Everything you need to know about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Find all the information on the MWIII campaign, multiplayer and Zombies mode.
Task Force 141, your mission doesn't end there. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III arrives this fall with a new campaign, a classic multiplayer mode, and a brand-new Zombies experience. Surprise: we've got you covered with all the information you need to get the upper hand on your opponents. Looking to get your hands on Makarov, rack up your first killstreaks, or grab the laser pistol to blast away zombies? Discover all the best tips for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.
What is the release date of Modern Warfare III?
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III releases on November 10, 2023.
But you can already try the game without waiting for that date. An open beta is coming soon, and all players who pre-order the game will be able to enjoy early access to the campaign and multiplayer mode.
How do I access the Modern Warfare III beta?
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III open beta will give all players the opportunity to test the game's multiplayer mode on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox before its release. If you want to access it during the open beta phase, simply download the beta on your platform of choice. Those who pre-ordered the game will already be able to get their bearings and hone their combat skills.
If you pre-ordered through a partner retailer, they will send you a 13-character code. Go to callofduty.com/betaredeem and enter your code to link your account and access the beta when it becomes available. If you pre-order through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Battle.net, and Steam, you'll automatically receive early access without having to enter a code.
When will the Modern Warfare III beta be available?
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III beta will be available in two phases. The first will be reserved for players on PlayStation 4 and 5.
The first beta phase exclusively on PlayStation will begin on October 6 and end on October 10. Early access will be available on October 6, while the open beta phase will begin two days later on October 8.
The second beta phase will run from October 12th to 16th . Early access on PC and Xbox (as well as the open beta on PlayStation) will begin on October 12th. Finally, the open beta will be available to all players from October 14th to 16th.
Modern Warfare III Campaign
Upon hearing Makarov's name, seasoned Call of Duty fans know they'll have to be extra vigilant. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III continues the story of the original, with a full campaign offering new twists in familiar levels and updated mechanics for a new level of freedom.
Makarov
Modern Warfare III's campaign continues the story exactly where the previous game left off: General Shepherd is in hiding, while Task Force 141 and their allies prepare to face a new threat: Makarov. In his new incarnation, the iconic Russian antagonist has already dealt with Captain Price and his men. In Modern Warfare III, he seems determined to exact his revenge.
The post-credits sequence of Modern Warfare II had us all excited by suggesting that Makarov might be planning a false flag operation, similar to the unforgettable No Russian level from Modern Warfare 2. This time, it wouldn't be an airport raid, but a plane hijacking by Makarov's men to frame Task Force 141 and their allies.
In a previously revealed level, a team infiltrates a Russian gulag to retrieve an unknown prisoner. The target is likely Makarov himself, with the mission offering a different perspective than Captain Price's escape operation in the original Modern Warfare 2.
Since the Shadow Siege event in Warzone, we've learned that Makarov's Konni group has acquired chemical weapons that pose a global threat. With Shepherd and the Shadow lurking in the shadows, Price, Soap, Gaz, and their men will have their work cut out for them in the Modern Warfare III campaign.
Open combat missions
Modern Warfare III's campaign will combine traditional cinematic sequences with new open combat missions. These missions will give players more freedom in expansive open environments. It will be up to you to choose your strategy to achieve your objective.
Players begin each open combat mission with a set loadout, but can find supply crates throughout the area with additional weapons and equipment. In one open combat mission, Simon Riley, aka "Ghost," must neutralize several bomb sites near the Gora Dam, including a bomb that must be defused in a moving truck.
These non-linear missions often feature vehicles, more verticality, and even aquatic sections, to provide more options for achieving your objective. Infiltrate enemy bases stealthily, equipped with night vision goggles and silencers, or play it cool, armored by your behemoth and swinging devastating explosives. The choice is yours!
Modern Warfare III Multiplayer Mode
Modern Warfare III's multiplayer mode brings together all the best elements to combine adrenaline with a healthy dose of nostalgia. The game features all 16 iconic maps from the original Modern Warfare 2 , such as Terminal, Quarry, Favela, Highrise, and many more. Each map has been faithfully recreated while introducing elements related to the evolution of the series' current gameplay and modes.
Maps
Check out all the maps announced for the launch of Modern Warfare III:
- Afghan
- Derail
- Estate
- Favela
- Karachi
- Highrise
- Invasion
- Quarry
- Rundown
- Rust
- Scrapyard
- Skidrow
- Sub Base
- Terminal
- Underpass
- Wasteland
Twelve new six-on-six maps are also expected to be released after the game's release. Three will be available in the post-launch Season 1, and three more in Season 2.
Modes
So far, only one new mode has been confirmed for Modern Warfare III: Cutthroat . This 3v3v3 battle is played over multiple rounds. Players only have one life per round and can win in two ways: by eliminating both enemy teams or by capturing the overtime flag.
Activision has confirmed that the mode selection has been expanded to all maps. You can now play Hardpoint mode in Favela, a new feature compared to the original game.
Ground War and Invasion also return in Modern Warfare III, letting you use a wide range of vehicles in epic clashes across three new XXL maps. The latest addition is the gigantic War map . First introduced in Call of Duty: WWII, War mode brings together opposing teams on a huge map to complete objectives, such as reclaiming capture points or escorting tanks.
Mechanics
Modern Warfare III features the same tactical combat techniques that fans already know, but will also introduce new systems and developments.
The first feature announced is Tac-Stance , a tactical stance halfway between instinctive hip-firing and precise aiming. Activating it will cause your character to fire their weapon in a slanted posture that combines the precision and mobility of other stances. It's ideal for intense, confined spaces.
Perks are now active throughout the game and grouped into four categories: vests, gloves, boots, and equipment, representing the accessories your character wears. Vests grant special abilities and also determine the type of accessories you can have in your gear. Gloves optimize your weapon and equipment management. Boots enhance your mobility and stealth with silent footsteps. Equipment perks improve various characteristics, such as reducing damage from explosions or reducing noise during combat. Perks do not change your character's appearance.
On the armory side, new customization options are planned with the introduction of spare parts . With these conversion kits, you can fully customize the use of a weapon, to perfect your fighting style. For example, transform a handgun into an SMG or a submachine gun with a bullpup conversion kit. Spare parts will be offered as players progress and complete challenges that will unlock weapons once they reach the maximum level.
Finally, Activision confirmed the following changes to the game's multiplayer features and movement systems compared to Modern Warfare II:
Features
- Map voting returns, allowing players to have greater autonomy over their multiplayer games.
- The traditional mini-map system has been reinstated, with red dots indicating that an enemy is firing without a silencer.
- All chosen assets are available at the start of each game.
- The Not Light perk allows you to move silently (provided you have chosen the right shoes).
- Multiplayer players' base health has been increased to 150, increasing the time it takes to eliminate an enemy. Hardcore mode is not affected.
Evolution of movements
- You can cancel slide animations ("cancel slide"), but this cancellation does not reset the tactical sprint.
- You can cancel partial reloads during an animation ("cancel reload") to immediately return to combat.
- Crossing an obstacle is faster, and possible while sprinting.
- You can shoot during and immediately after a slide.
- Tactical sprint durations are increased (exact duration depends on weapon used).
- Tactical sprint recharges while sprinting.
New weapons, gear, and killstreaks
Modern Warfare III will introduce over 30 new weapons for players to use after unlocking. Previously announced weapons include the Rival 9 SMG, the Longbow sniper rifle, and the Warden Kortac operator.
New equipment and field upgrades are also planned. We have the deadly Breacher drone, a slow-moving explosive activated near an enemy. It can be shot down in mid-air, so it's important to know how to maneuver well to do the most damage possible. The ACS field upgrade is used to hack enemy equipment or gain objective points without directly acting. Finally, the Communication Jammer prevents your opponents from activating killstreaks or field upgrades. It also allows your teammates to avoid detection by enemy drones when they are within your jammer's radius.
Only one new killstreak has been announced so far: the Mosquito drone. This explosive drone circles around its deployed location to swoop down on approaching enemies. Virtually invisible, you'll need a keen ear to anticipate its attacks.
Content Transfer
Activision has confirmed that all weapons, attachments, and unlocked items players have access to in Modern Warfare II will be transferred to Modern Warfare III. Where applicable, attachments unlocked in Modern Warfare II will also be compatible with new weapons in Modern Warfare III, and vice versa.
Zombies
The earth trembles, and a rotten hand rises from the ground! Modern Warfare III brings Zombies back from the dead. This time, the masses of revenants look much deadlier.
A new structure
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Zombies was developed by Treyarch and represents a true revolution in video game mode systems. Breaking away from the traditional survival structure of fighting waves of undead in a confined space, Modern Warfare III Zombies offers an open-world extraction-based experience on the largest map ever made for this mode . The perfect environment to face the worst monsters.
Each Zombies game can have up to 24 players, divided into groups of six. The goal? Complete contracts, collect Essence (the currency used to upgrade your character), and conduct extractions, capturing valuable resources. The weapons you bring back can be reused in future games. Additionally, players can find useful blueprints between games to craft upgrades. For example, you can start a deployment with Juggernog.
Teams will be able to explore the map and prepare for just one hour. After that, deadly hordes will swarm exponentially, eventually overwhelming the entire level. Zombies will be a 100% PvE experience at its core . Teams won't be directly fighting each other; they'll have to work together to face even more devastating threats.
The map
The full map for Zombies has yet to be revealed, beyond a brief teaser in the trailer. Fortunately, we have much more information on how the map will work.
In Modern Warfare III Zombies, teams will start the match at the edges of the map, in low-risk areas. They will have one hour to gather supplies and regroup towards the more dangerous areas in the center of the map.
Before reaching this point, players will only have to face less powerful zombies and NPCs embodying mercenaries in the pay of the private military company Terminus Outcomes. However, to get your hands on valuable resources and progress through the Zombies story, you will have to go further and face much more powerful enemies. The map also features well-guarded sites that must be attacked to obtain supplies and gain perks, or complete objectives.
The story
Modern Warfare III Zombies takes place 40 years after the events of Black Ops Cold War's Zombies mode. According to the trailer, Warzone antagonist Victor Zakhaev has managed to get his hands on a sample of Aetherium. Zakhaev finds the substance in a room among mummified corpses, including recurring Zombies character Gregori Weaver. As a last resort to escape a gunfight, Zakhaev throws a vial, which, when broken on the ground, transforms everyone nearby into ravenous zombies.
The story also features Sergei Ravenov, who returns forty years after the events of Black Ops Cold War. Other characters appear alongside him: Soap MacTavish and Kate Laswell, as part of Operation Deadbolt to contain the outbreak.