CoD Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone in Detail; When Does Beta Launch? [Update]

Source: Treyarch/Raven Software/Activsion.

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Update

The next stage of CoD MW3 beta has launched. Starting at 10 a.m. PST, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC owners who pre-ordered the game can join the fun, as well as (once again) all interested users on PS4 and PS5. On October 14-16 open beta tests will be conducted on each hardware platform.

Original news (October 6)

Yesterday during the CoD Next 2023 event we learned a ton of details about the upcoming Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 as well as the further development of Warzone.

The show was centered around the multiplayer aspect of the latest "CoD," so it's no surprise that many content creators associated with the popular shooter were invited.

Information on the beta testing of CoD MW3

In the first place, the organizers of CoD Next have reminded about the beta tests, which will start for some players today, at 7 p.m. CET (this is the fixed start time for the dates below).

Full schedule of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 beta presents itself as follows:

• October 6 to 7 - PS4 and PS5 for those who pre-ordered the game.;
• October 8 to 10 - PS4 and PS5 for everyone (open beta);
• October 12 to 13 - Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC for those who pre-ordered plus everyone with PS4 and PS5;
• October 14 to 16 for all players on every platform..

As part of the testing, players will check out seven competitive arenas, i.e. five refreshed basic maps from MW2 from 2009, and two larger locations from the ground mode.

The rotation of standard maps includes: Favela (Brazilian slum), Estate (forest estate), Skidrow (urban buildings with cramped streets), Rust (tiny map in the middle of the desert), and Highrise (roof of a skyscraper that houses a helicopter landing pad).

During the beta it will be possible to test seven game modes: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Fortified Point, Cutthroat (a new 3v3v3 mode), Find and Destroy and Ground War.

The maximum level to be gained during the test is 30. Progress will traditionally not be transferred to the full version, however, reaching the 2nd, 7th, 9th, 11th, 15th, 20th, 24th and 30th levels consecutively will permanently unlock certain cosmetic items.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 - details on multiplayer mode

During the CoD Next 2023 show, the multiplayer module was discussed by two developers from Sledgehammer Games - Greg Reisdorf and Adam Iscove - and Kim Weigend, who talked a bit about the game's modes and gameplay itself.

1. The developers confirmed that 16 standard maps will be added to the game on release day - all of which are remasters of maps from Modern Warfare 2 from 2009.
2. The game will also feature a Ground War mode from day one, which will use a part of map from the "upcoming" Warzone.
3. After the release, Modern Warfare III will receive at least 12 additional 6v6 maps as part of the seasonal content - all of which will be new designs.
4. The new, aforementioned Cutthroat mode is heading to multiplayer gameplay. As part of it, three-person teams will have one life per round, and their goal will be to eliminate other teams or wait for overtime to capture a flag point placed at a hot spot. Importantly, this mode will offer the option to pick up a wounded ally - unless, of course, they have've been finished off.
5. Returning to the game is the multiopjective War mode from Call of Duty WW II, where you will have to perform various tasks, such as escorting a APC or launching a ballistic missile. Skirmishes will take place on a map specially prepared for this purpose.
6. The movement system will be rebuilt, becoming closer to Modern Warfare 2019, than to previous installment. Slide cancellation and reload animations will return, which will give the game more dynamism. It will also be possible to shoot while sliding.
7. A new tactical stance will come to the game, which is a compromise between shooting from the hip and precise aiming.
8. Perks will now be available from the beginning of the match and will be represented physically through weaponry, i.e. vest, gloves, boots and additional equipment.
9. Improvements will be made to the gunsmith system, which, upon reaching the maximum weapon level, will allow players to introduce spare parts to advanced weapons that will unlock new development paths.
10. New features will also appear in combat equipment, rewards for a series of kills or field upgrades.

Sledgehammer Games/ Inifinity Ward

Sledgehammer Games/ Inifinity Ward

Warzone

The changes that are heading to Warzone, in turn, were discribed by senior creative director of Raven Software, Ted Timmins.

The most important, albeit unsurprising, news was that of a new map heading to one of the most popular Battle Royale titles.

The new battle arena in Warzone will be Urzikstan, which is a huge map that harks back to the iconic Verdansk with its architecture and Eastern European atmosphere.

Interestingly, Urzikstan will serve both the refreshed Warzone, as well as the zombie mode, which will be played on open terrain for the first time (more on that later in the news).

• The new iteration of Warzone will use the "movement" from Modern Warfare III.
• The new map will feature 11 main areas, including a missile silo, a port or a skyscraper.
• The classic minimap will return to the game, revealing opponents not using a silencer in the vicinity of the player.
• Finally, the developers decided to change the operation of the gas mask. Players will be able to manually put on and take off this gear element - until now it was done automatically.
• The Gulag will be rebuilt, where the flag round has been abandoned in favor of a possible escape. Moreover, in one-on-one skirmishes players will have to use night vision goggles from time to time.
• New tasks and events will be added to the game, among which will be "events" in the Gulag.
• A train will return to the game, and an important role in the restored Warzone are to be played by numerous ziplines, which will be an effective way to ambush people.
• The launch will not mean the death of the remaining maps in Warzone - those will go into special gameplay modes.

Modern Warfare III Zombies

The developers from Treyarch, Kevin Drew and Miles Leslie, in turn, talked about the Zombie mode. As we once reported, the gameplay starring the undead in the new CoD will be a bit different than usual.

After all, this time zombies will roam an open map in Warzone, and the players from different teams will have the opportunity (but won't be forced) to work together to escape the haunted Urzikstan.

This gameplay variant will include stations for buying special abilities or vehicles. The game will also contain elements of so-called extraction shooters, as after the gameplay it will be possible to keep the weapons with which we escaped.

The whole game, as usual, will be enveloped in a story layer, which will center around the Dark Ether.

Warzone Mobile

We also learned a bit about the mobile version of Warzone debuting in spring 2024. It turns out that the game will offer not one, but two iconic maps at launch, namely Verdansk and Rebirth Island. The game, which has been in testing for months, is expected to offer much better graphics at launch thanks to a developed rendering system, and is also expected to be smaller in terms of storage requirements. What's more, the classic multiplayer boards, namely Shipment and Shoot House, are to come to the game to complement the mobile Battle Royale experience.

Of course, this is not all the information about the near future of Call of Duty that we learned during CoD Next 2023. For details, I refer you to the series' official website.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is heading to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S. The title will debut on November 10.

1. Activision Blizzard - official website
2. Call of Duty - official website