MW3 Season 1 Reloaded patch notes

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The new MW3 Season 1 Reloaded patch notes has brought loads of new content and changes to the game and if you want to be the first to know what changes have been made to the game, then we’ve put together the complete list of patch notes for multiplayer and Warzone in Modern Warfare 3.

Before you dive in, we’ve also got helpful guides that’ll help you get the most out of your gameplay experience so be sure to check our MW3 multiplayer tips and tricks as well as our MW3 zombies tips and tricks on how to survive the undead. You can also go over the weapon nerfs and buffs in the MW3 Season 1 Reloaded update.

Image via Activision

NEW MAPS

Rio (6v6)

Test your mettle in a once-idyllic coastal town, where waters at the shore lap at the hull of a burning yacht, signaling disaster.

NEW OPERATORS

A-Train

Rush through the competition with the Tracer Pack: The Boys – A-Train Operator Bundle.

Firecracker

Blast your way through your enemies with the Tracer Pack: The Boys – Firecracker Operator Bundle.

NEW MODES

Headquarters

Secure the Headquarters objective and hold the position as long as possible to accrue points. Dig in tight, as respawns are disabled for the defending team. The objective rotates around the map throughout the match, so be ready to change your position on the fly.

Team Gunfight

Experience Gunfight on a larger scale. In this version, players compete in 6v6 across standard Multiplayer maps. As with traditional Gunfight, all players will receive the same randomized Loadout at the start of each round. This Loadout changes throughout the match. Adapt to what you’re given and wipe out the competition.

Infected

Begin the match with one player randomly assigned as the starting infected. The infected player’s goal is to eliminate and transform all the other players into infected Operators who then join their side, while the remaining survivors must use their best skills and strategies to keep the infected at bay.

NEW WEAPONS

TAQ Evolvere (LMG)
HRM-9 (SMG)

EVENTS

The Boys are back, and an all-new mode arrives in Modern Warfare III Multiplayer with them: Supe Siege is here.

A man in a blue suit is standing on a street, casually browsing through the MW3 Season 1 Reloaded patch notes on his phone. — Image via Activision

Compete in a new Supe’d Up version of Kill Confirmed inspired by the hit TV series The Boys. In this twist on the classic mode, fallen Operators drop doses of Temp V, giving temporary power boosts like Heat Vision to those who swoop in to collect them.

Prove that you belong with the Supes by completing six challenges in The Boys: Supe Siege Event Challenge. The challenges are as follows:

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 earn “The Boys Special” LMG Weapon Blueprint featuring four attachments, equipped with a whopping 150-round drum and incendiary ammunition for aggressive suppressive fire.

GLOBAL

CUSTOMIZATION

Adjusted geometry and appearance of the Gaia and Gaia BlackCell Operator Skins in an effort to increase visibility.
Familiar Camo in the Poison Frogs category will now appear as intended once equipped.
Unobtainable Calling Cards are no longer displayed in the Premium category.
Equip to All button from Battle Pass will now ensure customizations are applied in Private Match.
Fixed an error that prevented the Endowment Direct Action Pack to be purchased.
Resolved and issue in which several Camos failed to apply to the Holger 26 LMG.
Resolved an issue in which users were unable to navigate through an Operator’s skins while using a controller.
The “Fossilized” Weapon Blueprint no longer displays inconsistent camo coverage.
Several errors have been resolved that blocked players from equipping various Weapon Blueprints:
- Bone Structure Weapon Blueprint for the DG-58 LSW Light Machine Gun.
- Lethal Expression Weapon Blueprint from the Color Blocked bundle.
- Blam Blam Weapon Blueprint from the Sketched Out: Tracer Pack.
- Empire Guardian Blueprint from the Aztec Codex Weapon Bundle.

MULTIPLAYER

UIX

Improvements
- Faction emblems are now displayed while viewing the Scoreboard.
- Minor visual adjustments to the Prestige animation in the After Action Report.
Gunsmith
- 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.

GAMEPLAY

Spectating in the third-person perspective is no longer allowed in the following Modes:
- Control
- Cutthroat
- Search and Destroy
- War
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.
Audio
- 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.
Spawns
- Enemy Remote Turret, Wheelson-HS, and Chopper Gunner Killstreaks will now disable nearby spawn points.

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.
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Substation
  - P2: Propane Shack
  - P3: Red Pit
  - P4: Phonic Office
  - P5: Green Shack
Invasion
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Courtyard
  - P2: Construction
  - P3: Bus Station
  - P4: Park
  - P5: South Street
Karachi
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Rubble
  - P2: Cafe
  - P3: Mini Mart
  - P4: Main Street
  - P5: Shacks
Scrapyard
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Center
  - P2: Blue Warehouse
  - P3: Red Warehouse
  - P4: Forklift
  - P5: Storage
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.
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Loading Bay
  - P2: Garage Bay
  - P3: Crane
  - P4: North Dock
  - P5: Tank
Terminal
- Addressed multiple exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Bookstore
  - P2: Lower Lounge
  - P3: Shopping
  - P4: Dining
  - P5: Apron
Underpass
- Addressed exploits that allowed players to access unintended locations.
- Reworked Hardpoint capture point locations, sizes, and associated spawn points.
  - P1: Pillars
  - P2: Warehouse
  - P3: Village
  - P4: Industrial Yard
  - P5: Ditch
Operation Spearhead (War)
- Players can no longer exit the playable area using a Deployable Cover near the Police Office.

MODES

Infected
- Using a Field Upgrade will no longer cause it to become disabled for the remainder of the match.
- Deployable Cover Field Upgrade will no longer fail to deploy upon attempted placement.
Search and Destroy
- Sliding while planting or defusing a bombsite will now put the player into the crouch position rather than standing.

MW3 RANKED PLAY

MWIII Ranked Play launches in Season 1 Reloaded and will be available to all players who have reached Level 55.

LAUNCH PREPARATIONS

Season 1 Start Time: Multiplayer Ranked Play will not be available immediately after the Season 1 Reloaded update.
- For latest details and timing, please follow @CODUpdates.
Launch Matchmaking: During the Ranked Play launch period, Skill Division Matchmaking restrictions will be relaxed, allowing players who climb into higher Skill Divisions faster than the rest of the population to find matches.
- Skill Division matchmaking will continue to put high Skill Division players in matches appropriate for their skill. As more players reach higher Divisions, we will begin tightening our matchmaking parameters.
- Pre-made parties are still subject to the outlined Party SR Restrictions. Please find these restrictions in the Competitive Integrity Features section below.

COMPETITIVE SETTINGS OVERVIEW

Play like the pros in competitive 4v4 matches using the same settings, maps, and modes as the Call of Duty League (CDL).
Select Weapons, Attachments, Equipment, Perks, Field Upgrades, and Streaks are restricted based on official CDL Competitive rules.

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

Content Restrictions

Weapon Restrictions
- MW3 Weapons
  - Assault Rifles
    - Holger 556
    - DG-58
    - FR 5.56
    - MTZ 556
  - Battle Rifles
  - Shotguns
  - Marksman Rifles
  - LMGs
  - Sniper Rifles
  - Launchers
  - Melee
  - Pistols
- MW2 Weapons
Attachment Restrictions
- MW3 Attachments
  - Muzzle
  - All Suppressors
    - All Melee Damage Muzzles
    - Barrels
      - All Silencers
      - Lasers
      - All
      - Optics
      - All Thermal Optics
      - Ammunition
        
        All
        
        Underbarrels
        
        All Launcher and Shotgun Underbarrels
        
        Trigger Action
        
        All Fire Rate Triggers
        
        Grip
        
        All Akimbo Grips
        
        Aftermarket Parts
        
        All
    - MW2 Attachments
Equipment 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
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

SR (SKILL RATING) & DIVISION OVERVIEW

Test yourself against your peers and track that progress with a visible SR (Skill Rating) that determines your place across 8 Skill Divisions.
All players begin our first Competitive Season in Bronze I with 0 SR.
Players increase their SR by winning matches and lose SR whenever they lose matches.
Both individual and team performance will impact how much SR you gain or lose per match. In higher Skill Divisions, team performance has a bigger impact on SR gained or lost so that all winning playstyles are more consistently rewarded.
Players can progress through eight Skill Divisions by reaching SR milestones:
- Bronze – Starting Division
- Silver – 900 SR
- Gold – 2,100 SR
- Platinum – 3,600 SR
- Diamond – 5,400 SR
- Crimson – 7,500 SR
- Iridescent – 10,000 SR
- Top 250 – 10,000+ SR
Division Tiers: All Divisions except for Iridescent have 3 Tiers – Tier I, Tier II & Tier III. Climb into higher Tiers as you advance your way through each Division.
Show Off Your Skill: It’s easy to see which Division someone is in in MWII Ranked Play. Your entire Rank Icon will change color and material depending on your current Skill Division. Your current Tier is also prominently shown in the center of your Rank icon.
End of Season Skill Setback: At the end of each Season, your ending Skill Division and Skill Division Tier will determine where you start the following season:
- Bronze through Crimson I Players are set back three (3) Tiers below where they finished in the previous season.
  - Example: A Player ending Season 1 in Gold III will begin Season 2 in Silver III.
- Players Crimson II and above will start Season 2 in Diamond I.
  - The highest starting position each Season is Diamond I.

Top 250 Leaderboard & Division

The Top 250 Division returns, ranking the top 250 Ranked Play players in the world on an in-game Leaderboard that all players can view starting Day 1 of each season from within the Multiplayer Ranked Play lobby.
- Players will qualify for the Top 250 and appear on the Leaderboard as they surpass 10,000+ SR.
- The top 250 players with the highest SR above 10,000 will remain on the board and compete for 1st place over the remainder of the Season.
Play like the Pros, against the Pros: Top 250 Leaderboard will display CDL Team Affiliations and Profiles for current CDL Professional players and coaches. Keep track of your favorite players and teams and see how they stack up against the Ranked Play competition.
Ultimate Bragging Rights: In addition to new Rank and Seasonal Rewards in Modern Warfare 3, the #1 Ranked Play player will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem at the end of each Season.

RANKS & REWARDS OVERVIEW

MWIII Multiplayer Ranked Play offers a variety of valuable rewards available to players at launch and Season after Season.
Unlocked Rewards can be used in Modern Warfare III and Warzone. Unlock what the mode has to offer to show off your Rank and Skill wherever you play.
Ranks and Rank Rewards
- Separate from the player’s SR and Skill Division is Rank. Rank persists across Seasons to celebrate the player’s lifetime win total across their Ranked Play career.
- All players start at Rank 1 and can progress to Rank 50.
- Players increase their Rank by winning matches to earn Stars. Each win grants one (1) Star. Win enough matches and you’ll earn enough Stars to reach the next Rank.
- Every 5 Ranks players will progress their Rank icon and unlock a set of Rank rewards unique to that milestone along with a Calling Card that represents the player’s achieved Rank:
  - Rank 5: MWIII Ranked Competitor Skin for use with both 2024 CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions.
  - Rank 10: MWIII Ranked Play Rank 10 Weapon Camo
  - Rank 15: ‘Iced Out’ Animated Emblem
  - Rank 20: ‘Bomb Squad’ Weapon Charm
  - Rank 25: ‘Lock it Down’ Weapon Sticker
  - Rank 30: ‘Full Stack’ Animated Emblem
  - Rank 35: ‘Never Chalked’ Large Weapon Decal
  - Rank 40: ‘Top Fragger’ Weapon Charm
  - Rank 45: MWIII Ranked Play Rank 45 Weapon Camo
  - Rank 50: MWIII Ranked Veteran Emblem & Operator Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions.
Season 1 Rewards
- In addition to Rank Rewards, each Ranked Play Season will give players the opportunity to earn exclusive limited-time rewards.
- Throughout the Season 1, players can earn the following rewards:
  - 5 Wins: ‘MWIII Season 1 Competitor’ Weapon Sticker
  - 10 Wins: ‘Pro Issue Gutter Knife’ Weapon Blueprint
  - 25 Wins: ‘Script Writer’ Weapon Charm
  - 50 Wins: ‘Built Different’ Large Weapon Decal
  - 75 Wins: ‘MWIII Ranked Play Season 1’ Loading Screen
  - 100 Wins: ‘MWIII Season 1 Ranked Veteran’ Weapon Camo
End of Season Division Rewards
- At the end of each Season, players will be awarded Skill Division rewards that represent their highest attained Division that Season.
- Division Skins
  - Earn a Skill Division Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions to represent your highest Skill Division. Once the Skins from one Skill Division have been unlocked they can be permanently used in following Seasons in Modern Warfare III and Warzone:
    - Gold – Iridescent: Earn the applicable ‘Gold Competitor’, ‘Platinum Competitor’, ‘Diamond Competitor’, ‘Crimson Competitor’, or ‘Iridescent Competitor’ Skin based on your highest Skill Division reached over the course of the Season.
    - Top 250: Unlock the ‘Top 250 Competitor’ Skin by finishing a Season in the Top 250 Skill Division. Players must be in the Division at the end of the Season to qualify for this reward.
Seasonal Division Rewards
- Each Ranked Play Season will have a unique set of Division Rewards awarded at the end of the Season to celebrate the player’s highest Skill Division reached that Season.
- The Season 1 rewards are as follows:
  - Bronze: Emblem
  - Silver: Emblem
  - Gold: ‘MWIII Season 1 Gold’ Weapon Charm and Animated Emblem
  - Platinum: ‘MWIII Season 1 Platinum’ Weapon Charm and Animated Emblem
  - Diamond: ‘MWIII Season 1 Diamond’ Weapon Charm and Animated Emblem
  - Crimson: ‘‘MWIII Season 1 Crimson’ Weapon Charm and Animated Emblem
  - Iridescent: ‘‘MWIII Season 1 Iridescent’ Weapon Charm, Animated Emblem, and Animated Calling Card
  - Top 250: ‘‘MWIII Season 1 Top 250’ Weapon Charm, Animated Emblem, and Animated Calling Card
Ranked Play First Place: The player who finishes Season 1 in the #1 position on the Top 250 Leaderboard will receive an animated unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem for the ultimate bragging rights.

COMPETITIVE INTEGRITY FEATURES

Penalties & Suspensions: Players who disconnect or quit matches will receive SR penalties as well as temporary suspensions, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders.
SR Forgiveness: If a matchmade player disconnects or quits in the middle of the match, all team members outside of that player’s party will not lose ANY SR.
- It is still possible to earn SR if players can overcome their disadvantage, but a loss at a numerical disadvantage will not yield SR loss for players outside of the leaving player’s party.
Match Cancel: If a player quits or disconnects before the start of a match, the match will be canceled and will not count. The remaining players will be returned to the main menu.
Professional Conduct Only: Friendly Fire is enabled in Ranked Play per CDL rules. Repeated Friendly Fire will result in players being kicked from games and receiving penalties and suspensions.
Demotion Protection: After advancing to a higher Skill Division, players will be granted temporary Demotion Protection and will not lose any SR within the first three games in the new Division. Following that initial protection, if players were to lose enough SR to be demoted, they will first be dropped to the minimum threshold of their current Skill Division instead of being demoted. Losing their next match will result in a demotion.
- Demotion Protection is also applied for the player’s first 3 games of each Ranked Play Season.
Party SR Restrictions: To ensure competitive fairness and balance of matches in higher Skill Divisions, players in certain Divisions can only party up with players around their current SR. The player with the highest Skill Division in the party determines which Party SR Restrictions are used:
- Bronze – Platinum: Can party up without any restrictions
- Diamond: Can party within 2 Skill Divisions
- Iridescent (Including Top 250) & Crimson: Can party with players within 1 Skill Division

ADDITIONAL SOCIAL FEATURES

Hot Streaks: Win 3 Ranked Play games in a row over a short period of time to earn Victory Streak Flames that appear behind your Rank Icon in the lobby and in-game. Extend your win streak to progress the flames. Victory Streak Flames expire when you lose or after 72 hours without playing a Ranked Play match. Go on a roll and the competition will know the heat is coming. (Stay Spicy!)
Social Profile: Rank Play icons will be added to your Social profile to identify your Ranked Play Skill Division and Rank anywhere your profile is viewed across Modern Warfare III and Warzone.

Zombies content in Season 1 Reloaded patch notes

New Warlord: Dokkaebi

Operators will find Dokkaebi’s fortress at the top of a skyscraper in Zaravan City.
- A technological savant, the Warlord uses drones, turrets, and a Wheelson as her main line of defense.

GAMEPLAY

Contracts

Aether Extraction
- Players can now move immediately after successfully interacting with Aether Extractors.
Eliminate Bounty Target
- Addressed an issue that allowed HVTs to spawn inside of locked Mercenary Strongholds.

Field Upgrades

Addressed an issue that prevents players from using Field Upgrades when wielding the Dual Kodachis.

General

Addressed an issue that allowed players to damage other players in Modern Warfare Zombies.
Closed an exploit that allowed players to carry more than two weapons at a time.
Addressed an issue that would create a Contraband copy of Insured Slot 2 when it was equipped as a Secondary Weapon.

ENEMIES

Terminus Outcomes

Sentry Turrets
- Sentry Turrets are now EMP’d when shot by the Stormender.

ALLIES

Zombies

Hell Hounds
- Friendly (Pet) Hell Hounds will now heal newly added squad members.
- Friendly (Pet) Hell Hounds will now retain their name and level when traveling to the Dark Aether.

WEAPONS

» Assault Rifle «

RAM-7
- Addressed an issue that prevented players from equipping the base RAM-7 weapon in the insured slot.

EQUIPMENT

Tactical Equipment

Decoy Grenades
- Increased Decoy Grenade duration from 6 seconds to 8
Cymbal Monkey
- Increased the Cymbal Monkey duration from 8.5 seconds to 10.5.
- The Cymbal Monkey will now attract Hell Hounds.

CUSTOMIZATION

Bone Collector Operator Skin
- This skin now appears correctly in the Strike Team menu.
Sleigh Operator Skin
- This skin now appears correctly in the Strike Team menu.

UI/UX

Leave Squad
- Players can now choose to leave their squad.
Mission Progression Notifications
- Players will now be notified of certain progression milestones when completing Missions.
  - Example: A Mission step that requires players to kill 50 enemies will now notify players at 10, 20, 30, and 40 kills.
General
- Addressed an issue that prevented players from being notified that they earned the ‘House Cleaner’ Calling Card.

STABILITY

Added various crash and stability fixes.