A disturbing discovery can change everything. A DNA bomb has been found at Popov Power in Urzikstan, and it’s up to you and your squadmates to unlock the mystery behind this devastating weapon and prevent catastrophe. While you obtain various DNA samples during the ominous Critical Countdown Event, you can also explore the multitude of bunkers across Urzikstan, potentially unearthing new ways to exit.
The potential outbreak seeps into Multiplayer, with a worldwide assortment of core 6v6 maps, plenty of exhilarating modes, revered weapons, new perks, destructive killstreaks, and battle-ready recon and hazmat inspired gear throughout the Battle Pass, so you can stay protected while remaining deadly calm and effective. One slip-up could alter everything, so suit up, drop in, uncover the truth, and stop the threat!
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Prepare for a huge selection of free content along with Events, Challenges, and numerous Weapon Camos to unlock. Season 4 for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone™, and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile goes live on Wednesday May 29 at 9 AM PT across all platforms.
Consult the Call of Duty Blog for all official comms and announcements.
Check the Patch Notes prior to the release of Season 4 on May 29, with separate notes for Modern Warfare III (led by Sledgehammer Games and Treyarch) and Call of Duty: Warzone (led by Raven Software).
Make sure you check out the free official Guides to the new Season 4 Multiplayer launch maps on May 21!
MODERN WARFARE III OVERVIEW (MWIII)
CONTENT SUMMARY
- Bright Lights, Big Cities: Experience the Tokyo neon nightlife, and head to the City of Lights with a Paris rendezvous, before fun times at the funicular when Incline arrives in mid-season, and there are tentacles aplenty due to an alien infestation over at Das Haus.[/*]
- Fan Favorite Demolition Mode, Hyper Cranked, and the chaos-inducing Havoc mode all come to MWIII this season, with Headshots Only, Mutation and Killstreak-centric Playlist Modifiers also arriving, along with other modes too.[/*]
- Season 4 Ranked Play: Expect another full season, with all-new rewards to earn and all your unlocked Season 3 items content to claim on May 29.[/*]
- Control Killstreaks with ease using the new Mission Control Vest, regenerate health faster using the new Compression Plate, and lay waste to the battlefield with four new devastating Killstreaks![/*]
Multiplayer Maps: Three Brand New Core 6v6 Maps
Continuing the promise to deliver “over 12 all-new Core 6v6 Maps in our seasons,” Season 4 features three brand new maps offering diverse combat areas, as well as a Das Haus Vortex variant that’s certain to Gross you out….
Tokyo (Launch)
Brand-New, Core, 6v6, Medium-Sized
Experience Tokyo nightlife in this mid-sized Multiplayer map featuring late night shopping, entertainment, and accommodations for the weary traveler. Battle for the map’s major power positions, the Hotel and Manga buildings facing one another over the main road. Except for these two locations, the fight stays on ground level.
Close-ranged Loadouts excel in the Arcade and Center Courtyard along the top of the map where kiosks and a sitting area obstruct views across the lane. Areas like the Hotel and Metro Station make for strong defensive points when battling on the far ends of the map. Use them to withstand enemy attacks until it’s safe to move forward again.
Paris (Launch)
Brand-New, Core, 6v6, Medium-Sized
Head to the City of Lights for a rendezvous with the enemy, fighting across this mid-sized map dominated by the central Police Station and Gallery. Navigate the surrounding streets to remain on ground level or take the battle to either of the two main buildings. Don’t underestimate the map’s smaller interior spaces, the Bookstore and Shop. These areas provide overhead cover in a pinch and are generally less conspicuous than the large center buildings.
Fight around an L-shaped cubicle in the Police Station’s main office or swing through the cell block and lobby. The Gallery presents a tighter layout with exhibits branching off into separate hallways. There has been some kind of break in, marked by a blast in the Police Station wall by the cell block and another leading into the Gallery. Ambulances and police cars provide much needed cover when moving on the roads.
Incline (Mid-Season)
Brand-New, Core, 6v6, Medium Sized
Deploy to an isolated research outpost in the mountains of Urzikstan on this mid-sized snow map based in and around the main transport facility. Climb up on the red container or the low roof along the top path to get over your enemies and use objects places around the main facility to climb up into the building.
Access the funicular’s lower carriage for a vantage point over the bottom lane. Be careful not to slip down the mountainside when exiting the carriage. Generally, mid-ranged Loadouts will perform best along the outer perimeter while close-ranged weapons reign in the interior locations (the main facility plus the smaller buildings near each starting spawn).
Das Gross (Mid-Season)
New (Variant), Core, 6v6, Small-Sized
An ominous orange mist hangs in the air. Revolting preternatural tendrils and flapping tentacles have enveloped the high-rise construction site formerly known as Das Haus, snaking into every corner and transforming it into a nightmarish alien madness. Look for Das Gross to be added to the Vortex map Playlist.
Multiplayer Modes: Demolish, Cause Havoc, Get Cranked
There’s not only DNA Bombs to worry about this Season, as Demolition is finally back, with more defusing opportunities than ever before! Adding to this is a Cranked variation, the arena-shooter inspired Havoc, and a Killstreak-focused Playlist modifier, all coming before the explosive mid-season update and even more Modes.
Game Mode: Demolition (Launch)
One of the finest tactical game modes in Call of Duty is finally back! Appearing for the first time since Season 3 of Modern Warfare (2019) this round-based objective mode has similarities to Search & Destroy, with teams alternating between attacking and defending two bomb sites. However, unlike S&D, respawns are enabled and attacking players always spawn with a bomb, and defuses – ninja or otherwise – don’t end the round. This leads to highly tactical engagements – and pandemonium – as teams converge on bomb sites and pressure the opposition.
Win a round of Demolition as the attacking team by destroying both bomb sites before the timer ends. Take out one of the sites, and you add extra time to the game clock, allowing you to concentrate on the second bomb location. Win a round as the defending team by protecting one or both bomb sites until the timer ends. If a bomb is planted, the match timer pauses, and running out the timer is also an option, though defusing the bomb is of paramount importance.
Game Mode: Hyper Cranked (Launch)
This twisted spin on traditional Team Deathmatch gets even more frantic with this “Hyper” variant. For the uninitiated, Cranked pressures you into chaining kills, eliminating enemy opponents as often as you wish, but within a specific amount of time before a countdown reaches zero, or you’ll explode. Expect a faster reload, weapon swap, and quicker movement speed after your first kill. Points are awarded for every kill, meaning getting kills, staying alive longer, earning more points, and finally claiming victory with your team is the plan in Cranked.
How does Hyper Cranked up the stakes even more? Simple; you spawn into a match already Cranked, with the countdown running! Chain kills, stay alive, and don’t dawdle!
Game Mode: Havoc (Mid-Season)
Eliminate the enemy while experiencing changing gameplay modifiers throughout the match.
Last seen in Season 5 of Modern Warfare II (2022), Havoc is a Core Multiplayer mode inspired by classic arena-shooter gameplay, with additional enhancements courtesy of a random selection of chaos-inducing modifiers. Expect gameplay to be consistently entertaining, fast-paced, and never the same.
The action begins with the Team Deathmatch ruleset in effect, with the first team to reach 75 points awarded the win. However, Killstreaks (except those awarded with a modifier) are disabled, and a variety of match-changing modifiers come into play!
Once the action starts, you’ll notice a series of five circular icons under your map compass, at the top of the screen. These indicate the modifiers currently in play. After a two and a half-second countdown, your first modifier is awarded. Then, once either team has reached a score multiplier of 12 kills (12, 24, 36 and 48), another new modifier is added to the match, affecting both teams immediately, from the following modifier pool:
- Ammo Feeder: Auto reload after you kill an enemy.[/*]
- Boots off the Ground: Low gravity.[/*]
- Camera Shift: Third-person mode.[/*]
- Chain Reaction: Sticky Grenades launched on kill.[/*]
- Charged Up: Gain Cranked on kills[/*]
- Equipment Restock: Equipment is refilled on kills.[/*]
- Eyes On: Advanced UAV is always active.[/*]
- Gun Runner: Random gun on kill.[/*]
- Hero Smash: Explosive landing from an elevated position.[/*]
- Hot Shot: Crossbows only, Molotov bolts.[/*]
- Lucky Three: Every three kills gives you a random Killstreak.[/*]
- One Tap: Headshots kill with one bullet.[/*]
- Snapshot Killer: Launch a snapshot grenade (and ping pulse) on kill.[/*]
- System Reroll (Fifth Modifier only): Full reroll of all active modifiers.[/*]
Game Mode: Headshots Only (Mid-Season)
Lock the target, aim at the cranium, and fire.
This team mode, played on a small moshpit of maps, is for skilled players that can demonstrate impressive aim. Using Team Deathmatch rules, augmented by the fact that only headshots count when eliminating other players; no damage is dealt, and no team score progression is possible unless your cranium-aiming is true.
With only one place to aim at, loadouts become of prime importance, and there are no limits on the weapons, Perks, Equipment, or Killstreaks you can take with you. Note that thrown Lethals like Knives or Stars can only deal damage if they strike the head, grenades are only effective if they damage the head, and you may want to leave Melee weapons back at the Lobby.
Playlist Modifiers: All Game Modes (Launch, In-Season)
Look for Playlist updates that indicate the presence of certain gameplay modifiers, like the Minefield Mode in Season 3. Expect some playlists to have active Killstreak, or Event-based modifiers which may include one or more of the following. These will apply to any Multiplayer Mode you are currently playing within the Playlist:
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.
Game Modes: Additional Content (In-Season, Mid-Season)
With the arrival of Das Gross, expect another Vortex Mosh Pit, and other as-yet to be unveiled content that will have you in bits. Plus, summon your best buds as the Synthwave Sunset makes another limited-time appearance with the revamped return of G3T_H1GH. Finally, expect Mutation Mode to fully embrace the forthcoming Countdown Event in a variety of surprising ways….
Multiplayer Ranked Play Intel (Launch Window)
The grind continues! As always, you can earn MWIII Ranked Play rewards in three ways:
- Rank Rewards: Available at launch and can be earned in any season. Players can continue their previous rank grind in Season 4.[/*]
- Season Rewards: Available at the start of a season and only available in that season.[/*]
- End-of-Season Rewards: Rewards that are awarded after the season has ended and represent either your highest attained division or an active placement in the Top 250 Division. Season 4 brings new seasonal content to unlock in MWIII Ranked Play![/*]
While Ranked Rewards are unchanged from season to season, Skill Division Rewards have been updated. If you didn’t get a chance to earn the Gold, Platinum, Crimson, or even Iridescent Ranked Play Operator Skin set, this is the season to focus on one of these unlocks!
New Season 4 Division Rewards
Here are the MWIII Season 4 Competitor Rewards:
- 5 Wins: “MWIII Season 4 Competitor” Weapon Sticker[/*]
- 10 Wins: “Pro Issue Renetti” Weapon Blueprint[/*]
- 25 Wins: “Break a Sweat” Weapon Charm[/*]
- 50 Wins: “Goated” Weapon Decal[/*]
- 75 Wins: “MWIII Ranked Play Season 4” Loading Screen[/*]
- 100 Wins: “MWIII Season 4 Ranked Veteran” Weapon Camo[/*]
Here are the end-of-season rewards for Season 4, related to the highest placement in your Skill Division (note the Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crimson, and Iridescent Operator Skins are still available):
- Bronze: “MWIII Season 4 Bronze” Emblem[/*]
- Silver: “MWIII Season 4 Silver” Emblem[/*]
- Gold: “MWIII Season 4 Gold” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Gold: “MWIII Season 4 Gold” Weapon Charm[/*]
- Platinum: “MWIII Season 4 Platinum” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Platinum: “MWIII Season 4 Platinum” Weapon Charm[/*]
- Diamond: “MWIII Season 4 Diamond” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Diamond: “MWIII Season 4 Diamond” Weapon Charm[/*]
- Crimson: “MWIII Season 4 Crimson” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Crimson: “MWIII Season 4 Crimson” Weapon Charm[/*]
- Iridescent: “MWIII Season 4 Iridescent” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Iridescent: “MWIII Season 4 Iridescent” Weapon Charm[/*]
- Iridescent: “MWIII Season 4 Iridescent” Calling Card[/*]
- Top 250: “MWIII Season 4 Top 250” Animated Emblem[/*]
- Top 250: “MWIII Season 4 Top 250” Animated Calling Card[/*]
- Top 250: “MWIII Season 4 Top 250” Weapon Charm[/*]
If you need a refresher on Ranked Play for Modern Warfare III, consult the Multiplayer Ranked Play Guide here. Also check the Patch Notes for additional Ranked Play insights, updates, and more.
New Perks and Equipment (Launch and In-Season)
Killstreak content rules the new Perk and Equipment features for Season 4, with a new Mission Control Vest allowing for rapid Killstreak acquirement. There’s a Compression Plate to aid in health regeneration, and four new Killstreaks to claim, including the game-changing DNA Bomb!
New Perk (Vest): Mission Control Vest (Launch)
Streak Specialist.
- Equipment Slots (6): Tactical, Lethal, Field Upgrade, Gloves, Gear (2)[/*]
- Reduces kills required by 1 and score required by 125 for Killstreaks.[/*]
- Earn 1 kill or 125 score for every 2 Kill Assists or Cross Fire Assists.[/*]
Duplicate effects do not stack. If equipped with Mission Control Comlink, gain the effects of High Gain Antenna.
New Perk (Gear): Compression Plate (Launch)
Immediately regenerate health after a Primary, Secondary, or Throwing Knife/ Throwing Star kill. Objective captures also trigger health regeneration. An icon appears on your HUD when this Perk is active.
New Killstreak: Intelligent Munitions Systems (I.M.S.) (Launch)
Kills: 7
Score: 875
The Intelligent Munitions System is loaded with smart explosives that eliminate enemy personnel and vehicles within range. When triggered, it will eject an explosive upwards, which then locks onto its target and propels towards them.
New Killstreak: Loitering Munition (Launch)
Kills: 8
Score: 1,000
An unmanned rocket equipped drone loiters over the targeted areas. On each activation the drone selects the targeted location with the largest number of viable targets to bombard with rockets. Can be activated up to three times.
New Killstreak: Missile Drone (Launch)
Kills: 11
Score: 1,375
A small, piloted drone controlled by the player that fires guided missiles.
New Killstreak: DNA Bomb (Launch)
Kills: [[REDACTED]]
The discovery of a DNA Bomb Popov Power in Urzikstan is a taste of the tremendous power this brings to a Multiplayer match. The tremendous explosion can be triggered providing you’ve acquired enough consecutive kills without dying. Once you’re granted the DNA Bomb you can detonate it, eliminating all players on the opposing team. Unlike the MGB, the DNA Bomb does not conclude the match.
MODERN WARFARE ZOMBIES OVERVIEW (MWZ)
[[KEY ART]]
CONTENT SUMMARY (Mid-Season)
- Learn the secret entrances to the Unstable Rift and face intense waves of zombie hordes until every undead entity is slain, or your team is overwhelmed![/*]
Unstable Rift (Mid-Season)
Join other members of Operation: Deadbolt during Season 4 Reloaded to investigate numerous and violent anomalies lurking within what Sergei Ravenov has termed an “Unstable Rift.” Deploy to the Exclusion Zone, and undertake a focused race and challenge to access the entrance into an Unstable Rift. Time is of the essence, as only the first squad to reach a Rift and vote to enter it will be transported into it. Thankfully, several entrances to the Unstable Rift can appear per match.
This allows you to return to an undisclosed portion of a Rift you may have previously visited. However, on this occasion, a large horde of zombies and other grotesque horrors attempt to assault you almost immediately, and intense waves of enemies continuously swarm you until the hordes are slain, or your team is overwhelmed.
Clearing an Unstable Rift of its nightmarish denizens does offer benefits; all weapon and schematic cooldowns are immediately wiped and refreshed if you succeed, and if you’re a glutton for havoc, you can repeat this activity as many times as your squad can successfully enter an Unstable Rift.
CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE OVERVIEW (WZ)
CONTENT SUMMARY
- Urzikstan’s bunkers are opening up in new and intriguing ways, and after a DNA Bomb discovery, Popov Power seems unchanged. For the moment.[/*]
- Expect an additional secondary exit hatch when exploring the Bunkers across Urzikstan, along with additional Gulag silo variants, offering new ways to approach your 1v1 duel for redeployment.[/*]
- Buy Back Royale Solos? Specialist and Tac Sprint Perks on Urzikstan? A new UTV? Hot Zones and Redacted Weapons? Call of Duty: Warzone Challenges? Battle Royale is back in a big way![/*]
Ranked Play Resurgence continues across Rebirth Island, with new Skill Division rewards to grind for.
Overview: Current Map Intel and Updates
Combat across Urzikstan, Rebirth Island, Fortune’s Keep and Vondel continues, and though no major points of interest appear to have changed, the discovery of a mysterious DNA Bomb at Popov Power leaves you and your squad little time to discover incoming threats.
This truth may not be immediately obvious, but as the season progresses, additional discoveries may cause a significant shift in your plans….
Urzikstan Bunker Update (Launch, In-Season)
Increased activity across Urzikstan seems to be focused on the Bunkers dotted across the warzone. After keycard access is obtained, an expanded interior may be accessible, along with high-level loot and additional intel regarding the location of [[REDACTED]]. Secondary Bunker exit hatches are likely to be active, allowing your squad multiple methods of escape. However, not all Bunkers appear to be accessible. Further investigation, and great care, is needed to solve this conundrum.
Urzikstan Gulag Update (Launch)
Additional Gulag silos have opened up during Urzikstan Battle Royale matches, and recon teams have confirmed four different variants. Expect to randomly drop into one of them, offering you new ways to approach your 1v1 duel for redeployment.
Gulag “S”: Stacked equipment and L-shaped plywood walls with an S-shaped central wall over the circular floor grate.
Gulag “2”: A three-panel curved wall, stacked equipment against two walled sections, and two curved inner walls above the circular floor grate.
Gulag “3”: Stacked equipment against two walled sections, with concrete L-shaped walls around the central circular floor grate.
Gulag “8”: A rectangular concrete barrier wall outside long central section around the central circular floor grate with one plywood wall sprayed with a blue “8”.
Call of Duty: Warzone Modes and Public Events
Returning Mode: Buy Back Royale Solos (Urzikstan, Launch)
Money is life. Earn enough Cash to redeploy automatically. Last team standing wins.
Being down doesn’t mean being out, providing you’ve got the Cash for a revive. Following the regular Battle Royale rules, this Urzikstan-only mode disables the Gulag, and instead allows you to return to a match after dying, along with a removal of some of your collected Cash reserves. Multiple redeployments are available until the final moments of a match (around the same time the Gulag closes in regular Battle Royale), allowing for a more risky, aggressive strategy and higher eliminations if you’ve the funds for it.
Additional Modes (In-Season)
SpecGru and KorTac Operators across multiple infil zones should expect additional [[REDACTED]] and a number of [[REDACTED]] modes as the Season progresses. Exercise extreme caution as you investigate [[REDACTED]], one step closer to the truth.
New Feature: Call of Duty: Warzone Rewards (Launch)
As well as Daily and Weekly Call of Duty: Warzone Rewards, a third set of brand new rewards specifically tailored to Call of Duty: Warzone players will be available at launch, all of which are trackable, and some of which unlock some of the most coveted rewards around! Accessible in the “Call of Duty: Warzone Rewards” section of the Challenges Menu, there are five different types of Challenge to complete, each granting a reward:
Economics: These offer rewards in return for looting and spending Cash at Buy Stations.
Contracts: Unlock items for completing different types (and numbers) of Contracts.
Social: Interact with enemy players or aid your team to secure more item rewards.
Mode: Complete tasks in different game modes, from Battle Royale to Plunder to Resurgence.
Champion’s Quest: Is a Champion’s Quest active in your game? Then check these Challenges out!
blog continues in part 2
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