Damage reduced to 34, down from 37

Light machine guns

• Bruen MK9 (MWIII)
  • Max Damage reduced to 28, down from 32
  • Min Damage reduced to 26, down from 28
• DG LSW (MWIII)
  • Max Damage reduced to 29, down from 33
  • Min Damage reduced to 27, down from 29
• Pulemyot 762 (MWIII)
  • JAK Annihilator Bullpup Kit
    • Max Damage reduced to 38, down from 40
    • Min Damage reduced to 34, down from 36
• TAQ Eradicator (MWIII)
  • Max Damage reduced to 28, down from 33
  • Min Damage reduced to 24, down from 25

Submachine guns

• AMR9 (MWIII)
  • Max Damage increased to 31, up from 28
  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 27, up from 25
  • Min Damage increased to 25, up from 23
• ISO 9mm (MWII)
  • Max Damage reduced to 21, down from 24
  • Near-Mid Damage reduced to 17, down from 19
  • Mid Damage reduced to 15, down from 16
  • Far-Mid Damage reduced to 12, down from 13
• Rival-9 (MWIII)
  • Slight reduction in horizontal recoil
  • MTZ Marauder Stock
    • Fire aim stability benefit reduced by 5%
• Striker 9 (MWIII)
  • Near-Mid Damage increased to 27, up from 25
  • Min Damage increased to 23, up from 20

Sniper rifles

• KATT-AMR (MWIII)
  • ZANG-34 Barrel
    • Damage Range Benefits reduced by 9%
    • Velocity Benefit reduced by 8%

Attachment balancing

•  .50 Cal Spire Point Rounds:  Damage Range Benefit increased by 2%. Velocity Benefit reduced by 19%.
• .410 Gauge Dragon's Breath: Near-Mid Damage Range reduced by 12%. Mid Damage Range reduced by 10%.
• 12 Gauge Dragon's Breath: Near-Mid Damage Range reduced by 8%. Mid Damage Range reduced by 10%.
•  SL Razorhawk Laser Light: Increased ADS Speed Benefit by 4.5%. Increased Sprint to Fire Benefit by 7%.
• FSS OLE-V Laser: Reduced the ADS Speed Benefit by 2%. Reduced the Sprint to Fire Benefit by 4%.
• FTAC Grimline Laser: Reduced the Sprint to Fire Benefit by 7%. 
• Verdant Hook Box Laser: Increased the Sprint to Fire Benefit by 3%.
•  XRK Nightfall Supressor: Damage Range Benefit reduced by 5.5%. Velocity Benefit reduced by 8%. Recoil Benefit reduced by 3%. ADS Penalty increased by 7%. Sprint to Fire Penalty increased by 3%.

Warzone gameplay patches

Warzone was expected to receive some of the biggest changes during Season 1 reloaded, but sadly many of these changes have had to be rolled back or delayed as a result of player backlash and feedback.  Covert exfils have been removed until they can be reconsidered, and the Champion's Quest is currently disabled, as well.  Here are the changes that did make it to Warzone with today's update:

• Audio Occlusion
  • Improvements have been made to audio occlusion on Urzikstan.
• Plane Audio
  • Adjustments have been made to the audio on the Infil/Exfil airplane.
• Music Channels
  • Adjusted cinematic music so that it is no longer entirely on gameplay channels, rather than cine.
• Allied Sounds
  • Reduced the volume of friendly Slides, Jumps and Lands to better distinguish between friendly and enemy behavior.
• Altitude Arrow Improvements Quality of Life
  • We’ve made improvements to the way that altitude arrows appear above and below icons on the mini map and tac map to help players better navigate their way towards objectives.
• Deployable Buy Stations
  • Loot underneath a Deployed Buystation will be removed to prevent overlap and difficulties interacting with the device. The radius of this removal is slightly larger than the device itself.
• Black Sites
  • We’ve updated the spawn behavior of Black Sites so that they’re more focused towards the center of a circle.
  • By proxy, this should fix an issue where Black Sites would shut down too fast by being in the Gas earlier than intended.
• Ziplines
  • Improved the ability to interact and attach to Ziplines. 
  • Changed interaction behavior to allow Players to loot items on the ground near a Zipline.
• Tracker Grenade
  • Fixed an issue with the Tracker Grenade incorrectly showing up as a Snapshot grenade on the loot card.
• Underwater Rebreather
  • Fixed an issue with the rebreather that would make using it more difficult. The item should now have all 4 of its charges available from the start.
• Vehicle Respawn
  • Vehicles will now respawn after being destroyed.

Bug fixes

• Fixed an issue that allowed Players to clip through geometry while using a Ziplines or Ascender.
• Fixed an issue causing a player to get stuck in a loop and preventing them from being revived if they were downed while plating.
• Fixed an issue preventing equipped Gulag tokens from awarding cash when the Gulag closes.
• Fixed an issue that allowed Loadout duplication if a player left a match.
• Fixed an issue preventing Bomb Drones from appearing on the mini map or tac map.
• Fixed an issue that prevented the squad widget from updating correctly when a player leaves.
• Fixed an issue causing the train and cash drop icons to be missing from the tac map in Urzikstan Resurgence.
• Fixed an issue where players matchmaking in uneven party sizes would not see each other in the squad widget.
• Fixed an issue causing player statistics to not track properly if they left a match prior to the end of the Exfil sequence.
• Fixed an issue causing active players to be kicked out of Plunder matches for wrongly being flagged as AFK.
• Fixed an issue causing inconsistent behavior when dropping ammo types from inventory.
• Fixed an issue causing a delay for the loot crate markers to appear after picking up a Scavenger Contract.
• Fixed an issue with Scavenger caches causing the mission to select cache locations too close to one another.
• Fixed an issue causing incorrect descriptions to appear for some Perks.
• Fixed an issue preventing vehicles from respawning in a match.
• Fixed an issue preventing the maps in the rotation playlist from appearing on the menu.
• Fixed various issues causing players to encounter dev errors or unspecified client crashes while attempting to play Battle Royale modes.
• Fixed an issue causing doors on certain buildings to behave erratically.
• Fixed an issue causing Black Site keys to spawn in unintended modes.
• Fixed an issue causing Stronghold loot caches to spawn in unintended locations.
• Fixed an issue preventing Faculty from causing a delay to Cluster Mine and Suppression Mine activation.
• Fixed an issue preventing players from choosing to stow select items while the Backpack was full.
• Fixed an issue causing an incorrect number of equipped and reserve Armor Plates to appear while spectating a player.
• Fixed an issue preventing Elimination Bounty targets from appearing on the Mini Map.
• Fixed an issue preventing the party leader from joining a match despite the rest of the party successfully doing so.
• Fixed an issue with Backpack navigation and management while it was full.
• Fixed an issue causing players to spawn into a match with a loadout different from the one selected in the live lobby.
• Fixed an issue causing players to be redeployed under the map in Resurgence Modes.
• Fixed an issue causing some weapon models to disappear while aiming down sights.
• Fixed an issue with the number of available charges after deploying the Rebreather Field Upgrade.
• Fixed an issue causing all Voice Chat to be disabled even if the player has it enabled. 
• Fixed an issue causing squad widget information icons to overlap with the health bar.
• Fixed an issue that was wrongly awarding players the Pacifist accolade.
• Fixed an issue allowing players to skip animations while using the Portable Redeploy Drone.
• Fixed an issue causing Ping markers on the compass at the top of the player screen to appear under the compass text.
• Fixed an issue allowing the Heartbeat Sensor to be used after the battery is depleted.
• Fixed an issue with text overlap on the menu for challenges and tokens.
• Fixed an issue causing the Gas Mask HUD effect to remain on screen after stowing or unequipping the Gas Mask.
• Fixed an issue that caused players to lose the Gulag match despite successfully using the vertical ascender during overtime.
• Fixed an issue causing playlist buttons to queue a player for modes other than the intended one.
• Fixed an issue preventing the countdown sound and text from appearing in the live lobby.
• Fixed an issue causing a dev error when attempting to rejoin a Private Match.
• Fixed an issue causing incorrect player levels to appear on Calling Cards after having been eliminated.
• Fixed an issue causing Field Upgrades to disappear while looted during an active DDOS.
• Fixed an issue causing missing or incorrect Mode names in the Private Match menu.
• Fixed several issues causing clipping or improper placement of weapon parts while in an Operator's hands.
• Fixed several issues with improper texture or model behavior for various Operators and Vehicles.
• Fixed an issue causing improper floating loot card overlap.
• Fixed several issues with weapon Blueprint textures and lighting.
• Fixed an issue causing incorrect or missing text while sending whispers via the social menu.
• Fixed an issue in the leaderboard causing “Highest Winstreak” to appear as “Highest Killstreak”.
• Fixed an issue preventing the progress bar from appearing during a Data Heist Public Event.
• Fixed an issue causing the menu to perform poorly or occasionally black screen.
• Fixed an issue that would kick the player back to the main menu while navigating Operator selection.
• Fixed an issue causing assimilation options to appear on the ping wheel while a player was downed.
• Fixed an issue causing extended respawn times in the live lobby following multiple deaths.
• Fixed an issue causing weapon reserve ammunition to appear on the Gunsmith menu.
• Fixed an issue that would cause unintended behavior during infil if a player was previously tethered to an ascender.
• Fixed an issue causing Plate Carriers to appear in game as Armor Vests.
• Map polish
• Fixed over 50 mantle spots
• Fixed over 50 mounting spots
• Fixed over 150 areas affected by clipping
• Fixed over 20 known, exploitable areas
• Improved lighting in 43 buildings

With any new update comes new bugs, but the Season 1 Reloaded update for Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone has been a particularly rough launch. Between negative player feedback and newly introduced bugs, you will probably expect plenty of hotfixes and small patches to be released over the next few days as the teams work out the kinks. 

We're officially halfway through Season 1 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone's shared content, which means it is time for the teams of developers working on the COD beast to serve up a fresh new map, limited modes, and more. 

Reloaded updates for post-launch seasonal content also come tied up with weapon balances and patches for the game, however, additional information about those will not be released until closer to the update launch window. In the meantime, here's everything we can look forward to with Season 1 Reloaded.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded — Release date

You've shed the holiday trimmings and grown tired of the Meat grind, so how long will you have to wait to get some fresh new content in Modern Warfare 3? Season 1 Reloaded will be coming to MW3 and Warzone both on January 17 starting at 9AM PT/12PM ET across all platforms. Gone are the days of staggered updates for Warzone and the accompanying multiplayer for the year. One patch to rule them all!

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded — Multiplayer map and modes

CODMAS is over, and Shipmas 24/7 has been put away for another year. Highrise, too, has returned to its usual state, and we've moved on to the oddly timed spooky decor of the Vortex event. Even that will come to pass with Season 1 Reloaded, but that doesn't mean there isn't a new map, modes, and events to look forward to as we inch closer to Season 2.

New map: RIO

Sledgehammer Games seems to really be digging the tight-quartered mid-size map layout for Modern Warfare 3. Players will spawn into Rio with Season 1 Reloaded, finding themselves deployed to a shopping center in Río de Janeiro, complete with colorful buildings and even an abandoned tram. The shopping center is central to Rio, with longer sight lines around the edges. There looks to be a lot of opportunities for flanking around the interior of the center for those aiming to take out the players holed up in the upper levels. 

Rio is a medium-sized map with a layout that will encourage gameplay similar to what we see on Greece, which was added at the launch of Season 1.

New mode: Team Gunfight

Gunfight has become a surprisingly popular playlist for Call of Duty, but the mode has been traditionally been limited to small maps and team sizes of two, with occasional limited-time-modes bumping squad counts up to four players. Season 1 Reloaded will allow Gunfight to take place on a larger scale for the very first time, with teams of six spawning into all available standard multiplayer maps. 

At the start of each round, all players will receive the same randomized loadout. The first team to wipe their opponents with the given loadout will earn a point for the round. Each round brings with it a new loadout and a new chance for your team to score, with the game ending after six rounds.

New mode: Headquarters

Headquarters isn't necessarily a "new mode", but it's new for Modern Warfare 3, having been left off the game's playlist rotation since its launch in November 2023. The objective game mode spawns a headquarters zone on the map, which player squads can claim and hold. 

Respawns are disabled for the defending team actively holding the headquarters, so you really need to work together to communicate with your squad if you're going to face the onslaught of incoming reinforcements from the opposition.  The objective does not stay static and will rotate to different zones of the map throughout the match's duration, so stay frosty and keep your squad on point. 

New mode: Infected

Like Headquarters, Infected is not necessarily a new mode, but it is making a much anticipated appearance in Modern Warfare 3 for the first time. The free-for-all mode has made itself a staple in first-person shooters, with players all spawning in as Operators until the start of the match, when one player is randomly selected to become infected. The infected player, armed with throwing knives and a melee only loadout, must take out the Operators. Operators who fall to an infected player then become infected themselves and must attempt to take down their former allies.

Survivors must hold out with nothing more than a pistol and rugged optimism if they want to make to the end of the match without becoming one of the horde. 

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New mode: Ranked play

Finally, us casuals can get a break from the sweaty movement kings when Ranked Play launches with Season 1 Reloaded. Or, at least, that's what we're hoping for. Also, it's me. I'm the try-hard. Anyway, Ranked play is coming! 

Multiplayer Ranked Play is developed and maintained by Treyarch, and it brings competitive 4v4 matches with Call of Duty League rules to the playlist rotation.  This means some of your favorite equipment, weapons, and killstreaks are likely to be restricted in Ranked Play, and friendly fire is enabled for all matches. The following modes and maps will be available for Ranked Play when it launches on January 17:

• CDL Search & Destroy on Highrise, Invasion, Karachi, Skidrow, and Terminal. 1.5-minute round timer with no respawns. 
• CDL Hardpoint on Invasion, Karachi, Skidrow, Sub Base, and Terminal. 5-minute time limit or 250 score limit with 60-second objective rotation.
• CDL Control on Highrise, Invasion, and Karachi. 30 lives per team with a 1.5-minute time limit and 3-round win limit.

All Ranked Play players will start with their season rank set to Bronze I, and you must have already reached level 55 in multiplayer before you can test your competitive mettle. Ranked play will have 8 Skill Divisions for players to work their way through by earning Skill Rating (SR).

Personal and team performance during a match can both affect your SR, so keep your squad tight and watch where you're aiming. Inactivity, rage-quitting or being disconnected during matches, and repeated friendly fire can all impact your SR. Players who are having a particularly good run will find themselves on a Hot Streak with a fancy new flaming rank which progresses with more wins. Lose a match or idle for 72 hours, however, and you'll have to start your streak over.

To balance matches, players will be dropped three tiers from their end-of-season rank when a new season starts. No player will be able to start a new season in the future with a rank higher than Diamond I. The following rewards can be unlocked in Season 1:

• Win five Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Season 1 Competitor” Weapon Sticker.
• Win 10 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Pro Issue Gutter Knife” Weapon Blueprint.
• Win 20 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Script Writer” Weapon Charm.
• Win 30 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Built Different” Large Decal.
• Win 40 Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Ranked Play Season 1” Loading Screen.
• Win 50 Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Season 1 Ranked Veteran” Weapon Camo.

Players can also expect Skill Division rewards based on their final placement at the end of the season.  Players who earn a Bronze or Silver rank at the end of Season 1 will be awarded the Season 1 emblem. Reaching Gold through Crimson ranks will unlock a Ranked Play-themed Operator Skin and weapon charm, along with an animated emblem reward for the corresponding Skill Division.  

Iridescent players will earn the MW3 Season 1 Iridescent animated calling card as well as the previous rewards. 250 players who reach the top of the Ranked Play leaderboards will unlock the Top 250 Operator Skins, weapon charm, unique animated emblem, and calling card while the #1 player will receive a one-of-a-kind emblem and calling card.

I'll probably never earn that, but it's okay to dream.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded — Zombies

With Treyarch hard at work getting Ranked play up and running for MW3, Zombies has been a little light on new content for Season 1. The launch of the season brought new aether rifts and some slight changes to the end game for the MWZ, but it's Season 1 Reloaded that will introduce players to a brand-new Warlord. 

Players will encounter Dokkaebi, an operator versed in electronic warfare, and her fleet of self-programmed autonomous drones in the fortress at the top of a skyscraper in Zaravan City, part of Urzikstan's Exclusion Zone in the MWZ. The fight will pose a new challenge for Operation Deadbolt operatives as she weaponizes drones, turrets, and even a Wheelson against player squads. 

South Korean-born Dokkaebi has already turned player heads due to the antagonist's similarities to an operator from Rainbow Six Siege with the same name, raising concerns that the character is plagiarized. This wouldn't be a first, as Sledgehammer Games faced criticism for allegedly stealing concept art to create a dog-like operator for Call of Duty: Vanguard that was ultimately never released.

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Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 Reloaded — New win conditions and gulag event

Not every squad can make it to exfil at the final circle. That's just the nature of Warzone. Or at least, it was. Season 1 Reloaded will introduce a new Champions Quest challenge to keep players on their toes if they want to execute a total end-game for their win scenario, and early exfils are introduced at a cost for those who want to win without waiting for that final fight.

New win condition: Covert exfil

Traditionally, only one team ever makes it out of Warzone alive, but all that is about to change. Covert exfils will now allow squads to leave a match early, but they come at a cost and are limited in availability. Only five exfils will be available from Buy Stations around Urzikstan, and players must exfil before the gulag closes if they wish to execute a successful victory. Calling in a covert exfil gives any player the opportunity to fly out of the match alive, and players who successfully win via covert exfils will find a spot on the new leaderboard.

New challenge: Champion's Quest

Urzikstan has a new Champion's Quest for Season 1 Reloaded. Not sure what the Champion's Quest is? This special contract was originally only available to players who had achieved 5 consecutive Battle Royale wins. The contract required the squad to find and assemble a nuke before detonating it to trigger a game-ending cutscene, with the squad who completed the quest taking the victory. 

The Champion's Quest challenge has been absent from Warzone as the game switched from Al Mazrah to Urzikstan for the primary Battle Royale map, but it is returning with Season 1 Reloaded with a new condition. Squads can still attain the contract by winning 5 consecutive matches, but players who do not win constantly now have a chance at the nuke, as well, if they can win 30 games total within a season. 

Players will still need to complete a multipart challenge to claim victory, and the rewards, for the new quest. 

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New challenge: Weapons case

Like Headquarters and Infected, the Weapons Case is not necessarily new for Season 1, but it is making a return to the franchise. Players will have an opportunity each match to locate a single weapon case somewhere in Urzikstan. Finding the case comes with special challenges, however, as the player holding the weapon case is marked on the tac map for all players in the match to see. 

The player with the case, should they manage to stay alive and carry it throughout their entire time in Warzone, will have the option to initiate a secondary win condition with a covert exfil or fight it out to the brutal end. Escaping Urzikstan with the weapon case will bestow the player and their teammates with unique and exclusive rewards.

New public event: NVG Gulag

We love a good public event, and it's the Gulag that will be affected by the latest addition. For the first time, the lights will go out as two operators face off for a shot at rejoining their squad mates in Urzikstan. Equip your night vision goggles and stay frosty to take out your opponent from the shadows, or use the cover of darkness to ascend the rope for a victory devoid of bloodshed.

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Call of Duty Season 1 Reloaded — New weapons, operator bundles, and events

It's not a new content announcement without new additions to the store. While players will be able to unlock the previously announced weapons via challenges, they will need to hit up the store with some of those hard-earned (or purchased) COD points for Operator bundles and weapon blueprints. 

New weapon: HRM-9

You can't have a new close-quarters map without a new SMG. The HRM-9 base weapon can be unlocked via Armory challenges and is slated as a light and stable 9mm submachine gun that can put enemies down quickly thanks to a high fire rate and excellent handling. 

This is for the run-and-gunners who can quickly snap into ADS or Tac-Stance. If you need to add some range to the HRM-9 so you can survive those mid-range engagements, you can do so in the gunsmith with a new barrel and the appropriate ammunition. Or you can dial in on the SMG's up-close-and-personal side, making it even more dangerous for your foes when you inevitably bunny-hop around a corner at them.

New weapon: TAQ Evolvere

Long live the LMG, the versatile weapon that can knock out infantry and vehicles alike with considerable ease. The TAQ Evolvere is a multi-caliber LGM that is versatile and well suited to a wide array of attachments which can be found in the gunsmith. Players can unlock the TAQ Evolvere by completing a weekly challenge. 

New skins: CDL 2024 Team Packs

If you can't wait to unlock your own CDL Ranked Play operator skin, you can pick up a Team Pack to represent your favorite CDL team. The 2024 Team packs will be available in the COD store and will include a new male and female Operator skin in both the Home and Away variants. The packs will also include addition team-themed offerings such as weapon camo, charm, stickers, and an animated calling card. The Call of Duty League kicks off its first event on January 25. 

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New operator bundle: A-Train

The Boys are back. Again. I'm not a fan of crossovers, but there have been nearly as many in Call of Duty as Fortnite at this point, so this is just my in-game life now. If you're a fan of A-Train you will be able to dominate the battlefield with this new Operator Skin. 

The bundle also includes two weapon blueprints with tracers: the "Turbocharged" assault rifle and the "Fast AF" smg, a "Here Comes the A-Train" animated calling card, A-Train weapon sticker, "Turbo Rush Energy Drink" weapon charm, and "World's Fastest Man" animated emblem. There's even an A-Train loading screen and "Fastest Man in the World" finishing move.

New operator bundle: Firecracker

Along with A-Train, Firecracker will also be joining the COD roster as a playable Operator. This bundle will include two weapon blueprints with tracers: the "Smoking Gun" assault rifle and the "Fellow Patriot" LMG. A "Firecracker" weapon sticker, "Second Protects" weapon charm, "Eagle Eyed" animated emblem, and "Freedom of Speech" finishing move will also be included in the bundle. 

Players will be able to use the crossover bundles in Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer, MWZ, and Warzone, but not Modern Warfare 2 or DMZ.

Limited-time event: Supe Siege

To celebrate the second crossover with The Boys, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 players can look forward to the limited-time event, Supe Siege. This new version of Kill Confirmed sees eliminated operators dropping doses of Temp V. Collect the Temp V and use it to turn the tide of battle by unlocking temporary power ups like Heat Vision. Playing the Supe Siege event playlist will unlock event rewards for complete challenges: 

• Get one Operator Heat Vision elimination in The Boys mode (Reward: Calling Card).
• Deactivate 20 pieces of Equipment using DDoS (Reward: Emblem).
• Get four Operator eliminations using the MTZ-762 (Reward: Battle Pass Tier Skip).
• Get two Operator eliminations in a single life with the Overkill Vest equipped, five times (Reward: Large Decal).
• Get 15 Operator Akimbo eliminations (Reward: Weapon Charm).
• Get seven Operator eliminations using Lethal Equipment (Reward: Double XP Token).
• Mastery Reward: Complete all six challenges to unlock the LMG weapon blueprint "The Boys Special".

Onward to Season 2...

Season 1 Reloaded marks the halfway mark of Season 1, so you'll want to make sure you take the time to finish up any remaining battle pass sectors. Players can expect Season 2 to launch approximately 30 days after Season 1 Reloaded begins, and a new battle pass, Blackcell pass, maps, and events will be on the horizon. 

Modern Warfare 3 is expected to receive 6 Seasons of content in its first year post-launch. The end of Season 6 will most likely usher in this year's premium Call of Duty title, which is rumored to be a return to the Black Ops series by Treyarch set during the  Gulf War of the early 90s.

I spend a lot of time playing Call of Duty. Far more than I can ever justify. I usually purchase a PC and an Xbox version, and I have no qualms about cracking open my wallet for really cool Operator bundles and battle passes. Given how willing I am to throw money at the franchise, you’d think I would have known in advance that a licensed Collector’s edition for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was an actual thing that exists. Somehow, I didn’t.

That is, until one of those late-night COD sessions, a friend shared a link in Discord. The link led to a listing on Walmart for a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Collector’s Box. Originally, the box cost $79.99, but it was marked down to the impulse-purchase-friendly price of just $9. I had so many questions, and only a few could be answered by putting the box in my cart.

I paid $9 for the Collector’s box, along with $5 and some change for shipping and tax, and waited. I was told the box would arrive by December 29, and I chalked the long wait up to holiday shipping chaos. Surprisingly, FedEx knocked on my door with a package on December 21, and I finally got a chance to check out my loot.

What’s in the box? 

Inside the shipping box was another cardboard box designed to resemble a supply box from Call of Duty: Warzone. While the print was well done, I was surprised the packaging was made entirely of cardboard. The original price of this Collector’s box is $80, after all, or more if you buy the version that comes with the physical copy of the game. I would have expected at least some molded plastic or something a little sturdier than cardboard for the box. At least the cardboard packaging gave me a reality check to not expect too much out of the rest of the box.

However, the rest of the box was actually good, to my surprise. If you purchase the version without the game disc, there’s an obvious empty slot in the packaging where the game would have been packaged, and the emptiness was noted. However, the rest of the top layer of packaging included a collection of well-detailed enamel pins.

Among them were Captain Price’s face, the emblem for the antagonistic Konni Group, as well as the Cymbal Monkey and JuggerNog emblems from MWZ. A small envelope with four lithograph prints, including one of the popular map Rust, is also in the top section of the packaging. There was a 12×16 metallic print of an operator with night vision goggles and one of the bosses of MWZ. 

The big finale of the box is the bronze-plated plaque of COD-favorite Simon “Ghost” Riley.

Was it worth it? 

 I think it was. Don’t get me wrong, Call of Duty has certainly had way cooler collector’s editions in the past with proper full-body character statues. The lack of marketing and having no idea who the manufacturer, Idea Planet, was certainly left me with some reservations about buying this particular collector’s box. I even did some digging to see if Idea Planet had other collector's boxes available. The only other item in their inventory on Walmart's site, however, was a cardboard map for state quarter collectors. At the end of the day, though, the price was low enough that I was cool with taking the risk.

I would have a hard time suggesting this collector’s box to someone who was going to pay the original $80 full price for it, but for $9? It was an easy impulse buy. Sadly, the deal to get the box for just $9 is no longer active, but you can still pick it up for a seemingly lower full price tag of $50 now. If you aren’t a fan of COD, didn’t like MW3, or aren’t a fan of Ghost, then, by all means, skip it. Those of us looking for a little more COD decor in our gaming space, however, will find that the quality of the items is certainly on par with the price tag. 

🎵It's beginning to look a lot like CODMAS . . .🎶

Whatever the Call of Duty dev teams have done to matchmaking has led to the unfortunate demise of Christmas Noobs, and ole Krampus isn't making a comeback. However, there's still plenty of Christmas cheer (and horror) to be found by Operators this holiday season. Season 1 has officially turned MW3 into Santa's Slayground until January 3 at 8 am PT/11 am ET, with holiday festivities all across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Warzone.

When the event went live, the Call of Duty Team shared details about CODMAS in a post on the official Call of Duty blog. Here's what players can look forward to this holiday season: 

Santa's Slayground in-game event

Players can find new challenges for the Santa's Slayground in-game event, complete with prizes like consumables, calling cards, and the "Elfsecution" finishing move. There's also a new weapon blueprint and Operator skin for those bold enough to be on Santa Gnaws' naughty list.

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MW3 CODMAS: Limited time maps and modes

Holiday map: Shipmas

Shipmas is returning, but the map will not feature the holiday decorations we've seen in the past. Instead, frigid temperatures and freezing seawater have left the map covered in ice and snow. The ice may not help you slide around any corners, but you'll still want to stay frosty or risk being lit up by an enemy frag.

Holiday map: Hangover

For the first time ever, Highrise is getting in the holiday spirit. Ring in the new year among lights, garland, and other festive decorations under the light of a winter moon. That's right, Highrise is going dark! 

Limited-time mode: Infectious Holiday

If one Santa Gnaws isn't scary enough, how about a whole lobby full of them? Infected is getting a holiday reskin, with turned Operators now donning the Zombie Santa skin.

Limited-time mode: Snowfight

Gunfight only just joined MW3 during the launch of Season 1, but it's the perfect mode to pair up with your favorite duos partner and engage in a festive Snowball fight. The first two rounds are limited to snowballs only, and an oddly hued yellow snowball in the center of the map can be captured for a one-hit elimination on an unlucky foe. Regular loadouts return in the third round, but there are still plenty of snowballs that can be looted around the map for a frosty surprise. 

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MW3 CODMAS: MWZ

While no holiday-specific events or modes are coming to MWZ's exclusion zone, players can still look forward to a festive take on Urzikstan. Hellhounds will be decked out with reindeer antlers, and Tier 3's Mega Abomination might be looking a little more seasonal, as well. There's also updated infil music and collectible snowballs, which can really pack a punch against the undead.

Warzone CODMAS: Santa's Slayground

Limited-time mode: Slay Ride Resurgence

Warzone's resurgence mode, where squads continue in game so long as one of the teammates remains alive long enough for the others to spawn back after elimination, will be getting a festive update for the holidays. Urzikstan is covered in Christmas trees that can be decorated by the Operators to unlock high-quality loot. But watch out for Santa Gnaws who is riding around the map on his festive, albeit deadly, train.

Slay ride

Ho-ho-ho, Santa Gnaws is taking a slay ride around Urzikstan, gifting good little operators with high-powered loot and an emblem. You did remember to leave out some milk and cookies, right?

No?

Oh, well. Looks like you'll have to battle JuggerClaus for the loot, instead.

Deck the halls

Slay Ride Resurgence will be marked with Deck the Halls tree-themed capture points, giving Operators the chance to pick up some high-tier loot right at the drop. Players who stand near one of these festive trees with no opponents nearby can begin decorating the tree. Stand your ground and upgrade your tree to Tier 2 or fully decorate it to Tier 3 for the best loot. Enjoy weapons, killstreaks, and in-game cash for your effort.

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Post CODMAS event: VORTEX

Oh, you thought CODMAS was the last of the in-game events? Psh, ring in the new year with the fire and flames of Vortex. Three multiplayer maps will be getting the hellspawn treatment, and players can unlock 15 rewards just by playing Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.

The Vortex event will begin right after CODMAS ends on January 3 and will last for two weeks until January 17.

Vortex event map: Tetanus

We've spent our time on Rust, and now we have to deal with the aftermath: Tetanus. Operators have become transported to an otherworldly variant of Rust, complete with neon green lights and a planetary storm. 

Vortex event map: Satan's Quarry

We're trading limestone for brimstone. Quarry is suspended in the sky by massive chains as fire and ash take over the landscape to create an unnerving limited-time map variant. This map variant makes me wonder if they've heard all the times my squad and I have complained that Quarry was hell.

Vortex event map: Sporeyard

Mushrooms and spores have taken over the boneyard, leaving the map covered in a glowing blue fungal infestation and giant toadstools around the edge of the map.

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How to play the CODMAS event

If you're looking to dive into CODMAS but unsure of how to play, we've got you covered. Limited-time modes for multiplayer and zombies require users to purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Slay Ride Resurgence and other Warzone specific modes and event changes will be free to play in Call of Duty: Warzone. Both games will require users to have installed Call of Duty HQ, the launcher for Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone. 

CODMAS events are live now and will remain playable until January 3.

VORTEX events will go live on January 3 and will last until January 17.

All progress will unlock rewards in the currently active in-game event and will count toward the Season 1 battle pass. 

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What you need to know

• Call of Duty has partnered with Legendary Entertainment to bring Dune: Part Two to Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.
• Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, will be available now as a playable operator bundle in the in-game Call of Duty store.
• Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by Austin Butler, will be available as a playable operator bundle in the in-game store on December 16.

If you've ever wanted to play as Timothée Chalamet in Call of Duty, today is your lucky day. Legendary Entertainment has partnered with Activision to license two characters from Dune: part Two as playable Operators in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. The first operator bundle, centered around the character Paul Atreides from Dune, is available now. The second, featuring Dune's Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, will be available on December 16.

Both operators are portrayed in game by the same actors who brought them to life on the big screen. Players who purchase one or both of the new bundles can slide cancel and bunny hop their way across Warzone's new map, Urzikstan, as Timothée Chalamet (as Paul Atreides) or Austin Butler (as Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen). The two will even be able to battle it out with Santa Gnaws when the Season 1 CODMAS events take place later this month. 

Players who purchase the new operator bundles from the in-game store will have access to the characters, tracer blueprints, and additional customization items included across Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile. They will not be backward compatible with Modern Warfare 2, however. 

The addition of the Dune: Part Two operator bundles ties in to a limited time event in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 titled DUNE Trial of Power. Players can unlock weapon decals, double XP, and the "Sand and Spice" weapon camo for free by earning XP during the week-long event.

Chalamet and Butler caught an early look at the in-game characters based upon their live-action counterparts at Brazil's Comic-Con. There's only one thing to do when you're face-to-face when your nemesis in Call of Duty, of course.

You settle your differences like grown-ups and 1v1 on Rust. Which is exactly what Chalamet and Butler did. The outcome of the battle can be seen in the video from Comic-Con. 

Call of Duty is no stranger to crossovers, with previous games in the franchise having operator bundles from classic 80s action flicks Rambo and Die Hard to hip hop stars Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, and 21 Savage. Modern Warfare 3 is on pace to have more crossover characters than any other game in the COD franchise due in part to Carry Forward, a feature that allowed operator bundles from Modern Warfare 2 to be playable in MW3. Current options for licensed operators in MW3 include Spawn, Alucard from Hellsing, and Lillith from Diablo IV. 

There has been some backlash from players who were disappointed in Modern Warfare 3's lack of a "mil sim period" after launch where players would be limited to default operators instead of flashy paid skins. Some skins, like the Gaia operator which players nicknamed Groot, have been dubbed as pay-to-win bundles for allowing players to blend in with the environment too well. The visibility on the Gaia operator's skin was so egregiously low that Sledgehammer Games ultimately decided to disable it until it could be changed. This made Gaia one of the first skins to be removed from the game, despite it costing players money to acquire. 

What you need to know

• More than 40% of Call of Duty's players have customized Deadzone Inputs in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. 
• New settings and visual representations have been added to Modern Warfare 3 to make it easier for players to adjust motor-related accessibility settings.
• High contrast settings and low motor strain resets are also being added to the accessibility menu.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a fast-paced, blockbuster shooter with an intense PvP multiplayer element. The game requires rapid fire and precision inputs, and for many, it may not seem like a game that would include much in the way of accessibility features. However, accessibility settings have dramatically improved across Call of Duty titles in the last few releases. Today's update to Modern Warfare 3 adds even more accessibility to an already robust menu with more than 500 settings that players can customize. 

In my review of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, I covered the game's accessibility features, which include more than 500 settings. These include familiar options like turning on or off motion blur, depth of field settings, and controller stick sensitivity. One of the new changes that came to MW3 at launch was including a quick accessibility menu that can be accessed with a simple button press. Today's update adds new features to that accessibility menu by tagging the settings so that players can quickly identify and even filter settings that can affect their gameplay. 

Deadzones and low motor strain presets

According to a press release from Activision, over 40% of Call of Duty's players customized Dead zone inputs in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. To improve this setting for Modern Warfare 3, the team has added a visual representation of changes made in the Settings Menu to provide more feedback to players as they tweak their settings. 

Adjusting the dead zones in Call of Duty is a way many users who experience arthritis and other conditions that are exacerbated by motor strain can lessen the physical effort required to play MW3. To build upon this, the development team has created a new preset in the accessibility menu specifically for "Low Motor Strain." The Low Motor Strain preset can be toggled on or off, and when on, it reduces the number of button presses or holds required, as well as increases input sensitivity.

High contrast mode

A new high contrast setting has been introduced for players with vision impairments and color blindness. The mode adds a colored silhouette to allies and enemies, making it easier to distinguish between the two. The setting currently only affects campaign mode, however. While it is not currently active for multiplayer, a similar effect was active in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer Experimental Playlist for a short period. There are currently no plans for when or if this setting will be universal across all modes.

Activision reports that more than half of players had adjusted graphical accessibility settings in Modern Warfare 2, including motion blur, field of view, and camera movement. 

Why accessibility matters in Call of Duty

Regarding accessibility, far too often, the argument dissolves into whether games should have "easy" difficulty settings. While that argument is worth having in the spirit of a game's approachability, accessibility is about more than just making a game "easy"—it's about whether a game is even playable for some of its audience. 

I frequently write about Call of Duty here on Windows Central. I've been a franchise fan since Modern Warfare 2 (2009), way back on the Xbox 360, and I've put tens of thousands of hours into the game with my friends over the years. I am also disabled by rheumatoid arthritis, a disease that affects the joints in my hands and wrists (among others). Players typically think of settings like input sensitivity and dead zones in terms of how professional esports players use them for camera-breaking slide cancels or whatever the "movement kings" are doing for video clips these days. 

However, Those settings allow players like me to enjoy the game on a level playing field with others. The disease I live with causes joint swelling and damage in my fingers, and it's exacerbated by straining for everyday tasks. Even holding a controller is enough to cause a flare-up of pain. But with higher sensitivity and lower dead zones, I'm able to play without having to overexert myself and risk injury or a worsening of my existing symptoms. At least so far as Call of Duty is concerned, accessibility settings give me the freedom to be on the same playing field as everybody else even if it's only for a little while in a game. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the best-selling game of November 2023, according to the latest Circana report. 
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is already the second best-selling game of the year, only behind Hogwarts Legacy. 
• Sony's PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console of the month in dollar sales and units sold, while Xbox Series consoles were second in both categories.

Another month means more video game sales data to pour over. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the best-selling game of November 2023, knocking Marvel's Spider-Man 2 from its top spot last month. That's according to Circana executive director Mat Piscatella, who shared the latest details for hardware and software sales in the U.S. on Wednesday. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 also instantly becomes the second best-selling game of the year, behind only Hogwarts Legacy, which launched all the way back in February on current-generation hardware and just had a Nintendo Switch version release. 

For consoles, the PlayStation 5 was the best-seller in units sold and dollar sales, with Xbox Series X|S hardware taking second place in both measures, meaning the long-running Nintendo Switch was in third place. Overall, total sales reached $5.86 billion for the month, a 7% drop year-over-year, a drop that was primarily driven by a decrease in hardware sales. 

Below, you can see the full details on the best-selling and most-played games of the month. As always, remember that some companies, such as Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive and Epic Games, do not share digital sales data, which is why games like Baldur's Gate 3 have been absent from most of the charts.

November 2023 Circana: Here are the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

2. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

3. Hogwarts Legacy

4. Madden NFL 24

5. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*

6. EA Sports FC 24

7. Super Mario RPG (2023)*

8. Mortal Kombat 1

9. NBA 2K24*

10. UFC 5

11. Assassin's Creed Mirage

12. Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

13. Sonic Superstars

14. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

15. God of War Ragnarok

16. NHL 24

17. Star Ocean: The Second Story R

18. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

19. Minecraft

20. Just Dance 2024 Edition

November 2023 Circana: Here are the best-selling games in the U.S. so far this year

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

 2. Hogwarts Legacy

3. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom*

4. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

5. Madden NFL 24

6. Diablo 4

6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

8. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

9. Mortal Kombat 1

10. Starfield 

11. Resident Evil 4 (2023)

12. EA Sports FC 24

13. MLB The Show 23**

14. Dead Island 2

15. Super Mario Bros. Wonder*

16. Final Fantasy 16

17. Street Fighter 6

18. FIFA 23

19. Elden Ring

20. Remnant 2

November 2023 Circana: Top 20 games played by platform

PlayStation:

1. Fortnite 

2. Call of Duty HQ

3. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

4. Grand Theft Auto V

5. Roblox

6. NBA 2K24

7. Mortal Kombat 1

8. Madden NFL 24

9. Apex Legends

10. Minecraft

11. Aliens: Fireteam Elite

12. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

13. Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

14. Gotham Knights

15. Overwatch 2

16. NBA 2K23

17. Dragon Ball: The Breakers

18. Rocket League

19. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

20. WWE WK23


Xbox:

1. Fortnite

2. Call of Duty HQ

3. Grand Theft Auto V

4. Roblox

5. Minecraft

6. Starfield

7. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

8. Apex Legends

9. NBA 2K24

10. Madden NFL 24

11. Gotham Knights

12. Forza Motorsport (2023)

13. Forza Horizon 5

14. Rocket League

15. Overwatch 2

16. Halo Infinite

17. Dead Space (2023)

18. Wild Hearts

19. Mortal Kombat 1

20. Madden NFL 23

Steam:

1. Counter-Strike 2

2. Lethal Company

3. Baldur's Gate 3

4. The Finals

5. Rocket League

6. Call of Duty HQ

7. Apex Legends

8. Cyberpunk 2077

9. Risk of Rain Returns

10. Risk of Rain 2

11. Destiny 2

12. BattleBit Remastered

13. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

14. Dead by Daylight

15. Team Fortress 2

16. Phasmaphobia 

17. Deep Rock Galactic

18. Rust

19. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege

20. Half-Life

Analysis: Great games selling well, but hardware is soft

The sheer variety of games in the best-seller lists and the most-played charts is great to see, and bodes well for the health of the industry overall. The drop in hardware sales is not great for such a busy month however. It's understandable for Nintendo Switch which is just super long-in-the-tooth now, but for PlayStation and Xbox, you'd think more people would want to grab discounted consoles over Black Friday. I'm curious how things continue to shake out in the coming weeks. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 content drop released on December 6.
• A free access weekend will be available from December 14 to December 18 for players who do not have MW3 to see the new content.
• The free access will be limited to 6 multiplayer maps 4 multiplayer modes, including access to Modern Warfare Zombies (MWZ) and Ground War.

If you've been on the fence about checking out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Sledgehammer Games and Activision are allowing you to slide into the game for free this weekend. For four days, starting December 14 and lasting until December 18, players on all platforms can have limited access to MW3's multiplayer mode and the brand-new Modern Warfare Zombies experience.

The limited free access will include the following maps:

• Terminal
• Highrise
• Rust
• Shipment
• Meat
• Afghan

As well as 4 multiplayer modes:

• Team Deathmatch
• Hardpoint
• Kill Confirmed
• Domination

The map rotation includes Meat, the small slaughterhouse-based map released for free with Season 1 that seems to have propelled itself into the same chaotic zeitgeist as Rust and Shipment, which are also part of the free access weekend. Shipment has become a Call of Duty multiplayer staple, and it was surprisingly rereleased into multiplayer rotation shortly after the launch of MW3. 

In addition to multiplayer, players who take advantage of the free weekend can dive into Ground War and Modern Warfare 3's new Zombies mode. As we covered in our review of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the new open-world Modern Warfare Zombies experience is built upon the DMZ, which was added to Modern Warfare 2 (2022). While the DMZ experience has been retired and does not receive new content, the MWZ has clearly taken the lessons learned during the DMZ era and used them to significantly improve the gameplay loop. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023), Modern Warfare 2 (2022), and Warzone joined the cloud streaming NVIDIA GeForce Now service on November 30. 
• The arrangement to add Call of Duty to GeForce Now cloud streaming was signed as part of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard King to appease regulators.
• Just 24 hours after the launch to cloud streaming, players are reporting on Reddit that their accounts have been banned.
• Call of Duty games use a proprietary anti-cheat software known as RICOCHET, which may be confusing the cloud streaming service as a means of cheating.

The accounts that were impacted by the enforcement issue have all been properly reinstated. 

The Call of Duty HQ, a hub that houses the two most recent Modern Warfare games alongside Warzone, was added to NVIDIA's GeForce NOW service on November 30. The launch into cloud streaming doesn't seem to be going quite as well as many had hoped. Players have taken to Reddit and Twitter to share that their Activision accounts are being banned after playing Call of Duty titles via the cloud. 

Microsoft signed an agreement with NVIDIA to add the Call of Duty franchise to their cloud streaming service to appease regulators concerned about the nascent market during the acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. The addition of the COD HQ to the cloud streaming service was the beginning of that agreement coming to fruition, with recent COD titles becoming available to play now via the cloud and Legacy COD titles coming later. 

However, Call of Duty's modern titles utilize a proprietary anti-cheat software called RICOCHET AntiCheat. RICOCHET has had problems with misconstruing software applications, including RGB controller software, as software that could be used to cheat in online multiplayer matches. When RICOCHET detects problematic software, anti-cheat mitigation measures are activated, which may result in a ban on the Activision account the player was using. 

Some players have reported that they've appealed the bans received in the last 24 hours for playing the game via GeForce Now, but these bans have not been overturned in many cases. Neither NVIDIA, Activision, Microsoft, nor the developers behind Call of Duty have acknowledged concerns with RICOCHET or false bans through NVIDIA GeForce Now at the time of writing this. 

The latest addition to the 20-year-running franchise of blockbuster first-person-shooters was released just two weeks ago, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is already on sale for Black Friday. Save $10 on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 by picking it up at Walmart for just $60 and dive into the all-new Modern Warfare Zombies mode with your squad or revisit fan-favorite classic maps fully remastered for a new generation of Call of Duty. This deal is good for the cross-gen edition of Modern Warfare 3, playable on both the Xbox Series X and the Xbox One family of consoles.

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I'm going to give this game 1000 hours of my life

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has been hit with criticisms that the game is a DLC, an expansion at best, and only takes about 4 hours to play. As I wrote in my Modern Warfare 3 (2023) review, none of these have been my experience, and I'm already well over 100 hours deep into multiplayer and Zombies in just two weeks. 

The game includes a full campaign that takes approximately 10–12 hours to complete, depending on your skill level. There is also a completely reworked multiplayer mode with changes made based on community feedback and an open-world Zombies mode — a first for the Modern Warfare series.

I played Modern Warfare 3's predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, for over 1000 hours, completing every battle pass and hitting max prestige. I fully expect I will do the same in Modern Warfare 3, not just because I enjoy Call of Duty, but because I find Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer modes to be more enjoyable than what MW2 offered. Changes to movement and improvements to hardcore and other game modes have made the multiplayer experience more enjoyable. 

Despite launching just weeks ago, players are already gearing up for the start of MW3's Season 1 content drop on December 6, which will include never-before-seen multiplayer maps, a new battle pass, and new end-game content for Modern Warfare Zombies. If MW3 stays on the same path as MW2, we can look forward to a total of 6 new seasons complete battle passes, new maps, and Zombies story content — plenty to keep us all coming back throughout the year.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, launched on November 10.
• The game is the first to be released following the high-profile acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. 
• MW3 (2023) is the lowest-rated Call of Duty title and has been the subject of review bombing efforts. 
• Despite player backlash, Activision has shared that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has broken records for hours played and player engagement.

Sledgehammer Games and Activision have declared Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 a record breaker with a release of limited player details. Two weeks after the game's launch, which has been marred by review bombing efforts, MW has seen the highest player engagement rate out of the three entries in the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy. Modern Warfare 3 has also seen more hours per player overall than MW 2019 and MW2 2022, as well as more time per player in the campaign.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's new zombies mode has also broken records, earning the top spot as the most engaging third mode in Modern Warfare history. 

Treyarch Studios developed the MWZ for Modern Warfare, the first time the series has offered a Zombies playlist. Previously, Modern Warfare's third mode revolved around Special Ops playlists, with Modern Warfare 2 introducing the DMZ. 

To celebrate, players can look forward to a 'triple feed' of double XP during the holiday weekend, including Double XP, Double Weapon XP, and Double Battle Pass XP. Modern Warfare 3 is still in its preseason phase, with MW3 Season 1 and a brand-new battle pass coming to players on December 6.

The launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 marked the first time a direct sequel had been released the year following its predecessor. The campaign has been criticized by some as a "$70 DLC", owing to reports that Modern Warfare 3 was originally intended to be a Year 2 expansion for Modern Warfare 2 (2022). Sledgehammer Games has also faced criticism for its portrayal of Russians in the MW3 campaign. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the first title in the COD franchise to be released under the Xbox banner, launching just a few short weeks after Microsoft closed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. The franchise was at the center of concerns for the Federal Trade Commission, who were concerned that Xbox would weaponize the franchise by making COD worse for PlayStation players, an accusation that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer denied.

We wish you a very merry CODMAS! I know, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is not even a month old. Season 1 is here, though, and its bringing holiday cheer to all the good little Operators of Urzikstan. Here's a breakdown of the new weapons, battle pass, maps, and operators coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone with Season 1. 

Call of Duty: MW3 Season 1 — Release date and time

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 will go live on December 6 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET across all platforms. 

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Call of Duty: MW3 season 1 — new multiplayer maps

Sledgehammer Games put all their chips in the nostalgia basket for Modern Warfare 3, with 16 maps at launch that were remakes of every map from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009). While the overall community response to this has been positive, there are still a few folks who want new maps to sink their teeth into. 

Even before Modern Warfare 3 was released, the development teams behind the first-person shooter were open that seasonal content would include new, never-before-seen maps. Now they're ready to deliver on that promise. Modern Warfare 3 will receive 4 new maps during Season 1.

Meat

How is that for a new map name. Say hello to Meat, a compact map centered around the East Bay Meats slaughterhouse. Call of Duty fans love their small maps. From Rust to Shipment to Das Haus to Nuketown, small maps dominate. 

They're great for boosting your Kill/Death ratio, they're a lot of fun for demolitionists who want to torment everybody with launchers and noob tubes, and they're great for knocking out camo challenges. It's too early to know for sure if Meat will join the ranks of the greatest compact maps, but we can get our loadouts with a noob tube ready in the meantime.

Meat is particularly designed to allow you to make use of the new Tac-Stance ability and Modern Warfare 3's operator agility as you weave through the small confines of a meat locker and processing center. The outer loading dock will over longer sight lines for those who are grinding out those sniper camos. 

Meat will be available with the launch of Season 1 and on all 6v6 playlists.

Greece

The Call of Duty team hasn't given up their efforts to get everybody to embrace underwater gunfights. Greece is a mid-sized Mediterranean-inspired map based on an undisclosed coastal town. From the screenshot alone, it has the potential to be one of the prettiest maps CoD has ever offered.

The map is idyllic, though there are burning yachts on the shore. Take your offense underwater in the canal or the sea, or look for those vantage points where you can look down on your foes.

Greece will be available at launch for Season 1 on all 6v6 playlists.

Rio

Fans of close-quarters combat can look forward to Rio, a bright and colorful map with elegant streets and an upscale shopping center that reportedly offers tight engagement zones. Like Meat, Rio has the potential to scratch the itch for those of us looking for our next small map to bombard with every explosive available in-game. Enemies can be engaged in the tight quarters of the mall, or take the fight outside to the vibrant streets. A covered walkway, garage, and vehicles give players ample vantage points, so don't forget to look up.

Rio will be available on all 6v6 playlists when Season 1 Reloaded launches.

Training Facility

2v2 Gunfight was a popular game mode for Call of Duty that was surprisingly absent from MW3 at launch. It will be returning to playlist rotation in Season 1, with fan-favorite maps returning alongside an all-new map. Training Facility is a complete training course used by Konni Group set in the remains of an old warehouse. 

With a central shoot house and plenty of verticality and climbing opportunities for the operators who like to look down on their unsuspecting foes, you can use your enhanced abilities to achieve the best angles for your weapons.

Training Facility will be available in 2v2 Gunfight when Season 1 launches.

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Call of Duty: MW3 season 1 — new multiplayer modes

Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer will be getting 3 new modes at launch, with more to arrive in the midseason Reloaded update. Popular modes from Call of Duty past will make a return, while some brand-new limited-time modes will make their first appearances. 

All or Nothing (FFA)

Some may remember All or Nothing from Black Ops' wager playlist way back when, others may remember it for its iterations in various Black Ops and Modern Warfare games since. With Season 1, All or Nothing will be added to Modern Warfare 3 for the first time. 

The game mode allows operators to deploy with nothing more than a throwing knife and no ammo. After getting one kill with a throwing knife, players earn the scavenger perk, which then allows them to retrieve ammo for their sidearm pistol. The first player to get 20 kills with any combo of throwing knife or pistol eliminations wins.

All or Nothing will be available at Season 1 launch.

Gunfight (2v2)

2 versus 2 mode Gunfight will be returning to the playlist rotation, with players thrown onto a small map for a round-based match with random weapon loadouts. There are no respawns, so make your shots count here. The assigned loadouts change every round, with 6 rounds lasting 40 seconds each. 

At the end of 40 seconds, if there are players on both teams still alive, an overtime flag will spawn. The first team to capture the overtime flag or eliminate the enemy team will win. If both teams for some reason wait out the 10-second duration of the overtime flag, whichever team has the most health will win. 

In addition to the new Training Facility map specifically for 2v2 Gunfight, Season 1 will carry forward Gunfight maps from Modern Warfare 2 (2022). This carry-forward list includes Alley, Blacksite, Exhibit, and Shipment. Gunfight will be available at Season 1 launch.

Team Gunfight (6v6)

If you like the sound of Gunfight but want to play with a larger squad, your time as near! Team Gunfight will feature teams of 6 playing on standard Multiplayer maps with randomized loadouts and no respawns. It's hectic, risky, and you'll need to prove your team is the best at adapting to weaponry in the heat of a fight. 

Team Gunfight will arrive with the midseason Reloaded update.

Vortex (LTM)

Vortex is a brand-new, limited-time free-for-all mode coming to Modern Warfare 3 with the mid-season Reloaded update.  One player will be armed with the infamous Raygun from Call of Duty Zombies. Other players will need to eliminate the Operator with the Raygun if they want a taste of it for themselves. Vortex will take place on three remixed multiplayer maps: Satan's Quarry, Sporeyard, and Tetanus. 

CODMAS: Santa's Slayground (LTM)

While The Haunting is, by far, my favorite Call of Duty holiday event, I do still hold so much love for CODMAS. Last year, Infinity Ward gave us the Klaus operator skin and the Shipmas map. This year, Sledgehammer Games has gone a little more grim for the season. Santa Gnaws will be joining the slayground with the return of holiday-themed maps Shipmas and Hangover. There will be a full, limited-time event slated around the holidays, though we'll need to wait until Midseason to get more details.

At least Krampus isn't back. IS HE?

Infected

If you've ever played Call of Duty or Halo, you've been roped into an infected match at least once. One player is chosen at random to be infected, and it's up to them to eliminate the other survivors. Dead survivors reanimate and return as infected players, and the swarm grows as humanity dwindles. 

Infected will be added to Modern Warfare 3 playlist rotation with the Season 1 Reloaded update.

Headquarters

Truth be told, I've put well over 100 hours into Modern Warfare 3 (2023) and didn't even notice that Headquarters wasn't part of the playlist rotation. An HQ location spawns on the map and players must hold it down as it slowly rotates around the combat area. It's not one of my favorite modes, but it will be returning with the Season 1 Reloaded update. If you've missed Headquarters, this is your CODMAS present.

Ranked play

Giving us an exceptional Zombies experience wasn't enough for Treyarch. The team has been working in partnership with Sledgehammer Games to bring Ranked Play to Modern Warfare 3 during Season 1 Reloaded. Built upon the foundations of Ranked Play from MW2 (2022), the mode will be updated with new rewards, MW3 maps, weapons, and loadout content. 

Ranked Play is a stand-alone competitive Multiplayer mode that leverages Call of Duty League approved rules, restrictions, maps, and modes. Players are given a visible skill rating and can earn rewards across multiple Skill Divisions and Tiers. A Top 250 Leaderboard is available for those who want to prove themselves as a top Operator. 

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Call of Duty: MW3 Season 1 — New perks and killstreaks

Assassin Vest

The new Assassin Vest in Modern Warfare 3 will remove a player's option to have a field upgrade, but in exchange, the Operator won't leave behind enemy skulls after an elimination. They also become immune to UAV and radar effects, even if stationary. When the Assassin Vest is equipped alongside Ghost T/V camo gear the effect does not stack but instead is replaced with the Hijacked IFF Strobe gear.

The Assassin Vest features two tactical and lethal slots, along with three gear slots: Glove, boots, and gear.

Swarm

Unleash the hell of a swarm of mosquito drones on the battlefield, providing blanket coverage to an area. The Swarm will require 15 kills, or 1875 points if you're using the Scorestreak system, to earn.

EMP

One of my personal favorite killstreaks is finally back. The EMP is an electromagnetic pulse that disrupts enemy killstreaks and equipment. It can be a bear to earn, however, requiring 13 kills or 1625 points.

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Call of Duty: MW3 Season 1 — Zombies update

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode was a first for the MW series. Built on the foundations of Infinity Ward's DMZ, Zombies offers an open-world take on the classic mode, where players can complete objectives while active on a version of Urzikstan that has been overrun by the undead and mercenaries alike. Season 1 will bring new challenges and objectives to the MWZ, including a mysterious gateway that has opened up in the Exclusion Zone. 

Inside the Dark Aether Rift lies something sinister, challenging those who dare enter with a time-sensitive challenge that will require you to complete an objective before escaping—hopefully with your lives. Dark Aether Rifts are being introduced as a new end-game experience that players can master after completing seasonal missions. 

For rewards, a whole new set of schematics will be available to unlock, but doing so will certainly test your mettle.

Zombies Story Act 4

If you've just been mindlessly slaying hordes of the undead in the MWZ, you may be surprised to discover that the mode actually has its own self-contained story line. Told throughout cutscenes and various mission challenges that can be accomplished while in the exclusion zone, the Zombies story will be getting a 4th Act as part of Season 1. Operators will need to push further into the Exclusion Zone as a new anomaly appears.

Operation Deadbolt Strike Teams find themselves pulled through to the other side of the Dark Aether for the first time. A new story mission will launch Act 4, with tasks that test your abilities and prepare you for the fight ahead. New challenges, rewards, and a new set of prestige challenges will be coming to Zombies. Players can also look forward to a new Warlord battle, new wonder weapon to earn, and new schematics and acquisitions to obtains.

New weapon: V-R11 Wonder Weapon

I wouldn't necessarily dub the V-R11 a "new weapon", though its arrival in the MWZ Exclusion Zone will be the first time it is seen outside its original appearance in Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of the Dead DLC. The V-R11 is a lasered wonder weapon that does no damage to the zombie or human it is initially aimed at, instead converting that fearsome foe into a useful ally. 

MWZ already has the "brain rot" effect, which can be used to modify your weapon's ammunition so that zombies will turn on their undead brethren. The V-R11 will work similarly, though it will have the added benefit of forcing mercenaries on the battlefield to turncoat to your side, as well. 

Classified schematics

Three new schematics are coming to the MWZ. These include the Dog Bone, a classified legendary schematic that allows the player to summon a friendly Hell Hound to assist them in the exclusion zone. Previously, the only way to summon a hellhound was to collect four chunks of meat dropped at random by zombies and then drop them off at a dog house somewhere on the map. The new schematic allows you to keep a hellhound in your pocket and use it when you need it most, as opposed to hoping RNG gives you the goods.

The Golden Armor Plate schematic is also legendary and will replace the armor carrier with plates that automatically repair over time while also providing additional resistance. 

The last schematic being added at launch is the Aether Blade, a special throwing knife with infinite ammo and a boomerang-like effect. The Aether Blade can be thrown at an enemy, and it will locate the next nearest enemy to hit before returning to the Operator. 

Dokkaebi (Warlord)

If you've been following the story of the MWZ, you're aware that Terminus Outcomes has been up to some shady things in the exclusion zone. Jack Fletcher, the leader of Terminus, will deploy another Lieutenant to the battle space in the Season 1 Reloaded update. Prepare yourself for South Korean born Dokkaebi, an electronic warfare specialist with a fleet of self-programmed autonomous drones. 

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Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 — Welcome to Urzikstan

Welcome to Urzikstan. If you've played Modern Warfare Zombies since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launched, you've already had a chance to familiarize yourself a bit with the newest map coming to Call of Duty: Warzone. Urzikstan is an urban landscape with 11 major points of interest. 

Players will recognize locations such as the Popov Power Plant in the north and the Zaravan Suburbs to the south. Horizontal zip lines, a driveable train, and more ways to traverse Urzikstan will all be part of the Season 1 update. Modern Warfare 3's changes to movement will be coming to Warzone, as well, including the return of slide-cancelling and the addition of Tac-Stance.

Urzikstan will replace Al Mazrah as the 'big map' for Battle Royale modes, while players can still deploy into Ashika Island and Vondel, as well. The map includes an array of rural, industrial, and suburban zones. Developed by Raven Software, Urzikstan will offer 11 major points of interest that are named on the Tac Map with 27 additional, large-scale points of interest named on the in-game Compass.

A new map isn't all we can look forward to in Warzone. A major update will change the Call of Duty HQ, so you will no longer be disconnected from your squad when switching between multiplayer, zombies, and Warzone modes. 

Launch modes

All modes will be set on the new big map for the first 48 hours to celebrate the launch of Urzikstan, including Battle Royale and Plunder. Resurgence modes will receive areas of Urzikstan as a pool of locations, mixed in with Ashika and Vondel, as a limited time mode called Urzikstan Resurgence. This will give players the chance to focus on some of the more hot-drop friendly points of interest, including: 

• Orlov Military Base
• Popov Power
• Zaravan Suburbs

In-Season modes

With Season 1 Reloaded we can expect to see Lockdown return alongside the limited-time CODMAS mode Slay Ride Resurgence, which will be making its holiday debut. 

If you're worried about not being able to join the fun with your preferred squadsize, you can breathe a little easier. All squad sizes for Battle Royale on Urzikstan will be available all season long. This is a change to the previous rotating squad playlists for Battle Royale on Al Mazrah.

Gameplay and movement changes

Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software have been working together to more closely align the gameplay mechanics between Warzone and Multiplayer, starting with the bump to 150 health in core modes for MW3 multiplayer. With Season 1, this will expand to changes to movement mechanics in Warzone to align more with MW3's movement. The following movement changes will be implemented with Season 1 launch:

• Slide canceling.
• Tac-Stance.
• ADS while sliding.
• Running while reloading
• A slight movement boost when using the Stim Tactical.

The following gameplay changes, detailed on the Call of Duty Blog for Season 1, can be expected at launch: 

• Backup Pistol: Always have a dedicated pistol when swimming or climbing ladders or ledge hanging, no matter your Loadout.
• Improved Water Combat: Alongside the dedicated pistol, improvements have been made to water visibility, such that it is now easier to see targets both when in and out of the water.
• Manual Gas Mask: You can now manually choose when to equip the Gas Mask. When looking at a Gas Mask on the ground, Players are presented with two options: Equip it, or Stow it. Equipping the Gas Mask will begin the equip animation of putting it onto their face. Stowing the Gas Mask will place it in the Backpack for Players to manually equip at a later time. As a result, the animation will no longer interrupt gameplay, and importantly, Players will only hear the heavy breathing sound effect while in the Gas.
• Experimental Gas Grenade: This Tear Gas Tactical now deals gas damage, and as such can be countered with an equipped Gas Mask.
• Dedicated Ammo Slots: Specific new Backpack slots cater to ammo, allowing quick and easy access. These slots will be automatically filled as Players find ammo. Additional ammo can still be stored in the all-purpose Backpack slots.
• Loot Rarity: Weapons, equipment, killstreaks, and more will now appear with a color-coded tooltip to indicate the value and rarity of the item, as well as if a weapon is from a “Custom Loadout”.
• Contract Activation Laptop: Players will now activate Contracts by interacting with larger, more easily identifiable laptops found throughout the map.
• Updated Tac Map Icons: The entirety of the Tac Map has been updated to better serve you, with a variety of easily distinguishable new icons.
• Classic Red Dots: The classic minimap will feature within Call of Duty: Warzone; firing unsuppressed weapons causes Operators to momentarily appear as a red dot on the minimap.
• Improved Loot Spreading: Players will now notice that the loot distribution and spread when opening a Supply Box or eliminating an enemy has received improvements to minimize loot overlap and facilitate loot identification.
• Quality of Life Carry Forward: For the new Chapter of Warzone, all existing Quality of Life improvements that have been made this year will carry forward.

New perks

New perks will be joining Warzone, though the perk system that is currently implemented in the free-to-play battle royale will continue.  Operators will choose from either a pre-set or a Custom Perk Package consisting of four perks which become active once the loadout is claimed.  Perk Packs can also be found as ground loot, dropped by enemy players or found in supply boxes.

Urzikstan has been designed with movement in mind, and so players will be equipped with some perks by default at all times. These include:

• Tac Pads: Improves slide distance and allows for full ADS while sliding, along with increased stance transition speeds.
• Commando Gloves: Enables reloading while running.
• Quick-Grip Gloves: Increases your weapon swap speed.
• Climbing Boots: Increases climbing and mantling speed aspect.
• Overkill: Allows you to pick two Primary Weapons.

Additionally, new and returning Perks exclusive to Call of Duty: Warzone are on the way and can be equipped as custom perks to your loadout: 

• Irradiated: Move faster and take less damage while in the gas.
• Tempered: Now also available as a Custom Perk, Tempered allows you to refill armor plates to full with two plates instead of three.
• Combat Scout: Bullets you fire briefly ping an enemy for you and your squad. Hitting the enemy from farther away increases the ping time.
• Resolute: When taking damage from gunfire, this grants a short bonus to movement speed.
• Shrouded: Drop a smoke grenade when downed.
• Mountaineer: Reduces fall damage.
• Stalker: Increased strafe and aim down sight movement speed.
• Escapist: Increased downed, prone, and crouch speed.
• Primed: Accuracy and time to aim down sight is improved while jumping.
• Faculty: Delay triggered explosives while sprinting, warns of nearby enemy equipment, and reduces combat noise.

Season 1 will see Warzone reach more than 30 total perks available to players: 5 of which are now default perks, 12 perks in Slot 1 and 2, 10 Perks in Slot 3, and 7 Perks in Slot 4. 

New gulag

You can't have a new map without a new Gulag. In addition to being a new environment, the Urzikstan gulag will come with new gameplay updates, as well.

• Ascender Overtime Finisher: Replacing the old overtime flag, players are now provided an exfil rope that drops into the middle of the Gulag during the match allowing extraction – but, be warned! You can both shoot, and be shot at, from the Ascender!
• Gulag Public Events: Several new Public Events may also occur within the Gulag, such as Go Again (an additional Gulag attempt if you lose the first fight), Cash Grab (more money on the floor with a big stack in the middle of the map) and Locked & Loaded Weapons (AMG + SMG Loadout with full armor), helping the victor by bringing back some much-needed power items into the match.
• Night Vision Gulag (In-Season): NVG has a new name, as the Gulag will occasionally go dark while equipping Operators with night-vision goggles for a fun new twist on the Gulag experience.

Addition content will come to Warzone with the midseason refresh early in 2024, including the Covert Exfil and Modern Warfare 2's weapon case challenge with new rewards.  A new Champion's Quest with fresh rewards will also be available for players who want their shot at nuking Urzikstan (or are brave enough to steal the quest from someone else.) 

Merry CODMAS!

The holidays are coming to Urzikstan with new challenges, rewards, and modes. Along with the limited time mode Slay Ride Resurgence, players can look forward to Deck the Halls. Santa has delivered presents to Urzikstan, but players will need to check the Tac Map to reveal their location and get to the trees in order to earn the rewards. Reaching a holiday tree sends up a flare, though, so be ready to stand your ground when other nearby operators are alerted to the possibility of good loot.  Those who hold the point will be gifted a chance to meet Zombie Santa.

Yes, Zombie Santa. You know what? Give me Krampus back. No? Fine.

Once an Operator gets a key from Deck the Halls, a "merry" portal appears, where players are taken to a fight against a zombified juggernaut Santa. Defeat the juggerclaus and loot his sack for your gifts.

Players can also look forward to Snowball fights in Urzikstan, with snowballs being available in Players' default loadouts or as ground loot represented by a snowflake icon on the tac map. The CODMAS event will also feature a new challenge during the 12-day event.

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Call of Duty: MW3 Season 1 — Battle pass, weapons, operators

A new season of content is not complete without new weapons, new operators, and a new battle pass that can be shared between Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Season 1 kicks things off strong with 5 new weapons along with a new host of Aftermarket parts.

XRK Stalker

The XRK Stalker is a one-hit elimination sniper rifle that players can unlock at launch in the A4 sector of the battle pass. The XRK sniper deals massive damage and his highly customizable. Don't be surprised if this sniper shows up in quickscoper loadouts.

RAM-7

The RAM-7 is a compact, bullpup assault rifle with a lightweight, polymer frame and chambered with 5.56 ammo. Built for power and mobility, the RAM-7 will knock out players at medium range and long with controlled bursts without sacrificing movement speed.

The RAM-7 can be unlocked via Battle Pass Sector A7.

Stormender

If you don't want to wait until you've racked up 13 kills to hit the enemy with an EMP, the Stormender may be for you. This weapon system fires a localized EMP on a slight delay, destroying tactical and lethal equipment and disabling other electronic devices. The Stormender is powerful enough to shoot down specific killstreaks, including drones, thanks to lock on capabilities. Unlimited recharging ammo and the ability to disable and delay equipment can give Support Operators a serious advantage on the battlefield.

The Stormender can be unlocked via Battle Pass Sector A12.

HRM-9

Looking for a light, stable 9mm submachine gun for those close quarters engagements? The HMR-9 has a high fire rate and is excellent for aggressive run-and-gun players who need to dispatch and move on quickly.  With the right attachments, the HMR-9 can hold its own in a mid-range gun fight without sacrificing too much movement speed.

The HRM-9 can be unlocked by completing armory challenges later in the season.

TAQ Evolvere

The TAQ is one of my favorite assault rifles in Modern Warfare, but I often find the LMG variants to be too cumbersome to my personal playstyle. However, the TAQ Evolvere may change my mind as it is an adnvanced, multi-caliber LMG capable of firing both 7.62 or 5.556 rounds. The light machine gun can take down infantry and artillery, and is suitable with a wide variety of attachments.

The TAQ Evolvere will be available midseason.

New aftermarket parts

New aftermarket parts will be coming to Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, allowing you to equip your very own flamethrower to certain weapons, among other new parts. The Jak Beholder Rifle Kit  includes the following parts as described on the Call of Duty blog:

JAK Purifier

Compatability: MCW, MTZ-556, Holger 556, DG-56, SVA 545, RAM-7, MTZ-762, BAS-B, Sidewinder, Riveter

Equip an underbarrel flamethrower. What more needs to be said? Burn it all down. The JAK Purifier AMP is compatible with several weapons, including multiple Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles, and the Riveter Shotgun.

 JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit

Compatability: AMR9

Available for the AMR9 SMG, this kit creates two stacked barrels that fire simultaneously. This offers twice as much down-range damage at the cost of some accuracy.

JAK Thunder LMG Kit

Compatability: Sidewinder (BR)

Dominate lanes and hold objectives with this LMG conversion kit for the Sidewinder Battle Rifle that brings a large capacity magazine and ramps in fire rate the longer you hold down the trigger.

JAK BRB

Compatability: Many Assault Rifles, Submachine Guns, Battle Rifles, Marksman Rifles, and Sniper Rifles.

Go loud. This compensator borders on excessive, offering a phenomenal reduction to recoil while significantly increasing muzzle report, resulting in an extended red dot on enemy radars. 

JAK Bullseye

Compatability: [[REDACTED]]

Very low-profile dot Optic. Limited interference from framework offers an exceptionally clear sight picture.

JAK Glassless Optic

Compatability: [[REDACTED]]

This small, glassless reflex Optic offers a crisp and clear sight picture for snappy target acquisition. 

JAK Signal Burst

Compatability: Holger 556 (AR)

A conversion kit designed for accuracy and controllability with four-round bursts.

 JAK Beholder Rifle Kit

Compatability: TYR (Handgun)

A long and heavy barrel that offers the best increase to range. Improves recoil control and damage range, converting this Handgun into a single-shot Rifle. 

JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion

Compatability: Rival-9 (SMG)

Rival Assault Rifles with this three-round burst conversion kit that excels at midrange combat.

New operator: Nolan

Nolan is a distinguished soldier and Makarov's right-hand man as an integral leader of Konni Group.

New Operator: Dokkaebi

Dokkaebi will make an appearance as a playable operator at launch, in addition to her arrival as a Warlord boss in the MWZ.  

New operator: Abolisher

Info about Abolisher is redacted, but players can expect to find this BlackCell operator on the SpecGru side of the fight.

New operator bundles

As always, there will be a slate of new Operator and mastercraft bundles hitting the Call of Duty store during Season 1. Among them are Santa Gnaws, Dune Part 2 including Paul Atreides or Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen operators, and the new Painted Alebrijie weapon bundle.

New prestiges and weekly challenges

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will keep with the same Prestige system we've seen in previous modern iterations of the franchise. The preseason capped player levels at 55, and Season 1 will go beyond that to unlock Prestige 1 at level 56. New challenges bring new rewards to earn as players make their way to Prestige 5, which unlocks at rank 250 and will be the new level cap until the end of Season 1. The Prestige rewards include:

• Prestige 1: Unlocked at Rank 56
  • Emblem Reward
  • MP: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • MWZ: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
• Prestige 2: Unlocked at Rank 100
  • Emblem Reward
  • MP: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • MWZ: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
• Prestige 3: Unlocked at Rank 150
  • Emblem Reward
  • MP: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • MWZ: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
• Prestige 4: Unlocked at Rank 200
  • Emblem Reward
  • MP: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • MWZ: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
• Prestige 5: Unlocked at Rank 250 and the level cap until the end of Season 1.
  • Emblem Reward
  • MP: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • MWZ: Four Calling Card Challenges, one Prestige 1 Mastery Calling Card Challenge.
  • Blueprint Reward: “Venomous” Blueprint for the MTZ-556 AR, with a focus on ADS Speed, Sprint to Fire Speed, and Sprint Speed.

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The future of DMZ

The introduction of the DMZ to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 saw the mode enter a Beta period that it seemingly will never leave. The DMZ Beta was a labor of love by Infinity Ward, who was rumored to have begun work on the mode in 2018. While DMZ continued to receive seasonal updates and RAID content during the Modern Warfare 2 (2022) post-launch cycle, it will not continue to be supported into the MW3 era. 

With the launch of Season 1, the DMZ will remain a free-to-play mode for players via the Call of Duty: Warzone section of the COD HQ. The Beta will remain fully playable with all current DMZ content, including Al Mazrah, Ashika Island, the Koschei Complex, Building 21, Vondel, and all DMZ missions. However, cross-progression and support between DMZ and Warzone/MW3 will cease, and players will not be able to progress their battle pass nor use new store bundles in the DMZ beyond where it is at this time. 

In a statement about the decision on the future of the DMZ, the Call of Duty team recognized that players may feel frustrated at the lack of cross-progression for the mode. However, "we felt now was the time to take all the learnings from the Beta that we could apply toward future development efforts as we evolve this style of play. We also know that many players still enjoy the mode and wanted to ensure that everybody can keep playing, which is why we are keeping a variety of content available."

Players can expect the Call of Duty dev teams to continue building upon dynamic open-world experiences, similar to DMZ and MWZ, in the future.

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I've long since come to feel like it's Call of Duty, not shopping centers, that marks the kick-off to the holiday season. The franchise is decidedly punctual, launching a new premium title annually for the last 20 years. It's a system that would seem unsustainable, and yet Activision — with the power of more than a dozen studios under their umbrella — manages to pull it off. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the latest entry to release and the first direct sequel for the series, seems like another successful annual launch on the surface. The game has come under heavy criticism and has been the subject of a review bomb by players who believe they're being charged full AAA pricing for what is perceived to be a DLC or expansion to Modern Warfare 2.

My love for Call of Duty is well documented, but even I had a list of changes I hoped Sledgehammer Games would make for Modern Warfare 3. Now that the game is live, I've had the chance to complete the campaign blind on Veteran, reach the preseason level cap in multiplayer, and work my way through MWZ. 

I have some thoughts.

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What is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the third release in the first-person shooter series, and the first time the franchise has seen a direct sequel be released the year after its successor. The game features a campaign that typically lasts 8 to 10 hours and follows the events of Task Force 141, a rag-tag team of special agents assembled by Captain Price, as they attempt to stop Russian ultranationalists from kicking off World War 3. 

The events in Modern Warfare 3 (2023) are a continuation of the events set in motion when the Modern Warfare franchise was rebooted in 2019. Before 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games developed by Infinity Ward and Call of Duty: Black Ops campaigns developed by Treyarch were on separate in-game timelines and development engines. 

This became a problem, however, when Call of Duty: Warzone launched in 2020. The success of Warzone led to a decision by Activision that the free-to-play battle royale would serve as a hub that would tie together the franchise. With each game on its own timeline and development engine, integration with Warzone led to a bloated, confusing mess. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 brought with it Warzone 2.0, and the all-new Call of Duty HQ hub that would house all Call of Duty titles built on the same engine going forward. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was plagued with pre-release discourse by the community and insiders over whether the game was a premium title like we were accustomed to, or if it was an expansion of some sort to Modern Warfare 2. This even led to a tweet from Barry Sloane, the actor who portrays Captain Price, where he declares that Modern Warfare 3 is not an expansion.

The actual release of the game has led to some extra confusion over whether it is a DLC. Call of Duty HQ (or just Call of Duty) is the launcher currently being used to house Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Warzone, and now Modern Warfare 3. Because the game is housed in a catch-all launcher, the addition of 1000 gamer score and a new achievement list was included as an update to the existing Modern Warfare 2 achievement list. 

At the end of the day, whether you consider it a standalone or a DLC, the question remains whether the content provided is worth the price being charged. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 includes a campaign, multiplayer, and an all-new Modern Warfare Zombies experience, and costs $70. A vault edition costing $100 is also available and includes access to the Blackcell operator bundles for multiplayer when Season 1 goes live in December. 

Modern Warfare 3 is the first Call of Duty title to be released in a post-acquisition era, as Microsoft closed the deal to purchase Activision Blizzard King in October. While the game can technically be considered a first-party title for Microsoft, neither Microsoft nor Xbox leadership had a hand in its development. Modern Warfare 3 is also released under an ongoing market agreement between Activision and PlayStation. Despite Microsoft's ownership of the Call of Duty franchise, the legal and regulatory investigation into the acquisition resulted in a delay in Xbox's ability to add Activision Blizzard's catalog to Game Pass. Activision announced a potential timeline of Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo IV joining Game Pass sometime in 2024. 

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Performance and stability

I played the campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on the Xbox Series X. I enjoy the campaign as an immersive cinematic experience, and so I find the campaign is best with a stable frame rate at 4K resolution. The Xbox Series X did not disappoint, and I did not experience any crashes, frame rate dips, or game-breaking glitches during my time with the campaign. 

There were a few bugs and issues in Modern Warfare 3. For example, if I had a self-revive during Open Combat missions but died before I could use it, the game would continue to prompt me to hold Y to self-revive, even as it reloaded the checkpoint. Beyond the one visual snafu, there wasn't anything performance-altering in the campaign on Xbox Series X.

When it comes to multiplayer in Call of Duty, I prefer the competitive experience of playing on PC. This is where I ran into significantly more performance issues. I played Modern Warfare 3 on Steam via a gaming desktop equipped with a Ryzen 5 5800X, a Gigabyte RTX 3070Ti, and 32 GB of RAM. Despite updating my drivers, I still experience random game crashes. 

These crashes occur in both multiplayer and zombies, and there isn't an event that can trigger or reproduce the crash. These sorts of crashes were incredibly common in Modern Warfare 2 on Steam, as well, and they seem to have resurfaced with the addition of MW3. 

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Visuals and soundtrack

The integration of premium Call of Duty titles and Warzone means that going forward, Call of Duty titles are built upon Infinity Ward's engine. MW2 and Warzone 2 were built on IW9, and there have been little, if any, adjustments in visuals for Modern Warfare 3 on the ground level. So little has changed that weapons, weapon camos, and even operator skins were able to be carried forward into Modern Warfare 3. 

That certainly isn't a knock to Modern Warfare 3, though. MW2 was only just released a year ago, and IW9 is nowhere near being an outdated engine. In both cinematics and gameplay, lead developers Sledgehammer Games and the teams responsible for providing development support have created a world that looks realistic and believable. The attention to detail, especially concerning remastering classic maps for multiplayer, is particularly notable. 

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Story and world

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2 (2022), though like its predecessors, it draws plenty of inspiration from the original Modern Warfare trilogy. Fan favorite characters return to take their place as Task Force 141: Captain Price, Simon "Ghost" Riley, Johnny "Soap" MacTavish, and Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. Recognizable support characters such as Kate Laswell and Farah Karim join the battle against returning villain Vladimir Makarov. 

Players may remember that Makarov, the Russian ultranationalist with a taste for particularly vile acts of terrorism, was previously imprisoned in a Russian gulag. Modern Warfare 3 opens with players joining the Konni group to infiltrate said gulag, inciting a riot, and freeing prisoner 627. Players got a taste of this mission when Modern Warfare 3 was revealed at 2023's Summer Games Fest Opening Night Live. Prisoner 627 turns out to be Makarov, and from there on it is up to players as members of Task Force 141 to put a stop to Makarov before he can carry out his ultimate plan of instigating World War 3.

Without diving into spoiler territory, there was one standout from the campaign that struck me as unusual. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 dedicated a large portion of the game's storytelling to developing the South American region of Las Almas, and introduced a support member to Task Force 141 in Alejandro Vargas. 

Vargas, a Tier One Mexican Special Forces operator, is never seen or mentioned in Modern Warfare 3, despite his character's prominence in MW2. Even as some missions offer flashback sequences. For a direct sequel, it is pretty wild to just completely skip over and ignore major components of the predecessor's story.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Gameplay

Premium annual Call of Duty titles typically have three major gameplay components: a single-player campaign, PvP multiplayer, and a PvE or PvEvP co-op mode. Modern Warfare 3 is no exception, launching with a single-player campaign, a multiplayer experience featuring remastered fan-favorite maps from Modern Warfare 2 (2009), and the addition of Modern Warfare Zombies. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 campaign

I grew up on the action films of the late 80s and early 90s, and I like to blame my fondness for ridiculous plots to stop World War 3 on that upbringing. It's probably, at least in part, why I'm a huge fan of Call of Duty. The annual campaigns are usually massive blockbusters, with these larger-than-life cinematic moments that just grip you and pull you into the world even when the willing suspension of disbelief is at its thinnest. There's no logical way what is being displayed on the screen could be real, and yet I'm so very here for it.

Modern Warfare 2 had a few of these huge, dramatic sequences. The most memorable for me is when Kyle "Gaz" Garrick falls from a helicopter and is suspended upside down as enemies loaded onto trucks and motorcycles are zipping by in the mission "Violence and Timing". It's an absurd sequence, totally gratuitous and just fun. So of course, Sledgehammer Games had some pretty big shoes to fill when it comes to the campaign. I was looking for those blockbuster moments that would remind me I was playing Call of Duty.

But there really wasn't any. That is not to say that the campaign is boring. I had a great time with it just the same, but there was a special flare that just felt like it was missing this go around.

The lack of this big climactic moment was compounded by the pacing in Modern Warfare 3's final act. Sledgehammer Games' previous title, Call of Duty: WWII, suffered from a similar pitfall. That game spent 6–7 hours building up tension and laying the groundwork for the story, only to just drop a 20-minute conclusion. There isn't enough meat in the middle to make the story feel balanced, and the conclusion feels less satisfying.

Modern Warfare 3 sits in that same trap. I was waiting for this major turn of events only to roll credits, at which point I sat down the controller and said, "There's no way it ends just like that. It can't." It does.

I spent approximately 10 hours in Modern Warfare 3's campaign. I played it on Veteran and found the game to be a considerable challenge, even a bit more difficult than Modern Warfare 2 (which I completed on Veteran in under 8 hours.) The campaign's Open Combat Missions certainly add to the difficulty, as the ability to succeed or fail is based on your strategic planning along with your general aiming skill. It's not enough to simply drop everybody with a suppressed weapon and throwing knife, as reinforcements will just spawn in. You need to plan.

However, the Open Combat Missions were certainly billed as replayable sequences similar to Spec Ops mode that would give the player the power to choose who lives or dies. That turned out to be less than true in practice. Semi-open missions are not new to Call of Duty, and there wasn't anything standout about OCMs in Modern Warfare 3 beyond the sort of "plan a route and accomplish the goal by taking out who you want." mechanic. There were unlockable weapons and kill streaks littered around to find, but they ultimately just felt like you were hunting for collectibles. 

While I prefer linear campaign missions, I do see the Open Combat Missions that are in Modern Warfare 3 in their current state as a shortfall for Modern Warfare 3. Not because they're semi-open, but because they underperform on the promises that were sold to us leading up to the game's launch. These were supposed to be explosive narratives with branching paths and different endings depending on your choices. However, we never actually see any of that in the game itself.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer

Like previous Call of Duty titles, Modern Warfare 3 brings with it a brand-new multiplayer experience. Brand-new might be doing a little heavy lifting in that sentence, as a lot of elements from Modern Warfare 2 were brought to MW3 thanks to a new "Carry Forward" policy. Players were dissatisfied when Warzone was moved to Warzone 2.0 and cut off from operator bundles and weapon blueprints, among other things they had purchased via microtransactions.

"Carry Forward" is intended to be a solution to that, allowing players to still use the items they earn from battle passes and purchase in the Call of Duty store across more than just the game it originates in. There are some downsides, however, as weapons in Modern Warfare 3 that were already unlocked and maxed out in Modern Warfare 2 carried forward with their existing levels and unlocks. This limits the number of items available for players to unlock as they progress through the levels and eventually the prestige system.

Operators and weapon blueprints aren't all that multiplayer is made up of, however. The maps and playlists are vital to the multiplayer experience. Modern Warfare 3 (2023) remasters maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009). This era was widely considered the height of multiplayer for the franchise, and to remake these maps as the teams are celebrating 20 years of COD makes perfect sense.

Modern Warfare 2 (2009) was my very first Call of Duty experience, it's when I fell in love with the series. Looking up to see those classic maps with all their quirks and charm on the screen was the gaming equivalent of going home. It felt good. Every time I played Mercado Las Almas on Modern Warfare 2 (2022) I uttered the sentence "What I wouldn't give to have Favela back." to the point that my friends were probably tired of hearing it. Now here we are, running around on Favela.

When I played the Beta for Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer, I had some concerns about the "time-to-kill" (TTK). Sledgehammer Games decided to increase player health to 150, putting Multiplayer's TTK on par with that of Warzone. Initially, I considered the TTK a chance for players to actually engage in active gunplay. However, as I spent more time playing the game on core gameplay modes, I felt like the TTK was a slog that slowed things down a bit too much.

Now that multiplayer is out, and I am back in a hardcore game mode, however, I find myself enjoying the slightly higher TTK once again. Players still drop quickly with a well-equipped weapon, and the overall pace of the game is not slowed as dramatically in hardcore as it was in core playlists.

I would dare to say that MW3 has been one of my favorite takes on multiplayer since Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. 

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 zombies

Zombies and Call of Duty go hand-in-hand. Kind of. The Modern Warfare series has never had a Zombies mode in the past. There's been Spec ops, and there was even that really weird alien extraction mode once. Zombies, though? Not in my Modern Warfare! 

Until now.

Modern Warfare Zombies is an open-world take on the Zombies as it makes its first foray into the Modern Warfare series. It blends gameplay similar to what was released with Modern Warfare 2 (2022)'s DMZ. Players can team up with 2 of their favorite squad mates and dive in for 45 minutes of access to Urzikstan (which will be coming to Warzone as a battle royale map with Season 1.). 

Urzikstan is overrun by the dead, with the map divided into 3 different zones of increasing difficulty. The white zone is a low-level threat on the outer edges of the map, and players can freely roam without too much interference from zombies or mercenaries. The orange zone is an increased risk, with armored zombies and an increased likelihood of running into boss zombies. Of course, the red zone is the most dangerous.

Much like DMZ, the MWZ mode has a series of quests that can be completed during your deployment into Urzikstan. The quests are fairly simple, ping a contract. Exfil a key card. Defeat a convoy. They become increasingly more complicated with increasing difficulty and are a great way to help familiarize yourself with what you're capable of doing while in MWZ. 

There is one misstep when it comes to the challenges, and it's an odd choice for MWZ because it wasn't a problem in the DMZ. Your squad mates can not help you progress your challenges. You have to grind them out on your own. If you and your teammate both need to take out a mercenary convoy, triggering a convoy to spawn and then taking them out will only be complete for one of you. You'll then need to exfil and redeploy into the zone again to trigger another convoy for the second squad mate, and then once more for the third. It leads to a ridiculous grind that does take away from the experience at least a bit.

Completing quests in the DMZ during Modern Warfare 2 was significantly more difficult as the experience was PvPvE, however, the MWZ is only PvE. While you do drop into Urzikstan with other random players, they're not able to attack you and the battle is everybody against the zombies as opposed to fighting each other. You can actually enjoy the quests and story since you're not worried about getting partway through a challenge and then getting picked off by a human player with a sniper across the map.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Accessibility and approachability

When many gamers think of Call of Duty, they envision the fast-paced action of multiplayer, the big blockbuster scenes, and the 360-no-scope-slide-cancel-movement-king behavior often seen in Warzone. For those with disabilities, it doesn't seem far-fetched to think that Call of Duty would not be approachable or accessible. However, COD has buckled down on offering accessibility settings in recent years, and with more than 500 adjustable settings, Modern Warfare 3 is the most accessible Call of Duty ever.

A new accessibility menu shortcut has been added to the navigation pane, making it easy to click into a simplified accessibility menu with just a single button click. The simplified menu offers preset accessibility solutions. These include simplified controls, low motor strain, audio/visual support, and motion reduction. 

All of these accessibility features can be toggled on or off with a switch to make sweeping changes to the game's settings. There is also a dialog box that displays what changes you can expect to see. Low motor strain settings, for example, are similar to what I (as a gamer with severe Rheumatoid Arthritis) have been using in Call of Duty for years: high sensitivity and low dead zones, along with automatic mantle and parachute deployment. Seeing these settings built-in without having to trudge through the options to track them down and change them myself was a surprise, albeit a very welcome one.

There's always room for improvement with accessibility, but the teams behind Call of Duty are certainly on the right path.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Final thoughts

It doesn't matter if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 started as an expansion. It doesn't matter if it is or isn't a DLC. What matters is that the game is billed as an AAA experience with a $70 price tag, and whether it is worth the price being charged for it.  At the end of the day, I believe it is. 

I'm not typically a fan of Sledgehammer Games' takes on Call of Duty, I find them to be the weakest of the three lead developer studios who work on the franchise. After spending a few days exploring Modern Warfare 3, and reading the recent reporting from Bloomberg about the game's 16-month development cycle (as opposed to the three years the teams usually have to work with) I have certainly garnered a renewed respect for this studio. 

Sure, the campaign story pacing could've used some work and OCMs could've had more impact, but the pure fun I've had in multiplayer and zombies has more than made up for any shortfalls of the campaign. 

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What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is out now, available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. 
• For those running the game on handhelds like the Steam Deck or the ASUS ROG Ally, there's an unfortunately easy way to get your innocent self shadowbanned for anywhere up to several days, or even permanently. 
• Call of Duty: MW3 uses a proprietary anti-cheat system called Ricochet. It tries to detect if third-party tools are running while playing games like MW3 to block and shadowban players using auto-aim hacks and other similar cheats. 
• Unfortunately, players using the ASUS ROG Ally overlays, TDP toggles, and other PC handheld features are finding themselves shadowbanned. 

Ricochet REALLY hates cheaters. It hates cheaters so much that it'll catch innocent users in the dragnet too. 

Ricochet is Call of Duty's proprietary anti-cheat toolkit. The initiative has been fairly successful in general, making life hard for those using aimbots or wall hacks on Windows PCs. Cheating on PC is a constant cat-and-mouse problem for competitive multiplayer game makers, as unscrupulous and mischievous scallywags constantly develop new hacks to sell, so people with a lack of validation in their lives can cheat at video games. Alas, as Ricochet gets more aggressive in its analysis, innocent users can and do get caught in the trap. 

Handheld gaming PCs like the ASUS ROG Ally and the Steam Deck have a number of onboard tools to make life easier for handheld gaming. Both platforms have overlays  similar to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S consoles in place of full mouse cursor navigation you'd find on a typical PC (although the Steam Deck has nifty trackpads for this as well). In any case, Call of Duty's Richochet, found in games like Modern Warfare 2, and this year's Modern Warfare 3, does not like the Steam Deck or the ASUS ROG Ally. It probably won't like the Lenovo Legion Go, either. 

Features that allow you to control the TDP limits manually on the ASUS ROG Ally and the Steam Deck seem to upset the Ricochet software, which can result in a shadow ban. There have also been reports that suggest simply interacting with the ASUS ROG Ally's Armoury Crate software can get you shadowbanned, too. 

Shadowbanned players can still play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and 3, as well as Warzone. But, they're put into a separate pool with all the other toxic players and cheaters that have received temp bans. This is obviously not a great experience for those in the pool. 

Shadowbans can last anywhere from 3 days up to being fully permanent, depending on the perceived offense. Appealing bans is also incredibly difficult. Activision is one of the few publishers out there with heavy investment in customer service, believe it or not, but the sheer overwhelming amount of tickets that pour in make it difficult to get your case reviewed promptly. 

So, how do you avoid getting shadow banned on Call of Duty? 

In the case of Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally players, adjusting your TDP limits or other settings before you go into a match, rebooting your system, and then going into a game can help you avoid shadow bans to some degree. Avoid interacting with the Armoury Crate overlay too to be absolutely sure, but it seems bans there pertain specifically to overlays, like the FPS meter and so on. 

I suspect certain anti-virus software or other tools on a regular Windows PC or gaming laptop can probably also trigger the Ricochet system and create false positives, although it's hard to prove without access to all of the data within Activision's Ricochet team. Defaulting back to Windows Defender, avoiding VPN use, and skipping on any sort of third-party gaming software running on top of Call of Duty should also help limit risk. You can get shadowbanned for "toxic" behavior, too, if people report you. 

The full enforcement document for Call of Duty and other Activision games can be found here. It details things like hardware spoofing, hardware mods, injectors, bots, and pretty much any unauthorized tool or modification as carrying a shadow ban risk. On PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, you will most likely get banned for behavior rather than hacks, owing to the onboard security these consoles have. 

You can appeal shadow bans as I mentioned, over here, but it's not always easy to do so. 

The latest Call of Duty game is here, and as always, there are some more wrinkles to iron out. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is now available, bringing a campaign and multiplayer developed by Sledgehammer Games, with a Zombies mode led by Treyarch. We're tracking the problems that players encounter across these modes, which is aided by official information from the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Trello Board. Here's everything you need to know:

MW3: List of multiplayer bugs and issues

Tac-Sprint delay

Right now, players are delayed from using the Tac-Sprint after sliding. This is not intended functionality, and Sledgehammer Games is currently working on a fix.

Pinging causes problems

While playing Search and Destroy, some players who spam the ping functionality in specific circumstances are seeing where the enemy team is located. Sledgehammer Games is investigating the problem, and has temporarily disabled pinging in Search and Destroy until a solution is found.

Karachi map removed from Cutthroat

Karachi is not in rotation for Cutthroat right now due to an issue causing mixed teams in the initial spawns at the start of a match. 

Quarry, Rundown, and Scrapyard removed from Hardpoint

The Quarry, Rundown, and Scrapyard maps are temporarily removed from the Hardpoint playlist due to spawn problems. 

Minimap red dots can sometimes be inaccurate

The minimap red dots indicating enemies are not accounting for elevation properly. Sledgehammer Games is currently investigating the problem. 

Bombsite A on Terminal is bugged

Players can currently plant a bomb at Bombsite A on Terminal in Search and Destroy from somewhere they shouldn't be able to. Sledgehammer Games is investigating the issue. 

FOV can be set higher than it should be following Infil

After Infil, players are sometimes able to set their field of view (FOV) higher than they should be. Sledgehammer Games is currently investigating the issue. 

2XP token causes UI to get stuck

When players use a 2XP token, there's a chance for the UI to get stuck on "Activating Token."

Sledgehammer Games is currently investigating the problem.

MW3: List of Zombies bugs and issues

Golden Enigma and Golden Ivory aren't unlocking in specific loadouts

A number of players are reporting that the Golden Enigma and Golden Ivory camos aren't unlocking for players with specific loadouts. Treyarch is investigating the problem, and is asking affected players to share their exact details when reaching out to support in order to collate as much data as possible.

FR 5.56 Digital Wildwood completion criteria is incorrect

Right now, the completion criteria for the FR 5.56 Digital Wildwood is listed incorrectly. Treyarch has identified this and will be fixing it in a future.

Battle Pass XP rates are not consistent

A large number of players are reporting that earning Battle Pass XP while playing Zombies is extremely inconsistent. Treyarch is investigating the problem. 

Missions in Act 2 don't automatically queue in-game

Missions for Act 2 aren't automatically queuing for players while in-game. Treyarch has a fix planned for this issue.

Workaround: Until the fix arrives, players can successfully complete Act 2 but will need to exfil after completing a mission to activate the next one.

Stay up to date

We're continuing to keep this list up to date, so if you encounter an issue that we don't have listed here, be sure to leave a comment and/or reach out to Activision support so that the developers can know about this problem. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Despite being the first Call of Duty game released under Microsoft as (technically) a first-party title, the game was almost entirely done with development when Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is not currently available on Xbox Game Pass. 

What you need to know

• Activision's Team RICOCHET has shared details about anti-cheat efforts for the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer launch, as well as ongoing efforts for mitigation in Call of Duty: Warzone.
• Team RICOCHET will utilize an AI model that has been trained to identify suspicious behavior like wall hacks, which will then alert the team to review submitted replays.
• Players confirmed to be cheating in Warzone will have their parachute disabled, sending them hurtling to the ground in a new mitigation known as Splat. 

A new update from Activision's Team RICOCHET provides players some fresh insight into anti-cheat mitigation efforts coming in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. Earlier in 2023, Team RICOCHET announced the Replay Investigation Tool and revealed that captured gameplay data was converted into videos internally, where the team could then review player matches and spot problematic behavior.  

While the Replay Investigation Tool has been effective, it is not necessarily a timely way to deal with potential cheaters. In a press release, Team RICOCHET revealed the team was reviewing approximately 700 replay clips on any given day. While some hacks, such as "rage hacking", are easy to spot the Replay Investigation Tool made it easier for the team to pinpoint more stealthy cheat mechanics, such as wall hacking.

To speed up the process of reviewing suspected cheating replays, Team RICOCHET has utilized machine learning to identify suspicious behavior. While a teammate can review around 700 replays a day, just one PC with Team RICOCHET's Machine Learning model can review up to 1000 clips per day. 

While machine learning will be utilized in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 it will also expand to all Call of Duty titles that are currently protected by RICOCHET: Anti-Cheat. This is not the first AI algorithm to be used as a moderator tool by Activision, as the Call of Duty enforcement team previously announced a partnership with Modulate to bring AI-powered voice chat moderation to the franchise.

In addition to machine learning and AI, Team RICOCHET also employs amusing and humiliating mitigation tactics to deter cheaters in both multiplayer and Warzone. In the past, the team has discussed using tactics such as hallucinations and cloaking. These tactics allow the cheater to stay in the game longer so that data about hacking and cheating efforts can be collected by the team without the player being able to affect the game's outcome for others. 

The newest trick in Team RICOCHET's bag of tricks is called Splat. When a player launches into Call of Duty: Warzone with confirmed cheats active, they are typically kicked out immediately. However, for those who do slip through the cracks, Splat will randomly disable the player's parachute in the game. This results in a rather humorous instant death when they hit the ground without a parachute. If a cheater manages to deploy without their parachute disabling, then Splat can adjust player velocity. An innocent bunny hop becomes a 10,000-foot drop of doom.

As with all mitigation tactics, Splat will only turn on when a player is verified to be cheating, and other players can not trigger Splat by false reporting. It can not be accidentally activated, either. So if you're watching your favorite Twitch streamer load up Call of Duty: Warzone this week and they randomly plummet to the ground — their controller batteries probably didn't die.

According to Team RICOCHET, more than 80,000 accounts have been banned across Call of Duty: Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 in the lead-up to the launch of Modern Warfare 3. The team reiterated that these bans are from confirmed cheaters who are using hacks and that spam reporting does not result in an increased likelihood of action being taken against a player's account. When a player files a report, the system only considers the first report and further throttles additional reports from that player to prevent spam reporting.

While reports can raise a red flag for Team RICOCHET, it does not result in action without other confirmed cheat detections. Spam reporting is also a violation of the Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy.

Another year means another Call of Duty game. 

This time around, players are getting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. With development led by Sledgehammer Games, this is a direct sequel to last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which had development led by Infinity Ward. 

While reports originally indicated that this year's Call of Duty would be more akin to an expansion, Activision has, in fact, released this game as a full entry in the franchise, complete with multiplayer, a new Zombies mode, and a new campaign. 

This campaign continues the story of Task Force 141 and the machinations of Makarov. We've got all the details you need to know about the missions in the game and how long it'll take to complete them.

List of missions in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

You'll find the full list of missions in the campaign below. I've marked the missions as "Regular" or "Open Combat" to provide clear differentiation. 

• Operation 627 - Regular Mission
• Precious Cargo - Open Combat Mission
• Reactor- Open Combat Mission
• Payload - Regular Mission
• Deep Cover - Regular Mission
• Passenger - Regular Mission
• Crash Site - Open Combat Mission
• Flashpoint - Regular Mission
• Oligarch - Open Combat Mission
• Highrise - Open Combat Mission
• Frozen Tundra - Regular Mission
• Gora Dam - Open Combat Mission
• Danger Close - Regular Mission
• Trojan Horse - Regular Mission

How long is the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 campaign?

Most Call of Duty campaigns are not super long, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is no exception. In fact, it's one of the shortest campaigns in the franchise. On regular difficulty, it'll probably take you around 4 hours to play through the story, including watching the cutscenes. Of course, if you play on a higher difficulty like Hardened or especially Veteran, you can likely tack on a couple of extra hours as there may be parts you struggle at and have to try repeatedly.

The short length of this game is possibly explained by the fact it was reportedly originally going to be an expansion before being pushed into a full Call of Duty title. The shorter development length and shorter campaign length would possibly have been explained by being a smaller purchase, as an add-on or standalone. 

What are Open Combat Missions?

Open Combat Missions are a new format for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. While the regular missions play out similarly to the levels in past Call of Duty games, Open Combat Missions drop players into an area and have them figure out how to complete their objectives. This could mean finding intel, making your way up a building, or destroying specific aircraft. 

Open Combat Missions also reuse a lot of assets from the free-to-play battle royale, Call of Duty: Warzone. Players can customize their loadouts with guns and equipment they find throughout the level. This means that even if you die and start back at the beginning, you'll be able to jump back in with anything you've found. 

Full experience inbound

While the campaign was available in early access for anyone who preordered the game, the full Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 experience is coming on Nov. 10, 2023. This includes remade maps from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and a new Zombies mode created by Treyarch, the studio that leads the Black Ops sub-series in Call of Duty.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. Microsoft finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard on October 13, meaning Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is technically an Xbox first-party game. 

Despite this, it's not launching into Xbox Game Pass, as the teams still need more time to integrate, a process that's taking longer than when Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media, the parent company of publisher Bethesda Softworks. 

Microsoft has also made it abundantly clear that the Call of Duty franchise will remain multiplatform for the foreseeable future, signing agreements to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for the next ten years, as well as starting the process of bringing Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. 

Finally, the full launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is here, and regardless of whether you play on an Xbox, PlayStation, or gaming PC, you need to prepare. Call of Duty is an annual blockbuster franchise developed by more than a dozen studios and published by Activision. Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is a direct sequel to the events of 2022's Modern Warfare 2, with lead development being handled by Sledgehammer Games (most recently known for Call of Duty: Vanguard). 

While Modern Warfare 3 is a full-priced, AAA stand-alone title, it is the first from the record-breaking series to launch in a Warzone 2.0 ecosystem. The success of Call of Duty: Warzone in 2020 launched the franchise into an all-new era, where each subsequent premium title was required to tie into the Warzone ecosystem. This led to a game that was cumbersome to navigate, with a bloated and broken system that tried to marry together games built across three different engines. 

To combat the bloat, Activision and Modern Warfare 2 lead developers Infinity Ward worked in partnership with Warzone's lead developers, Raven Software, to create a new dedicated platform where Warzone and premium COD titles can cohabitate. This new system tied Warzone and Modern Warfare 2 together in one launcher, which seems to have created some confusion about how Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's preloading and official launch will work. If you're looking to jump into MW3 on day one, we've got all your important questions covered here.

How do I preload Modern Warfare 3?

Regardless of what platform you are playing on, you have the option to preload Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ahead of its November 10 release date. Starting on November 8 at 10:00 AM PT/1 PM ET, you can start your preload of the full game, including the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes. At this time, servers for Multiplayer and MWZ are offline, but players who preordered the game do have early access to the full campaign.

To preload MW3 on Xbox or PC, you will need to visit your platform's storefront and download the new Call of Duty HQ launcher. If you already have MW2 or Warzone installed, you can simply update your existing Call of Duty HQ to gain access to MW3 when it releases. On Xbox, this update will require 135 GB of storage, so clear up your hard drive before starting the download.

When can I play Modern Warfare 3?

Modern Warfare 3 will have a rolling global launch. Regardless of when you purchase, us console players gain access at Midnight for your local time zone on November 10. Call of Duty players in North America are the exception, with multiplayer and zombies access going live on November 9 at 9:00 PM PT/10:00 PM MT/11:00 PM CT/12:00 AM ET.

Players on PC, including the Battle.net platform and Steam, will see a global launch on November 9 at 9:00 PM PT.

• Sydney: 16:00 AEDT
• Tokyo: 14:00 JST
• Seoul: 14:00 KST
• Berlin: 06:00 CET
• Stockholm: 06:00 CET
• London: 05:00 GMT
• São Paulo: 02:00 BRT
• New York: 00:00 EST
• Québec City: 00:00 EST
• Mexico City: 23:00 CST
• Los Angeles: 21:00 PST

While the campaign for Modern Warfare 3 has been available to players who preordered since November 2, access to multiplayer has been locked down, with servers for the game still offline. However, if you're absolutely desperate to get an early look at multiplayer and you don't mind roaming around the maps alone, you can do that now. 

Some stealthy community members have discovered that you can access Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer from the Call of Duty HQ. With the servers down, the game will tell you it is unable to connect, and then you are given an option to play offline. You'll be alone, but it'll give you a chance to explore those premiere campsites. 

How to download Modern Warfare 3 on PC?

PC players have two options for platforms when purchasing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. For the last several releases, Call of Duty has been available on Blizzard's Battle.net launcher. However, with Modern Warfare 2, the franchise returned to Steam for the first time in 5 years.

Modern Warfare 3 will be available on both platforms. Where you choose to purchase the game is entirely up to you, as both platforms benefit from the cross-platform Activision account. Your unlocks and purchases will be available regardless of where you decide to play.

That said, if you do choose to purchase MW3 on Steam after previously owning MW2 on Battle.net, don't be surprised when you are prompted to redownload the Call of Duty HQ launcher from both platforms to access your games. The Call of Duty HQ launcher takes up over 130 GB of storage space, however, which would be doubled. While you can cross the streams, so to speak, it's probably not ideal to do so. 

Before diving into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on PC, take a moment to look over the recommended specs and make sure that your gaming PC is up to the battle.

How to play the MW3 campaign?

For users who preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023), the campaign will now immediately be available, despite the game not fully releasing until November 10. By purchasing Modern Warfare 3 and updating the Call of Duty HQ client, you will have access to the MW3 campaign. Simply choose the MW3 campaign logo from the menu after launching Call of Duty HQ.

The campaign for Modern Warfare 3 is not an expansion or DLC of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. There has been some contention with the Call of Duty community over this, but the release is a full premium title that stands alone on its own. It is a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2 (2022), with campaign events picking up where they left off from the previous game. Some events that occurred during Modern Warfare 2's post-launch episodic Raid released for DMZ are also canon with the campaign.

Playing the campaign will unlock the following rewards that can be used in Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer, MWZ, and Warzone:

• “Breather” Calling Card
• 30 mins Double Player XP Token & 30 mins Double Weapon XP Token
• “Corso” Operator
• “Ghillie Guy” Calling Card
• 30 mins XP Token and 30m Weapon XP Token
• “Pathfinder” Operator
• “Toxic Drip” Calling Card
• 1 hour Double Player XP Token and 1 hour Double Weapon XP Token
• “Doc” Operator
• “Skull Rhapsody” Calling Card
• 1 hour Double Player XP Token and 1 hour Double Weapon XP Token
• “Jabber” Operator
• Campaign Completion Emblem
• Campaign Completion Weapon Blueprint

Does MW3 have achievements?

Yes. However, because Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's launcher has been converted to HQ, the game now shares its achievement list with Modern Warfare 3. Xbox gamers can now rack up 2,000 gamerscore from Call of Duty HQ. Achievements that unlock from Modern Warfare 2 (2022) are now tagged with MW2, while the achievements for Modern Warfare 3 (2023) are prefaced with MW3. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will go live for all players on November 10.
• SteelSeries has released a limited edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 collection of accessories.
• The collection includes 3500 limited edition artisan keycaps for mechanical keyboards with MX stems.
• An Arctis Nova Booster Pack with Modern Warfare 3 branded accessories for SteelSeries headsets is also available.

Call of Duty has a long history of branded marketing partnerships covering everything from Doritos to Little Caesars. While most of these deals have traditionally embraced the "gamer snacks" stereotype, there's one for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 release that aims to be a little more inspired and artistic. SteelSeries has unveiled a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3-inspired collection, which includes a booster pack for the Arctis Nova line of headsets and a limited edition artisan keycap.

If you pride yourself on having collected all the in-game items in Call of Duty, you'll want to act fast at grabbing the artisan keycap. It comes bundled with a Konni Weapon Charm for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. 

However, there are only 3500 keycaps available, and they can only be purchased on the SteelSeries website. The cap features the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Vault Edition logo of a skull intertwined with a red snake surrounded by a wreath of bullet casings. Not all keycaps are created equal, so check your gaming keyboard to ensure that it consists of MX stem mechanical switches before you shell out $90.

If you miss out on the artisan keycap, there are other ways to add some MW3 flair to your gaming loadout. A Modern Warfare 3-themed Booster Pack will allow you to add speaker plates to your Arctis Nova headset that feature the skull and snake logo, along with two additional headband straps in black and red. The accessories pack also includes the Konni Weapon Charm for MW3. The Booster pack is not compatible with all SteelSeries Arctis headsets, so you'll want to check this compatibility list before you order a pair for $40:

• Arctis Nova 7
• Arctis Nova 7X
• Arctis Nova 7P
• Arctis Nova Pro
• Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox
• Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
• Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for Xbox
• Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for PlayStation

Regardless of whether you game on a mouse and keyboard or pick up one of the best Xbox controllers as your input of choice, SteelSeries has you covered for Modern Warfare 3, as well. The QCK large mouse pad with officially licensed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3-inspired art features a mystery operator whose face has been replaced with the Konni emblem, along with artistic flair from a red compass and topographical map. The mouse pad is made of micro-woven cloth and is washable, just in case you spill your gamer snacks in the heat of battle. The QCK mouse pad from the Modern Warfare 3 collection will set you back $25.

Controller users can pick up a pair of the KontrolFreek thumb stick grips featuring a relief of the skull and snake logo in red, suitable for PlayStation or Xbox controllers. The collectible thumb grips come with an additional limited metal supply box case for storage that is reminiscent of the crates from Warzone.

What you need to know

• Microsoft now owns Call of Duty, the world's most popular FPS franchise. 
• Call of Duty's next instalment, Modern Warfare 3, is set to launch this November. 
• Whether you're into Call of Duty or not, Microsoft has been sending our mass take-over ads on Xbox Series X|S consoles, to the surprise and annoyance of many. 

Microsoft now owns Call of Duty, and they really want you to know it. 

On November 11, 2023, the next installment of Call of Duty will arrive. The world's most popular first-person shooter franchise will launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) for the second time, as a reimagining of the original MW3 from 2011. To say Call of Duty has been a bit thin in the innovation department is perhaps a bit of an understatement, but it remains one of the world's most popular and profitable video game franchises in history, generating billions in revenue even during its off years. One area the game seems to be capable of innovating in, however, is marketing, especially now that Microsoft is on board. 

In what may be the first sign of Microsoft putting its mark on the popular franchise, players on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles were today greeted with this massive, take-over ads for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 preorders when turning on their devices. Thankfully, it appears the ad only appears once and is easily dismissed, but I can't help but wonder if it'll pop-up again tomorrow once enough time has lapsed. 

UPDATE: I just want to add, in our testing, we found that the pop-up does at least respect account age restrictions. If your console automatically signs into an under-18 account, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 pop-up will not display. 

Ads on the Xbox dashboard are often a bit of a sore point for Xbox fans. The Xbox dashboard does help subsidize the console platform, given that the hardware itself does not make money owing to wafer-thin margins. The business is not selling consoles, it's selling software and services — i.e. games and in-app purchases such as Call of Duty skins. Xbox fans argue that subscription fees paid such as Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate should reduce or even totally remove ads on the dashboard, given that we're paying a fee to use the box already. Microsoft has released updates to the dashboard in recent months to reduce the prominence of ads on the dashboard, but this huge takeover piece for Call of Duty preorders feels a bit more intrusive than usual. It should be noted that this isn't the first time Microsoft has done this, but the frequency does seem to be increasing. 

What will Microsoft's Call of Duty look like?

It's perhaps ironic as I sit here writing this, fully aware that ads are appearing on this article. Our ads provider will probably even inject Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ads on this article if we have a deal with them (if we do, I have no idea, since we aren't involved in how that is handled as editorial). The key difference of course, is that using this website is free. An Xbox Series X|S costs a bunch of money, and then you have subscription fees on top of that. So it's perhaps understandable that some users find this practice irritating, particularly if they were never interested in Call of Duty as a franchise, or even as part of its genre.

With Xbox now fully owning Call of Duty, the way the game is marketed and presented will doubtless change over time. The previous owner, Activision, had very different goals than Microsoft, and a very different set of shareholder expectations on top. Some have speculated that Call of Duty may lapse from being an annualized franchise under Microsoft, as Microsoft may have an incentive to give competing shooters on its platform some breathing space, while also giving Call of Duty's developers more time to cook. Others wonder how Call of Duty will be marketed, and potentially co-branded with Xbox, when the marketing deal with PlayStation lapses in the coming years. 

Whatever happens to Call of Duty in the coming years is anyone's guess, but on topic — I can't help but hope these kinds of massive take-over ads do not become the norm on Xbox. Today it's a random occasional pop-up for Call of Duty or Starfield, tomorrow, it's a daily pop-up for McDonalds or Starbucks or whatever else. Slippery slopes sure are slippery. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be released November 10, with players who preordered gaining early access to the campaign beginning November 2.
• Developed by Beenox in partnership with Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will feature more than 500 customization options, including 4K and ultrawide monitor support.

The launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is fast approaching, but if you're planning to play the game on PC, you'll want to take a few moments to check your gaming PC against the recommended specs. 

There's been a rash of games released lately with exceptionally high requirements for graphic cards and RAM that have suffered from performance issues at launch. With the recommended specs Activision announced today, Modern Warfare 3 may be flirting with the same fate for those who want to play the game in Ultra 4K resolutions.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 requires a broadband internet connection and a DirectX-compatible sound card. Beenox, the team behind the PC version of Modern Warfare 3, also recommends updating to the latest drivers. For NVIDIA, this would be driver version 537.58. For AMD, please ensure you have driver version 23.10.2.

Modern Warfare 3 has been developed for PC by Beenox in partnership with lead developers Sledgehammer Games. The game will feature more than 500 customization options spanning graphics settings, input sensitivity, and accessibility, among other adjustments. Modern Warfare 3 will support 4K graphics and Ultrawide monitors, provided your gaming rig is fitted with the appropriate specs.

Preorder, preload, prepare

Players who preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will receive early access to the game's campaign beginning on November 2 at 10AM PT/1PM ET. If the game is preordered after November 2 but before November 10, users can still take advantage of the campaign early access period. Preloading for Campaign Early Access on PC begins on November 1 at 9AM PT/12PM PT.

Multiplayer will not be available until the game launches for all players on November 10 at 9PM PT/12AM ET, Players who do not receive early campaign access can begin preloading Modern Warfare 3 —including Multiplayer and Zombies— on November 8 at 9AM PT/12PM ET.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10, with players who have preordered having early access to the campaign starting on November 2.
• Little Caesars and Modern Warfare 3 promotional materials were leaked to a discord server and then reposted to Twitter by @GhostdotMidi.
• The promotion appears to include an Operator skin for Modern Warfare 3 wearing a ball cap, with a face covering, and a pizza cutter on their equipment vest.

An operator for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has appeared in yet another leak of marketing materials for an upcoming promotion with the game. A promotional banner featuring an operator for Modern Warfare 3 can be seen in the photo with Little Caesars x Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 emblazoned alongside of it.

The operator skin was first leaked in a discord server and then reposted to Twitter by user @GhostdotMidi. The unknown operator is seen wearing a black and red ball cap with a Little Caesars hot & ready pizza surrounded by flame on the front, a black undershirt with red artifacting and gray doodles of pizza slices, and a black tactical vest with orange-ish red accessories and clips. 

The tactical vest has a "Hot-n-ready" patch on the chest, a patch with Little Caesars crazy bread, and a red pizza cutter strapped to the front. The operator is also wearing a headset with a microphone and sunglasses.

The Little Caesars promotion for Modern Warfare 3 is expected to begin on November 1.

Call of Duty is no stranger to these promotions, having previously offered in-game rewards in a promotion with Jack Links and Little Caesars for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Call of Duty also previously partnered with Burger King for the notorious Burger Town operator skin, which was only available in France and highly sought after. Marketing materials for a promotion between Call of Duty and Monster energy drinks resulted in a leak that revealed Modern Warfare 3's title ahead of the official announcement. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision. While Xbox now owns Call of Duty following a record-setting deal to purchase Activision Blizzard King, the franchise is still locked down by a marketing agreement with Sony's PlayStation. Activision has stated that players will have to wait until sometime in 2024 for titles like Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 to be added to Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• The beta weekend for Modern Warfare 3 is live now for players who have preordered the game on Xbox and PC.
• Sledgehammer Games, the lead studio behind Modern Warfare 3, released patch notes ahead of the beta detailing changes made since PlayStation's exclusive beta weekend closed.

The second beta weekend for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is now live. This is the first weekend that players who preordered Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox or PC will get a chance to play the upcoming blockbuster's multiplayer mode. As the beta was going live, MW3 lead development team Sledgehammer Games released patch notes detailing some changes implemented since the close of PlayStation's exclusive beta weekend.

For weekend 2, Sledgehammer Games increased the level cap for the beta to 30 and unlocked access to more weapons and equipment for players to try out. Highrise has been added to 6v6 map rotation, while the brand-new Orlov Military Base will be available for players who want to take a swing at Ground War.

The new multiteam mode, Cutthroat, will also be making its debut during the beta weekend alongside Search & Destroy.

Changes to weapons include the Striker submachine gun. At its inception, the Striker was outclassing Assault Rifles even at longer distances. While Sledgehammer Games states they expect the Striker to remain a competitive weapon choice because of its high fire rate and accuracy, they chose to limit its damage range and multipliers to balance it out:

• Decreased near-medium damage from 39 to 36.
• Decreased near-medium damage range from 24m to 19m (-21%).
• Decreased medium damage range from 30m to 25m (-17%).
• Decreased far-medium damage from 28 to 27.
• Decreased minimum damage from 23 to 21.
• Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.3x.
• Increased lower-arm damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x.

Reduced Tac-Stance spread while sliding across weapon classes:

• Assault Rifles: Decreased 17-26%.
• Submachine Guns: Decreased 14-17%.
• Light Machine Guns: Decreased 30-45%.
• Marksman Rifles: Decreased 29-31%.
• Pistols: Decreased 10-20%.

Sledgehammer also acknowledged reports of bad spawns on various maps available in the beta, a problem that has traditionally plagued every Call of Duty title since its first foray into multiplayer. One such spawn on Favela resulted in players being immediately killed if they spawned near a yellow car on Side Street. The team is asking players to clip unfavorable spawns for bug reports so that they can be adjusted before launch. 

Additional collision points were added near the waterfall on the map Estate to prevent players from accessing out of bounds areas. A collision was also added to Popov Power, a map exclusive to Ground War mode, to prevent players from reaching an out-of-bounds location. Ground War players will also be able to breathe a sigh of relief as the vehicles will no longer run out of fuel while traveling. 

Players of the beta can also look forward to playlist updates while idle in the menus, fixed crashes while playing the Ground War playlist, and other crashes that occurred shortly after launching the game. 

How to play the beta

If you want a chance to dive into the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 beta this weekend, you will need to have preordered the game on Xbox, Battle.net, Steam, or PlayStation for the early access period. Players on Xbox will also need an Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in order to play. 

An open beta for all users will begin on Saturday, October 14 at 10AM PT/1PM ET. You will not need a Game Pass subscription to participate in the Open Beta, nor will you need to have preordered Modern Warfare 3.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is in the process of acquiring Activision-Blizzard, known for games like World of Warcraft and Call of Duty. 
• The deal is expected to finally close this week, after years battling with regulators. 
• Despite the deal potentially closing as soon as this Friday, Activision put out a rare statement today to offer insights into its plans for Xbox Game Pass. 
• Microsoft has said that the plan is to bring Call of Duty into Xbox Game Pass in previous statements, but Activision says the plans to do that are not yet in place. 
• Activision notes that you can expect to see more Game Pass integrations "next year," as in 2024. 

The Activision-Blizzard-Microsoft acquisition drama may finally be coming to a close, leaving us to consider what the future looks like instead. 

Microsoft's 72 billion dollar deal to acquire the Call of Duty maker has been through intense regulatory scrutiny, primarily in the United States, European Union, and United Kingdom. With massive concessions to the UK, Activision and Microsoft are finally expected to close the deal as soon as this week, pending an expected approval from the UK regulator. There's no hard guarantee the UK regulator (known as the CMA) will issue an approval. The CMA has recently offered a "provisional" approval, however, which is seen as near-certain for a positive outcome as can be.

As eyes turn to the future, players are starting to wonder how soon Activision and Xbox integrations can kick in. Activision has offered some rare insight today on X (Twitter). 

Activision says that it has no immediate plans to offer its premium titles like Diablo IV or the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 release in Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass this year. Instead, it says, quite vaguely, that it will begin exploring what its collaborations with Xbox will look like next year, in 2024.  

There are dozens of games Microsoft and Activision could potentially include in Xbox Game Pass as a part of this acquisition. Despite this statement, and per our own sources, we expect to see a ton of new games hit Xbox Game Pass following the deal's finalization. 

Over the summer, Microsoft and Activision revived the Xbox 360 servers for classic Call of Duty games, leading to a large spike in users. The obvious assumption there is that Microsoft could be looking to include classic Call of Duty games into the service initially. Microsoft may be exploring the impacts on user behavior potentially, before disrupting the premium Call of Duty machine. 

Update (October 17, 2023): A previous version of this article said that a ton of games will hit Xbox Game Pass "the minute the deal is finalized," but that was a misinterpretation of the facts on my end. Games are being prepped for Xbox Game Pass, and Microsoft's reactivation of the classic Call of Duty servers are evidence of that. Xbox's Phil Spencer has since come out and noted that benefits for Xbox fans will take form over the coming months. I'll share more details when I get it. 

Call of Disruption?

Call of Duty is an incredibly lucrative business, with hundreds upon hundreds of developers working on the franchise at any one time. The business model hinges on microtransactions naturally, but also Call of Duty's big premium retail sales, which like clockwork deliver massive annualized revenues for the operation. Xbox Game Pass could disrupt that business model negatively, but also positively — cheaper access may mean more users, which may mean more in-app purchases and virality. I suspect Activision and Microsoft will tread carefully on that, however.

Beyond Call of Duty, there are dozens, maybe hundreds of legacy titles Microsoft and Activision could throw into Game Pass. From Spyro to StarCraft, Microsoft is set to gain reams of highly visible, memorable, and nostalgic franchises, many of which are dormant and ripe for a revival. We'll have to wait and see exactly how Xbox and PC gamers in the Microsoft ecosystem stand to benefit in the coming months ahead — but don't be surprised if you see a ton of new titles hit Xbox Game Pass as early as next week, even if they're a little older.

What Activision-Blizzard games would you like to see hit Xbox / PC Game Pass in the first wave? Hit the comments! 

It's that time of year! A new Call of Duty title is upon us, and the second annual Call of Duty: Next showcase is here to tell us about the future of the blockbuster franchise. The showcase will focus on showing off Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 live gameplay, changes coming to Call of Duty: Warzone in the post-MW3 launch preseason, and also showing off Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

When to watch

Call of Duty: Next will be streamed live on October 5 beginning at 9 am PT/12 pm ET.

How to watch

Call of Duty: Next will be available to view live on the official Call of Duty YouTube channel as well as the official Call of Duty Twitch channel. A VOD of the stream will be available on both channels after the event ends.

Viewer rewards

If you're lucky enough to be able to tune into the Call of Duty: Next showcase while it's happening live, you can earn in-game rewards that will be available in your Activision account when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10.  They will also be available within Call of Duty: Warzone at that time. 

These rewards include the "Robotic Gamer" emblem, "Curve Monitor" calling card, "Bot Ops" weapon charm, and the "Death Upload" weapon blueprint.

There are a few steps you must take in order to be granted these rewards when they become available.

Viewers who want to receive drops for watching Call of Duty: Next will need to link their Activision ID with their YouTube and/or Twitch accounts. One drop will be awarded for every 20 minutes spent watching the event. To earn drops, follow the steps below:

1. Sign Up for an Activision account if you do not have one, or log in with your existing account.
2. Connect your Battle.net, PSN, Xbox, or Steam account with your Activision account.
3. Link your Twitch and/or YouTube account to your Activision account.
4. Watch live via YouTube or Twitch while signed in with your linked account to begin earning rewards.
5. A new reward is earned for every 20 minutes you view the event live.
6. YouTube viewers will find their earned rewards on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Warzone beginning on November 10.
7. Twitch viewers will need to claim their drops from their Twitch inventory after earning them.

Call of Duty: Next is the last big teaser for Modern Warfare 3 ahead of its official launch. Players who pre-order Modern Warfare 3 on PlayStation will have pre-order access beginning on October 6, with a PlayStation-exclusive open beta access period from October 8-10.

Xbox and PC players will need to wait until October 12 and 13 for pre-order beta access. PlayStation will also have a second wave of access at this time. Everybody else will be able to jump into the open beta on all platforms on October 14-16, with no pre-ordering necessary.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is scheduled to launch on November 10.
• Developers Sledgehammer Games and publisher Activision released a nostalgia-laced trailer featuring a remix of Eminem's "Til I Collapse" paired with shots of gameplay footage on various multiplayer maps.
• The trailer showed new weapons, operator skins, and returning kill streaks.

In 2009, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 debuted with a gameplay trailer featuring Eminem's song, "Til I Collapse". It's a notable entry in Call of Duty history, and it appears Sledgehammer Games and Activision are trying to capture the nostalgia of that moment with the multiplayer reveal trailer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. 

The trailer begins with a remixed edition of "Til I Collapse" as its soundtrack and quickly ushers in rapid-fire imagery of explosions and operators in combat. There's an abundance of details to pick through from the new trailer, including sneak peeks at areas of classic maps that are returning to the franchise. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will feature all 16 original maps from Modern Warfare 2 (2009) modernized for a new generation. Eagle-eyed players can spot classic battlegrounds like High Rise, Terminal, and Favela among the clips of high-octane action. Diamond weapon camos, new enemy finishers, and the return of movement mechanics like slide canceling are also on display in the teaser.

As Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's launch draws near, players can expect continued intel drops with input from the lead team at Sledgehammer Games. The most recent intel drop detailed the new aftermarket parts feature for the gunsmith. Players can look forward to the Call of Duty: Next showcase on October 5 for more information on the franchise's future and a look back at the last 20 years of gaming.

Windows Central's take

Call of Duty is so back, baby! I mean, with 1000 hours in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), I never felt like the game was gone in the first place. MW2's multiplayer has been one of my favorites in recent memory, though I did have a few wishlist items for the game that I hope Sledgehammer Games would address for MW3. However, if Twitter commentators were to be believed, the consensus around MW2 was less than positive despite its success. 

Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer seems to be shaping up to bring the Modern Warfare series back to its rebooted roots by appeasing the community's movement junkies. The hit of nostalgia from the return of classic maps is also playing into what the fans have claimed they wanted for quite some time.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, is set to launch on November 10.
• Sledgehammer Games shared a new intel drop to show off a new feature coming to the gunsmith: aftermarket parts.
• An early look at Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer will be released on October 3 along. The 2023 Call of Duty: Next showcase is scheduled for October 5.

The launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is just barely more than a month away. Developers from Sledgehammer Games, along with publisher Activision, have begun to share bits of information about multiplayer. The latest intel drop for Modern Warfare 3 brought attention to the changes players can expect in the Gunsmith, including all new Aftermarket Parts.

Players of Modern Warfare 2 or Warzone are likely already familiar with the gunsmith. Previously known as Create-a-Class, the gunsmith has undergone a variety of changes with modern iterations of the now 20-year-old franchise. Modern Warfare 2 ushered in an era where players could kit out their favorite weapons while fine-tuning attachments.

"Think of them as remixes for the guns," says Sledgehammer Games' systems designer Nick Carraro. "It's a way for players to come back to a weapon that they may have already mastered or played out, and it's going to give them an entirely new dimension to interact with the gun in a way that regular attachments can't." 

"They're nearly a new gun." adds design director Zach Hodson.

For the first time in Call of Duty history, weapons as well as blueprints, operator bundles, and mastery challenges will cross over between two premium editions of the game in a new feature known as Carry Forward. Players who have put hundreds of hours into unlocking gold, platinum, polyatomic, and orion mastery camos along with other challenges in Modern Warfare 2 will still be able to utilize those camos and mastery rewards as well as their corresponding weapons in Modern Warfare 3. 

The downside to the Carry Forward policy, is a lack of new reasons to play with your favorite weapons in the newest version of the game. Aftermarket Parts will change this by giving players a reason to go back even after earning weapon mastery. 

An early look at conversion kits

Modern Warfare 3's new aftermarket parts feature will allow players to unlock new conversion kits once a weapon reaches max level. There will be several to choose from when Modern Warfare 3 launches, though players will need to complete in-game challenges to obtain them. Conversion kits can open up a player's weapon to all new attachments that were previously gated away from use, but they can also change a weapon so fundamentally that previously available attachments no longer work. 

Sledgehammer Games provided a look at 3 Aftermarket Parts loadouts ahead of the multiplayer reveal. The first example of a conversion kit featured the Pulemyot LMG, a belt-fed machine gun that is a heavy behemoth with limited mobility. The Pulemyot can be converted with a Bullpup kit, which increases mobility and handling, allowing the LMG to become more run and gun friendly without the player having to sacrifice ammo.

Sledgehammer Games also showed off an all-new conversion to the Renetti Handgun, turning it into a handheld full-auto carbine. The conversion kit opens up Tactical Stance, an attachment previously unavailable to the Renetti, via 3D printing which makes the pistol more SMG-like. Similarly, the WSP Swarmwith Akimbo Brace Stocks can be unlocked via a weekly challenge during the preseason and equipped to allow the player to use the WSP Swarm as a deadly pair of akimbos. Fine tune to improve accuracy and add a Suppressor to ramp up your stealth plays.

A balancing nightmare?

Call of Duty has a long, sordid history with "meta" builds. You may remember scenarios with unbalanced weapons, such as builds that allow players to easily one-shot snipe an enemy from across the map with an akimbo shotgun. There's some genuine concern to be had over how these new aftermarket parts are going to shake up gunplay metas to a point that Sledgehammer Games will never be able to balance them fairly.  Let's hope the support team is on standby post-launch to fix the imbalance that these new kits are going to inevitably throw into the mix.

What you need to know

• New details about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Zombies mode were shared recently, including a cinematic lore trailer.
• Treyarch Studios has partnered with Sledgehammer Games to develop the new open-world Zombies iteration.
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) will launch on November 10, 2023.

Call of Duty's zombies modes have a long and storied history, beginning with their first appearance in the franchise as bonus content for Treyarch Studios' Call of Duty: World at War in 2008. 15 years later, Treyarch is finally bringing its beloved game mode to the Modern Warfare series of Call of Duty titles for the very first time. Treyarch has partnered with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) lead developers Sledgehammer Games to provide tie in the ongoing Dark Aether storyline that has been featured in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Call of Duty: Vanguard with the Modern Warfare universe.

As the launch for Modern Warfare 3 (2023) creeps up on the horizon, we are finally starting to get some new details on what we can expect the annual blockbuster to offer. Treyarch Studios and Sledgehammer Games, along with Call of Duty publisher Activision, have shared an all-new cinematic trailer introducing the lore for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's zombies mode.

The trailer kicks off with a scene of a military gear-clad squad of men who are infiltrating a hotel. A support team is called in to distract law enforcement during the raid, while the mystery squad can be seen detonating an explosive to reveal a subterranean bunker. 

Inside, the squad finds human remains seated around a table with a mysterious device. The device contains two vials of an unknown purple substance. Veteran Zombies players may recognize the substance as Aetherium, though it has now become processed into a highly enriched state. One of the vials is picked up by a masked squad mate, who is then revealed as ultranationalist arms dealer Viktor Zakhaev, a reoccurring antagonist in the Modern Warfare series.

Zakhaev's distractions can only go on for so long, and when the local security teams begin to descend on the would-be thieves, a bloody and gruesome firefight ensues, with many casualties on both sides. After taking a round to his own shoulder, Zakhaev makes a desperate attempt to change the battle in his favor by throwing a vial of the mystery substance at the attacking officers. The vial shatters and the streets become enveloped in a purple fog that begins reanimating the dead. 

With Zakhaev now fully aware of how dangerous the weapon he holds within the vials can be, the trailer switches to a view inside a helicopter with Sergeant Johnny "Soap" MacTavish and SSO Kate Laswell who are briefing an unknown operator as well as Captain Sergei Ravenov on the outbreak, now code-named Operation Deadbolt.

The cinematic Operation Deadbolt trailer is jam packed with important clues for what players can expect to find in Modern Warfare 3's zombies. Unlike zombies modes of the past, there will be both alive and undead enemy combatants active on the open-world Zombies map. Players will be able to squad up and participate in an PvE extraction survival experience as part of Operation Deadbolt when Modern Warfare 3 launches. 

The Exclusion Zone will feature the largest quantity of undead ever seen in Call of Duty, while players will be given multistep tasks to complete with Task Force 141 beginning November 10, 2023. 

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is being developed by Sledgehammer Games and published by Activision, with support from nearly a dozen additional Activision studios.
• Toxic voice and text chat, hate speech, and harassment have long plagued the blockbuster franchise's online lobbies.
• Sledgehammer Games and Activision are partnering with Modulate to bring ToxMod—an AI-powered voice chat moderation tool—to the next premium release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, in November.
• A beta for ToxMod will begin rolling out to existing Call of Duty titles, including Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone, starting August 30 in North America with worldwide release (excluding Asia) timed with the launch of Modern Warfare 3 on November 10.

Call of Duty and toxicity have had a long, sordid history. The phrase "You wouldn't last in a COD lobby" is even hurled online at people who protest the use of derogatory language and slurs. With the growing popularity of recently released titles paired with the free-to-play availability of Call of Duty: Warzone, however, the team at Activision and the development studios responsible for Call of Duty have made combating the toxicity within the multiplayer space a priority. Activision has announced a new partnership with Modulate which will bring real-time voice chat moderation, at-scale, to Call of Duty servers with the launch of Modern Warfare 3 on November 10.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 launched with a modernized Code of Conduct that players were expected to read and agree to when they initially launched the game, with a new agreement popping up occasionally after a new season would launch. The code of conduct was difficult to enforce, however, and the new in-game reporting system was often bombarded with false and retaliatory accusations.

Players who reported others for hateful and harassing conduct were also not informed whether their complaints were even received or acted upon. Eventually, Activision and lead developer for Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward, were left to announce that efforts to auto-moderate voice and text chat were being shelved because of false complaints.

The fight against discrimination, hate speech, and harassment was far from over for Activision, however. The partnership with Modulate will introduce AI-powered voice chat moderation to Call of Duty via a system known as ToxMod. According to a press release from Activision, ToxMod will be used to bolster the existing moderation efforts of the Call of Duty anti-toxicity team by adding text-based filtering across 14 languages for the in-game text chat and a brand new, more robust in-game player reporting system. Both chat and player usernames will be moderated by ToxMod. 

ToxMod will begin rolling out in North America as a beta to existing Call of Duty titles, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone beginning on August 30 as part of the Season 5 Reloaded patch. The full release of ToxMod is scheduled alongside the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 on November 10. The full release is expected to take effect worldwide, but will exclude Asia. Support will begin with English only, but additional languages will be added over time. 

Current enforcement efforts by the Call of Duty anti-toxicity team has resulted in more than 1 million accounts having had their access to voice and text chat restricted for violating the Call of Duty Code of Conduct.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the next premium title in the first-person shooter franchise published by Activision and developed by Sledgehammer Games with support from other Activision-owned studios.
• Players got their first look at a mission from the Modern Warfare 3 campaign during Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live.
• Dates for the multiplayer beta were also revealed. PlayStation will get first access as part of their marketing agreement with Activision.
• A Call of Duty: Next showcase will also take place in October.

It's been a big day for Call of Duty announcements, as players got their first taste of the Modern Warfare 3 campaign in a premiere shown during Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live. Following the premiere, Call of Duty developers Sledgehammer Games and publishers Activision released an official blog post announcing the official dates for the Modern Warfare 3 open beta and Call of Duty: Next showcase. The open beta will begin on October 6 and will span across two separate weekends.

Despite the ongoing effort by Microsoft to appease the Competition and Markets Authority of the UK into approving its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision, the publisher still holds a binding marketing contract with PlayStation for the Call of Duty franchise. This means that PlayStation players will gain access to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer beta earlier than those on Xbox and PC. 

On PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 players can expect the first weekend of the multiplayer beta to begin on Friday, October 6 at 10AM PT for those who have preordered MW3 and will end on Tuesday, October 10 at 10AM PT. For those who do not preorder the game, the open beta begins on Sunday, October 8 at 10AM PT and lasts until Tuesday, October 10 at 10AM PT. The beta will not be available on Xbox or PC during this time period.

Xbox and PC players can join PlayStation players for Weekend Two of the beta. For those who preorder Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or PC via Battle.net or Steam will be able to access the multiplayer beta on Thursday, October 12 at 10AM PT. Players will need an Xbox Game Pass Core subscription in order to participate in the pre-order early access beta.

If you're waiting to preorder until you've had a taste of the open beta, then you will be able to join on Xbox, PC, or PlayStation regardless of preorder status beginning on Saturday, October 14 at 10AM PT. The open multiplayer beta will conclude for all players on Monday, October 16 at 10AM PT. You will not need an Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to participate in the open beta.

Along with dates for the multiplayer beta, Activision also announced the return of the Call of Duty: Next showcase on October 5. The event can be livestreamed from the official Call of Duty Twitch channel or Youtube channel. Fans of the franchise can look forward to Call of Duty: Next to get an extra look at the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 campaign, learn about the new Open Combat Missions, and more about what is in store for Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, Warzone mobile, and other Call of Duty adjacent projects such as Call of Duty League esports.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the upcoming premium title from Activision and Sledgehammer Games.
• It is a direct sequel to Infinity Ward's 2022 release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
• A campaign trailer for MW3 debuted during Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live.

After months of leaks, rumors and teasers for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 players finally got their first official look at the campaign for the upcoming first-person shooter from Activision and Sledgehammer Games. While we have recently had gameplay reveals and some additional confirmed intel about the new game, this is the first detailed trailer focused on the game's campaign that will launch on November 10.

Geoff Keighley was joined on the Gamescom stage by Shelby Carleton of Sledgehammer Games to introduce the campaign reveal trailer and lay the groundwork for Call of Duty's new campaign mechanic, Open Combat Missions. These players directed missions allow you to approach the campaign in a variety of ways based on how the player prefers. The open combat missions work seamlessly with the standard linear cinematic missions players expect for the franchise.

The gameplay reveal trailer followed Alpha Team into Operation 627 where the player will be tasked with infiltrating enemy operations, utilizing night vision goggles, rope launchers, and various other tools in the process. In the gulag, players will initate a prison riot under the cover of darkness. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 marks a new chapter for the franchise as it is the first time in the 20-year history of the Modern Warfare series that a direct sequel has been launched the year following its predecessor. Fan favorite characters Captain Price and Simon "Ghost" Riley (with Barry Sloane and Samuel Roukin reprising their roles) as well as the rest of Task Force 141 will be suiting up and heading out to cut the heads off of some snakes when they take on the Russian ultranationalist Vladmir Makarov. 

Players can preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 now and gain early access to the beta as well as one week of early access to the campaign, beginning on November 2. MW3 launches in full on November 10. Preordering also unlocks a Soap operator bundle available now for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One families of consoles as well as PC via Steam and Battle.net.

I love Call of Duty. Unapologetically. Full stop. I couldn’t particularly tell you why. The franchise has suffered from bloat and over-monetization and has certainly become a victim of the Fortnite effect. There are even plenty of reasons to question if people are tired of Call of Duty. Yet each year, I easily throw a thousand hours into multiplayer and even sprinkle in a little Warzone for variety. It has been one of my favorite ways to unwind since 2009 when I begrudgingly swapped to Modern Warfare 2 (2009) from Halo 3 so that I wasn’t left out of my friend group’s regular gaming sessions. 

Call of Duty has dragged me through its gritty, realistic boots-on-the-ground gameplay to its quirky little romance with jetpacks and grappling hooks into its era of trying to be a hero-shooter like Overwatch, and back to classic boots on the ground. I’ve been through the COD gauntlet, and now that we’re closing in on the reboot of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 this November, I have a few things I’d like to see Sledgehammer Games change and/or bring back for the good of the franchise.

Combat Pacing

The middling-reviewed Call of Duty: Vanguard was released just two years ago, and the title was not exactly well-received among players either. It was the poorest-selling Call of Duty in the franchise’s history, but there was one particular element to Vanguard that—while I was hesitant about it pre-launch—quickly became one of my favorite features. 

Combat pacing gave players the choice of how many enemies they wanted to play against in a match. Now, that’s not a new feature in and of itself, but in previous titles, if you wanted to play big team battles, you had to do so on dedicated maps in 16v16 playlists. Those maps were often incredibly large sniper havens and weren’t conducive to close-quarters and mid-range gameplay.

There was also a limit to how small maps could get and still house 6 players in standard 6v6 playlists. This fragmented the player base among far too many play modes, an issue that COD has continued to work to rectify for several iterations now. With combat pacing, nearly every map was available to play with 6, 10, or 24-player teams. This included high-octane, fast-paced chaos on smaller maps like Shipment, while larger maps still felt full and lively. 

The higher-scoring Modern Warfare 2 (2022) sadly did away with Vanguard’s combat pacing instead of returning to the classic playlists segmented based on map size. Occasionally Infinity Ward brings back playlists like 10v10 Mosh Pit or 4v4 Face Off to help players who crave that frantic gameplay, but these are often short-lived and only make their way to the playlist rotation for a week once or twice per season. There are also no hardcore variations of these playlists, adding insult to injury.

Shipment 24/7 is by far one of the most popular MW2 playlists due to its hectic, fast-paced matches, but the Hardcore Shipment 24/7 mode only appears during free weekends. Shipment as a map has been completely removed from the playlist rotation on Hardcore game modes, so even when you’re playing under normal circumstances, the map does not show up at all. 

At this time, there’s no indication Combat Pacing will be included in MW3.  

Map voting

Speaking of maps, the rotation system has certainly run afoul of players with recent Call of Duty titles. Map voting has had a few different iterations since its original inception, which let players choose from 2 potential maps, seeing a third random choice. Unfortunately, this led to many players consistently forcing lobbies into a loop where they could only play Nuketown for several matches in a row.

To counter this map lock, Call of Duty developers changed up the voting system so that you could only play a map twice in a row before it became locked, and you were forced to play something different while also creating the aforementioned “Your Favorite Small Map 24/7” playlist where the rotation was exclusively the most popular map.

This was later changed, with only one map being shown and the option to play that map or another completely random one. This was always a bit of a crapshoot, though, as you could end up with a worse map than what you had if you voted for the random. Of course, map voting runs into a similar ‘playlist fracture’ issue that something like combat pacing does because you’re inevitably going to have a small selection of players who would rather leave a match and research for a better map if they get one they don’t like. 

That subgroup of players behaves the same even without map voting, though. For example, the Santa Seña Border Crossing map on MW2 has long been despised by many. Its disdain has even led to my own squad begrudgingly coining the map’s appearance in rotation as being forced to “pay the highway tax.” It’s not uncommon to sit in a full lobby and hear other players comment that they are backing out or leaving a match because they refuse to pay the highway tax for another match. Map voting may not be an end-all-be-all solution to this, but it certainly helps cut down on lobbies disbanding due to player backouts.

When I began writing this list and preparing the article, little was known about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and I thought the chances of map voting coming back were fairly marginal. I was wrong on this one, thankfully, and we will actually see map voting in this year’s game.

Bunny hopping

I'm probably out of luck with this particular wishlist item, but I would love to see an end to bunny hopping. For those unfamiliar with this practice, bunny hopping is a term for when a player approaches a corner when moving about the map and then jumps rather than turning the corner by walking, crouching, or sprinting. 

If there is an enemy player on the other side of the corner, jumping can help throw off their aim, forcing their shots to hit the lower body of the attacker, or if they're on a controller using aim assist, they may find that their aim is pulled upward unexpectedly. The attacker also gains the upper hand by having a better shot on the upper body and head compared to the defender, who is more likely to land less damaging body shots due purely to positioning.

Sledgehammer addressed bunny hopping when it became a nuisance in the Vanguard era. At that time, Sledgehammer made it so that there was a small amount of lag to player movement following a jump meaning players who bunny-hopped a corner weren't able to aim as quickly as if they'd just turned the corner normally, and this led to a significant drop in the behavior. Unfortunately, calls for Infinity Ward to curb bunny hopping have fallen on deaf ears, and they opted to celebrate it with a rabbit-themed operator bundle instead.

Movement has always been a source of contention between streamers, influencers, and other hardcore players who want fast-paced (and seemingly game-breaking) mechanics that work in their favor over casuals who just want to have a good time. There's more of the latter than the former, but we know it's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. Mechanics like slide canceling and tactical sprint recharge are officially confirmed to be returning in MW3, so it's unlikely there'll be any relief for us anti-bunny hoppers.

Operator bundles

This is going to be an odd one for a lot of the COD player base but hear me out. Modern Warfare 2 had one of the best lineups of playable female operators in the franchise's history.

The incredible campaign characters Farah Karim and Valeria Garza, the newly introduced Nila "Nova" Brown, and the returning Rozlin "Roze" Helms, among others, are all great characters to run through multiplayer and Warzone with, but I have to be entirely honest here: Their monetized Operator bundles suck. There hasn't been a single one that has succeeded at parting my money and my bank account.

There has clearly been a lot of time and effort put into designing fun, badass-looking Operator bundles for the male characters available to play, with Horangi, Hutch, and Konig certainly having the most variety. That's not to say it's completely barren for the female operators. The Grimm bundle is fantastic, Violent for Violet was also one of the better options, and if you're into the neon look, there are certainly some bright futuristic bundles to choose from.

If you're like me, however, and longing for the more vibrant options of COD's past, you'll be disappointed that there is simply nothing that compares to the Zombicorn weapon skin or Domino's Licorne from the Rainbow Sparkles bundle that was offered for MW (2019) and Warzone: Caldera. Less anime and more unicorns, please. 

Skill based match making