Following its initial teases, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has been officially revealed. For the first time in back-to-back years, Call of Duty is back with a direct sequel with Modern Warfare III picking up immediately after the events of last year’s Modern Warfare II. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is set to launch on November 10, 2023, for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against the ultimate threat with the ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov extending his grasp across the world, causing Task Force 141 to fight like never before. In addition to the traditional, signature, cinematic missions, Modern Warfare III introduces Open Combat Missions, with greater emphasis on player choice.
Open Combat Missions [OCMs] provide players with numerous additional choices to how players complete missions. For example, players can take the stealthy approach, using night-vision googles and suppressed weapons to complete the objectives. Players can also choose to tackle OCMs in a completely different way, strapping extra armor to the torso and tackling the mission head-on. There are also operable vehicles that players can experiment with and leverage the tactical and lethal equipment within the area of operations. Players will have the flexibility to maneuver across the sizable landscape of a mission’s AO and approach objectives from multiple angles.
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of Call of Duty, Modern Warfare III will feature one of the greatest collections of Modern Warfare multiplayer maps ever assembled. All 15 launch maps from the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 have been modernized, both graphically and with meticulous attention given to the authenticity and aspects of the maps that made them so popular.
In addition to brand-new modes like Cutthroat (a competitive 3v3v3 experience), a full range of fan-favorite and innovative gameplay features will be available at launch to get everyone started, like choosing to play Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed on Favela, modes that were never part of the original map offering, providing a refreshing multiplayer experience within these familiar environments. Three new Battle maps — large scale locations where Modern Warfare III’s Ground War and Invasion game modes will be fought — and a single, colossal War map is also coming to Modern Warfare III. Post-launch, Modern Warfare III will add over 12 all-new core 6v6 maps will be coming.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III will have many customization advancements and new gameplay mechanics to further evolve the quintessential, fast-moving gameplay. Three innovations have been revealed – Tac-Stance, Evolving Loadouts, and After-Market Parts, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks.
The new Tactical Stance feature is the perfect middle-ground between hip-fire and aiming down sights. Toggling Tac-Stance when entering tight hallways and cramped rooms will improve weapon performance. When players toggle Tac-Stance, the operator unshoulders the weapon and holds it in a canted firing position. Tac-Stance can be toggled dynamically while aiming down sights. Tac-Stance trades precise accuracy for improved mobility and handling. Some spread will occur while players are firing, best described as a middle ground between full ADS and hip-fire. Tac-Stance is used while firing when sliding. According to the blog post, Tac-Stance is designed to be used in aggressive, close-quarter combat situations.
Modern Warfare III brings new levels of customization to Create-a-Class. Get ready to build your Loadout based on cutting-edge military equipment, such as gloves, tactical vests, boots and more; allowing you to fine-tune more aspects of gameplay.
After-Market Parts are a special set of customization options that allows players to focus on their preferred and specific playstyle. After-Market Parts allow players to construct unique weapon configurations or types such as customizing a machine gun into a bullpup configuration (with the firing grip in front of the breech rather than behind it), thus increasing mobility and handling without compromising on damage output. After-Market Parts will also offer new progression paths, and challenges to unlock.
The core mechanics of Modern Warfare III will bring back classic features to Call of Duty. This includes the return of map voting, classic minimap behavior with red dots indicating is firing an unsuppressed weapon, all chosen perks will be available at the start of each map, the Covert Sneakers Perk allows for silent movement (assuming you’ve chosen the correct footwear), and core multiplayer health is increased to 150 lengthening the Time-to-Kill (TTK) with Hardcore mode is not affected. Players can cancel slide animations but it will not reset tactical sprint. Partial reloads can be canceled during an animation so players can return fire immediately. Mantling is faster and can be done while sprinting. Players can fire during and immediately after sliding. Tactical sliding durations are increased and tactical sprint recharges while sprinting.
A vast amount of content and weapon progression will come with players from Modern Warfare II to Modern Warfare III, including every multiplayer weapons, attachments, and unlocks in the MWII arsenal, along with all the new weapons in Modern Warfare III. All will be accessible to use on day one. Any MWII attachments considered “universal” can be used with MWIII weapons, where applicable. In certain cases, some MWII weapons can use MWIII attachments that become unlocked, where applicable. The number of Weapon Platforms (AKA “Receivers”) have been increased for some categories, reducing restrictions on weapon customization by allowing for core attachments to be added to your favorite MWII weapons.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III will feature Modern Warfare Zombies with the largest Zombies map ever. For the first time, players will be able to team up with other squads to survive and fight massive hordes of the undead. Players can expect to undertake missions across different regions that escalate in difficulty with core Zombies features and a cavalcade of secrets to discover in an open-world PvE extraction survival experience against some of the biggest enemies in Call of Duty history in an involved and unearthly Dark Aether Zombies story set in the Modern Warfare universe.
Pre-orders are available now with multiple editions available to purchase, the Cross-Gen Bundle, Vault Edition, and Physical Console Editions.
The Vault Edition ($99.99) is the premier option for Modern Warfare III providing an exceptional number of benefits including Campaign Early Access, Open Beta Early Access, Soap Operator Pack, Nemesis Operator Pack, two Weapon Vaults and the Season 1 Blackcell offering which includes the Battle Pass, BlackCell Sector that includes 1,100 CP Bonus, 50 Battle Token Tier Skips, and more.
The Standard Console Cross-Gen and PC Digital Editions ($69.99) include Campaign Early Access, Open Beta Early Access, and the Soap Operator Pack.
Players will have the option to upgrade to the Vault Edition on the same platform. PlayStation players upgrade directly through the Call of Duty in-game store or the platform store where you purchased the Cross-Gen Digital Edition, for $30 or your regional equivalent. Xbox players have to cancel their Cross-Gen Preorder, then purchase the Vault Edition through the Call of Duty in-game store, the Call of Duty website, or the platform store. Battle.net and Steam players upgrade directly through the Call of Duty in-game store or the platform store where you purchased the Standard Edition, for $30 or your regional equivalent. Players who purchase the Physical Edition cannot upgrade to a Vault Edition.
The Physical Edition of Call of Duty Modern Warfare III can be preordered at retail stores. There is no Physical Edition for PC. The following versions are available to purchase:
- PlayStation 4: Physical Edition Cross-Gen Bundle (includes PlayStation 5 next-generation version).
- PlayStation 5: Physical Edition next-generation version (does not include PlayStation 4 version of Modern Warfare III).
- Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One:Physical Edition Cross-Gen Bundle (includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions).
There will also be specially marked versions of Modern Warfare III for a limited time to select retailers. This will include the Call of Duty Endowment Direct Action Pack, which comes with an animated emblem, sticker and calling card. The Call of Duty Endowment Direction Action Pack helps veterans find high-quality careers by supporting groups that prepare them for the job market and by raising awareness of the value veterans bring to the workplace.
The FATE Weapon Vauts are variants of a Modern Warfare III weapon that keep its cosmetic properties on all associated attachments native to its base platform. This allows for instant customization, with every related attachment ready for immediate use in either a red and black (the signature colors of the Konni Group) or a blue and silver graphical design (the current colors of Task Force 141), depending on the Vault you’re using. These are available to test out in the Open Beta.
The Nemesis Operator Pack features four framed Multiplayer Operators: Captain Price, Ghost, Warden, and Makarov. Each Operator is clad in animated outfits themed for their faction. These can be used during the Open Beta.
The Soap Operator Pack features the “Masked Soap” Skin, the “Unmasked Soap” Skin, and the “Shadow Siege” Weapon Blueprint. The Soap Operator Pack can be used immediately in Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone, and will carry forward into Modern Warfare III.
Campaign Early Access provides players access to the mode one week prior to the game’s launch. Every version of the game features early access to the game’s Open Beta.