Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 DMZ Season 03 Overview
DMZ – The Story So Far
The faction war continues across all Exclusion Zones, and it’s up to you to stake a claim in this seemingly never-ending global power struggle.
Season 03 for Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 is the perfect time to drop into DMZ, as the experience will see several new features that will fundamentally change how Operators can stock up on Contraband, Keys, and other equipment. If you’re interested in a high-stakes mode with tons of permanent rewards, this seasonal update is a great entry point – or re-entry point – given several new ways to save precious items, edit Contraband, and work around – or out of – the Exclusion Zones.
So far, there are four Factions vying for control: Legion, based somewhere in the Americas, White Lotus, with ties to Asia, Black Mous, who are a decentralized organization, and Crown, who appears to be from or affiliated with the United Kingdom.
Legion were quickly corrupted once they learned what was inside the various Exclusion areas, as they pushed out White Lotus who are ultimately vying for revenge. Black Mous meanwhile continue to sit in the shadows planning their ultimate power play, while the newcomers known as the Crown are also well on their way to fulfill their own agenda…
With all that said, and outside of everything our Operators need to find for themselves, this is everything you need to know about DMZ in Season 03:
Barter
Outside of being important mission items, most of the collectible, non-lethal items in DMZ will have another purpose once the Season 03 update is live:
Across every Exclusion Zone, all Buy Stations will have a new option in addition to buying Gear and Weapons for Cash: Bartering. This is where you use “Recipes”: These give instructions to your Operator, including a component list, in order to build new equipment that can be more useful to your current situation. In other words, Bartering is where you exchange items for others. At the start of Season 03, some Bartering Recipes will be available for most of the new Plate Carriers and Backpacks (detailed later in this overview), Killstreaks, Self-Revive Kits, and Keys. However, each Exclusion Zone has its own set of Barter options across its Buy Stations, adding one more additional element to fully exploring everything in DMZ.
There are dozens of item trade combinations that will launch with Season 03, meaning anyone can memorize these Recipes, share them with squadmates, and search for specific items to load up on loot. Given these Recipes range from Operator items like Bomb Drones and Self-Revive Kits to other important Keys and items, the Barter system is ready to help Operators stock up on those harder-to-find items and reward them for their scavenging efforts.
Contraband Workbench
The other new feature at Buy Stations – found near them, not at them – are Workbenches.
For a nominal Cash fee, the Workbench allows an Operator to add attachments they have unlocked for any weapon platform onto a piece of Contraband or Insured Weapon. Operators can also remove them piece by piece. These Workbenches provide this attachment-swapping service, but for a price, given how much a weapon’s strengths and weaknesses can change based on the attachments it has or what is removed.
The obvious example is to attach what you believe as the most advantageous attachments on Contraband weapons, as most of the time, such weaponry won’t have all five attachments you seek. Some attachments to consider are suppressors, which are great for stealth situations, and thermal optics, for help seeing through smoke or more easily acquiring targets via their heat signatures.
However, any DMZ Operator knows that the Vaznev-9K with a high-magnification scope or the RPK with a 30-Round Magazine may not be the most ideal attachment combinations for how these weapons are typically used. In those cases and more, especially with Contraband picked up from fellow Operators, the Workbench is here to help scrap those attachments and slap on ones you feel more confident with.
Active Duty Operator Slots
By far one of the largest changes to DMZ since its launch, Active Duty Operator Slots are a critical part of this experience’s core value of taking calculated risk for incredible rewards.
At the start of Season 03, every player will have three Active Duty Operator Slots, which equates to three separate Operators that have their own on-soldier items. These items include your Backpack, Plate Carrier, Killstreaks, Self-Revive, and Gas Mask. You are free to swap around who these Operators are in your Active Slots, so if you have a Default Operator skin for a while and pick up Alejandro or Valeria in the Battle Pass, there is no need to worry about losing that Active Duty slot’s progress.
Before launching into a match, you choose which Active Duty Operator you bring into the Exclusion Zone. Whatever they bring back that is not part of the global loadout – Primary Weapon, Secondary Weapon, Lethal, Tactical, and Field Upgrade – is only for that specific Active Duty Operator. That means Contraband Weapons are shared between Active Duty Operators, but not Keys.
As we suggested in our Announcement blog, Active Duty Operator slots allow for strategies around designated Operators for specific Missions or supply runs. Another way to think about it is that Active Duty Operators are like “lives” in DMZ, but again, remember the core part of “taking calculated risks” part of DMZ. Each Operator life is separate and can easily go back to barebones.
In other words, using just one main Operator – like in DMZ prior to this update – may limit you to strategies like building up every Operator to full strength on scavenging runs, then using them all, if necessary, to knock out a difficult Mission or secure a Weapons Case.
New Equipment – Plate Carriers, Backpacks, Rebreather
What will those Active Duty Operators bring back from Exclusion Zones? In addition to the abundance of existing on-soldier items, there are a few new items that are coming in at launch and during the season:
New Backpacks – Secure and Scavenger
Secure Backpacks, as the name suggests, secure items between runs. This means that those non-Contraband, non-on-soldier items are secured in your inventory and don’t convert to XP upon extraction. Plus, items in a Secure Backpack are kept to that Active Duty Soldier if they are eliminated in an Extraction Zone.
Most likely one of the biggest game-changers in DMZ alongside Active Duty Operator slots, as this can help with supply runs and Mission objectives. And both of them come from the same idea of persistence: in DMZ, you need to continue doing missions and tasks despite getting knocked down some times.
For the Secure Backpack, even if you lose one important mission item, it will still be there with a Secure Backpack (and remember that there is a Barter recipe for it, too).
As for Scavenger Backpacks, these take out that third weapon slot usually found in Medium and Large Backpacks and add additional item slots. Perfect for completing Missions when there are a ton of valuable items that need to be picked up.
New Plate Carriers: Tempered, Revive, Comms, and Stealth
You may already be familiar with Tempered Plate Carriers from the previous Call of Duty: Warzone, but in case you need to reassess the intel, we wrote about these in our Tactical Overview. As for the other, DMZ-exclusive Plate Carriers, here’s a quick overview:
A 3 Plate Medic Vest grants both faster revives on squadmates, as well as faster self-revives when using a Self-Revive Kit. All-around a helpful vest, but especially great for those who find themselves as the squad’s medic.
A 3 Plate Comms Vest is like a signal booster and has a few benefits: it increases the duration of all UAV technology – the Killstreak, UAV Towers, and enemy radios dropped by AI – and makes them function as Advanced UAVs, meaning they also show player direction and location. As another bonus, the vest also gives you an audio cue when an enemy Operator is close to you, like an auditory version of the High Alert Perk. It could be great for a Solo runner especially, given that they could level the communications advantage that having a Duo or Trio provides.
Finally, the Stealth Plate Carrier comes built-in with the Ghost Perk, keeping you off enemy radars. Built for those times when keeping a low profile is essential to the mission.
Also, be on the lookout for Armor Satchels coming back during the season…
Rebreather Field Upgrade
A brand-new Field Upgrade you may recall first seeing in a Raid Episode, the Rebreather is built for amphibious Operators who navigate around the various waterways in Al Mazrah and Ashika Island.
This tool allows Operators to breathe underwater for longer periods of time, perfect for stealth infiltrations or tricky maneuvers where air is limited. Like a Stim Pistol, it has multiple uses before it expires, and it can even be swung as a two-handed melee tool in a pinch.
Skeleton Key
Those familiar with the phrase know that a Skeleton Key can unlock (nearly) any door in DMZ. The only exception is getting the Building 21 Access Key; although you cannot earn a Building 21 deployment, you can open every door that requires a Keycard or Key in Building 21 or the other Exclusion Zones.
These keys can only be created through a special Barter system recipe. Because every item can matter in DMZ, and Bartering means losing items to make others, it may be best to save it for those incredibly tough to find keys… Or use it as a back-up for those Missions that require a specific key.
What To Expect with New Missions
Season 03 of DMZ will not reset your mission progress. Furthermore, the new REDACTED Faction, available to all players, will have three of its mission tiers available at Season 03 launch, with two more to come at mid-season.
One More Thing About DMZ Activities
Remember that missions are not the only thing to accomplish in DMZ. The new Bosses, as well as something completely [[REDACTED]] happening mid-season, are sure to give even more challenges and rewards to all Operators.
Supply Run Contract
Most Operators who play Battle Royale know the details about Supply Runs, but now these Contracts are coming to DMZ, and they are similar in name only:
A Supply Run is a great contract for gearing up when your Active Duty Operator is brand new. Think of it as a lower-stakes Safecracker: instead of iron safes, all your Operator needs to do is find wooden crates. All items there are free for the taking.
Birds in the Sky – New Vehicle, Exfil Option
The Heavy Chopper is back, and there will be a new way to privately exfiltrate an Exclusion Zone DMZ in Season 03: both of which can help you exfiltrate safely.
First, the Heavy Chopper, seen in Ground War and Invasion within Modern Warfare II, will add to the aerial vehicle lineup.. Unfortunately (for you), it is completely drained of its fuel, so Operators must find its special fuel around the airport in order to get it in the sky.
Once topped off with its fuel, the Heavy Chopper can fly around the map and even outside the boundaries, which is how you can exfiltrate at any time for free. After getting out of bounds, a countdown will appear just like a normal exfiltration until you ultimately are given the same treatment as a successful exfil.
The other new feature here is a new Buy Station item known as a Private Exfil. Once bought, an exfil will be available on an unused exfil point (for that match) on the map. Consider it an extra escape route if needed, especially during Prisoner Rescue Contracts.
Upgrade to Modern Warfare II, Get Rewarded in Warzone 2.0
Haven’t experienced Modern Warfare II yet?
You are missing out on Premium XP while playing Warzone 2.0 as well as the Crown Faction in DMZ, which has its own missions and rewards on top of the main three factions. Modern Warfare II also has quick ways to level up over 50 Weapons through Multiplayer and Special Ops, Multiplayer Ranked Play and its exclusive rewards, and the ability to unlock 14 exclusive Operators to use across both games.
Plus, those who own Modern Warfare II can access content coming as part of Season 03, including the return of Gunfight, new Special Ops content such as Missions and Raid Episodes, and nine additional Multiplayer maps across Gunfight, Core 6v6 modes, and Battle Maps for all-out Ground War skirmishes.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 Tactical Overview for Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®
Outplay Your Competition
A squad-based mad dash for cash. An expansion of Resurgence to new locales. And a launch event where you can get special Weapon Blueprints and Operator Skins for a limited time.
Season 03 is set to change Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 in a massive way, especially in DMZ, where Infinity Ward introduces several major additions in this update. For all other WarzoneTM modes, Raven Software brings a reintroduction of Plunder and several Resurgence modes to take place on Al Mazrah.
This is everything you need to know about what will affect your personal meta in Warzone 2.0:
General Overview
- Plunder 2.0. Complete with permanent rewards and new ways to earn Cash in matches, Plunder will return to Warzone 2.0 during Season 03. - Resurgence Redux. Massive Resurgence will be featured as part of weekly Playlist updates during Season 03. - New Gulag, Returning Features. Get a closer look at Blacksite, the Redeploy Drones in Al Mazrah, and more as part of this seasonal update. - Time to Trophy Hunt. Collect trophies during this seasonal launch event and exchange them for permanent items, such as Weapon Blueprints and Operator Skins. - Patch Notes to Drop This Week. Stay tuned for the latest long-form breakdown of all changes coming to this update, presented by our studios.
General Overview
Love Resurgence? Then get ready for its expansion to Al Mazrah.
During Season 03, Warzone 2.0 will introduce Massive Resurgence at launch. Both of these will use the standard Resurgence with some major tweaks depending on the variant:
Massive Resurgence, meanwhile, uses the entire Al Mazrah map and pits up to 150 players against each other in specific squad sizes, such as Quads or Trios. That means you should expect plenty of action across the entire map, especially in those final few circle collapses if numerous squads are still at full strength!
All previous advice and strategies for Resurgence and regular Al Mazrah Battle Royale infiltrations apply for this mode. Stick together as a full squad and do not leave any stragglers alive on any enemy teams, and you will be well on your way to victory.
The New Gulag: Guide to Blacksite
Standard Battle Royale players are not being left out of this update. They can look forward to a new 1v1 Gulag…or at least prepare to fight for their life in a new arena if they are eliminated during the early stages of a Battle Royale.
Blacksite is a roughly rectangular, asymmetrical map with several interior spaces and long external routes, especially on the west portion of the map, where there is a large corridor that stretches between the two spawn areas. That area in particular is great for long-distance weaponry, if you have it in your Gulag Loadout; otherwise, it’s a clear path for equipment to be thrown down at the start of a duel.
For close-quarters engagements, use the various buildings, where Operators can weave in and out of doorways and other openings to disorient their opponents.
Because this map is also featured in Gunfight, the returning 2v2 Multiplayer mode in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, feel free to take a break from Battle Royale and get some practice on this map with some random Loadouts. More intel on this map and the Gunfight Multiplayer mode can be found here.
Redeploy Drones, Perk Packs, and More
The Season 03 update will bring several new and returning features to all Warzone 2.0 modes, especially Battle Royale, which will see the Redeploy Drones descend on Al Mazrah starting on April 13.
Redeploy Drones
First introduced to Ashika Island, Redeploy Drones are a new way to quickly travel across Al Mazrah — at the cost of being exposed to the elements and potential enemy gunfire.
Redeploy Drones in Al Mazrah will not be in the same positions for each match, but they will be roughly spaced apart in a way that allows for quick access to numerous points of interest. Outside of the train and other vehicles, these Redeploy Drones should be a fundamental part of your squad’s survival tactics, especially when it comes to escaping the circle collapse.
Perk Packs (Midseason)
Perk Packs are a new addition to Warzone 2.0. If you see one when scavenging Supply Boxes or whenever there is the opportunity to purchase a Perk Pack at a Buy Station, you should definitely grab it.
Because Perks are usually found in Loadout Drops, Perk Packs are absolute game changers, as they provide passive benefits to your Operator that otherwise only come in the middle or end of matches. Perk Packs are the default Perk Packages that could be used in Custom Loadouts. We especially recommend using the following if found:
Vanguard: A fantastic mix of movement, defensive, and tactical benefits, including the ability to restock equipment through Resupply and to receive enemy warnings through High Alert. Recon: For the Operator who values intel above all else. Tracker and Birdseye are a dynamic duo for tracking enemy positions, while Double Time and Focus provide small benefits for practically any engagement, especially when using rifles built for long-range fights. Specter: A strong choice for stealthy Operators, this package is built on Ghost, which hides you from UAV sweeps. Spotter is also helpful in terms of finding and destroying enemy equipment pieces.
Perk Packs are not just for Perkless Operators; those who have a Loadout with Overkill should consider picking up another Perk Pack, as the Overkill Perk’s benefit applies only to Loadout construction. That additional base Perk slot can be filled with Double Time, Bomb Squad, or another useful Perk from one of the Perk Packs, so definitely think twice before passing on a loose Perk Pack.
WSOW Open Playlist
In addition to the above, Operators should prepare for the launch of the limited-time WSOWTM Open Playlist from April 27–30.
More details about the World Series of WarzoneTM, including this open Playlist and how you can qualify for the Stage I Qualifier, can be found here.
Trophy Hunt Launch Event Details
Time to add a few more trophies to your collection.
The Trophy Hunt kicks off Season 03 with a limited-time launch event where Operators must collect trophies — small coins brandishing a gold scorpion — dropped by enemy Operators in matches. These trophies can be collected in the following modes:
- Modern Warfare® II Multiplayer: Every unique enemy drops one trophy. In non-round-based modes, this must be picked up in order to be banked. In round-based modes, such as Search & Destroy, simply eliminating a unique enemy Operator grants one banked trophy. - Warzone 2.0 Battle Royale / Resurgence / Plunder: Both enemy Operators and AI Combatants drop trophies. Trophies are lost upon death. Win the match or bank them at a Buy Station. - Warzone 2.0 DMZ: Both enemy Operators and AI Combatants drop trophies. Trophies are lost upon death. Successfully exfiltrate or bank them at a Buy Station.
Once players earn enough trophies, they can exchange them for a variety of rewards in the Event section of the main menu. At some point during the event, additional rewards will be put into the Event exchange store. All rewards earned here are permanent, including Calling Cards, Double XP Tokens, and two Weapon Blueprints.
The first Weapon Blueprint, the “Nightsting” Assault Rifle, is a Primary Weapon based on one of the community’s most popular weapon platforms — the TAQ-56. The five available attachments are balanced well for Multiplayer, and the weapon can hold its own in medium-range engagements within Warzone 2.0. The other Assault Rifle blueprint, the “Venom Strike,” is based on the special DMZ reward weapon platform and is built for both quick handling and multi-combatant engagements. Both of these Weapon Blueprints are specifically designed for night operations, which you can drop into as part of the new Oilfields map in Modern Warfare II Multiplayer.
There are also two completion rewards for this event in the form of Operator Skins. Collect 10 items to receive an Operator Skin, and all 15 items to get another Operator Skin.
Note: any unspent Tokens are automatically converted to XP at the end of the event, scheduled for the launch of Season 03 Reloaded later in May.
Plunder: Prepare for Its In-Season Launch with This Mini-Guide
Originally introduced at the launch of the previous version of Call of Duty®: Warzone™, Plunder is a squad-based, respawn-enabled mode where Cash is king. The squad that collects the most Cash after a set time limit, including an overtime period once a squad hits $1 million in Cash, wins the match.
During Plunder, you can eliminate enemies, complete contracts, partake in events, and clear out Strongholds and Blacksites to earn Cash. Operators can choose to hold their Cash, deposit it by using a Cash Deposit Helipad somewhere on the map, or procure and use a Cash Deposit Balloon for mobile transactions.
Outside of being the main resource for a win condition, Cash can be used at Buy Stations to purchase valuable items like Cash Deposit Balloons, Killstreaks, powerful [[REDACTED]] Weapons, and other new rewards.
New for Plunder 2.0
This new version of Plunder features a few changes to the in-match event system, new Buy Station items, and permanent rewards.
First, here are all the events that can happen during a Plunder match:
- Blood Money. Not just a Plunder variant! Double Cash is earned for eliminating and looting Operators during a Blood Money event. - Cannon Fodder. - Heat. Blacksites and Strongholds pay out five times their usual reward. Weapons hot! - Contractor. - Money Siphon. ATMs around the map pour out an endless Cash supply. Grab it before they are fixed! - Choke Hold.
Note that multiple events can happen in a single match, and some of these events are better to experience for yourselves…
Next, here are some of the new Buy Station additions with this version of Plunder:
- Credit Card. Save more with the official Bank of Adal Quickscope Card, now with 10% Cash back on any and all purchases! No application or Ranked Skill Division Credit Score necessary, just a small introductory Cash fee. - Life Insurance. Leave a legacy…until you respawn, that is. Save 50% of your Cash on hand when eliminated by picking up Life Insurance for a small Cash fee. - Angel Investor. For little Cash down, you can pick up a Top Secret Contract with enhanced payout multiplies for whatever task it presents, in addition to a free UAV.
Finally, whether you are casually playing matches or searching for every last reward in Warzone 2.0, Plunder offers nine unique rewards at its launch for completing challenges. These challenges include winning Plunder matches, eliminating AI Combatants or enemy Operators, or just simply playing the game. Rewards from these challenges include a Vehicle Camo, Calling Cards, and more.
More Intel in Patch Notes, DMZ Blog
With all this exciting new content, plus Ranked Play on the horizon, we know this community is ready for Season 03’s launch on April 15. Every studio working on Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II — in alphabetical order: Activision Central Design, Activision Localization Dublin, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Team Ricochet, Toys for Bob, and Treyarch — is looking forward to seeing their efforts come to life in just a few short days and will be monitoring all data and player feedback for future patches and updates.
One of these changes will excite Operators who took a trip over the rainbow this past March: Expect the return of one-shot sniper rifles — under certain attachment and platform conditions — as part of this seasonal update.
Furthermore, there will be a change to Buy Station locations that puts them in safer spots, such as indoor locations or places with nearby cover. This change will apply to both Al Mazrah and Ashika Island
Patch notes, blogs, and official announcements from Call of Duty® channels and studios are the only places to get confirmed and accurate updates for the Call of Duty franchise. Be sure to follow all Call of Duty social media accounts and check the Call of Duty blog daily for the latest news and other important announcements.
Also, Infinity Ward detailed the upcoming update’s impacts on DMZ, including Barter, the Contraband Workbench, and Persistent Operators, in a special studio blog here.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Everything You Need to Know About World Series of Warzone™ 2023
Call of Duty®: Warzone ™ 2.0 competitors: It’s time to drop in.
The World Series of Warzone (WSOWTM) 2023 is about to be the biggest year yet for the Call of Duty: Warzone competitive scene, as we are ready to crown the best WarzoneTM players in the world and give out over $1 million in prizing. And the competition will be now be open to competitors around the world, not just in North America and Europe.
Assemble your Trio and start warming up in Warzone 2.0, because WSOW 2023 is about to kick off this April:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liIcSYgVo2Q
Format and Schedule at a Glance
The WSOW 2023 season is broken up into two stages and a Last Chance Qualifier for North America and Europe. It also includes new regions, which will hold their own Qualifier events, and for the first time ever, the season will end with a live in-person finale.
North America and Europe Schedule
The first and second stages of the WSOW season include an In-Game Open where anyone can compete, a Qualifier, and a Final. Each stage’s Final includes $150,000 in prizing for each region. Each Final will be streamed live on the official Call of Duty® channel.
WSOW Stage I with the WSOW Trios playlist on April 27 at 10 AM PT. In addition to signing up on GameBattles (more details in the “How to Compete” section ), Trios will play on a special WSOW Trios Playlist in Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and attempt to put up their best 10 matches before 2 PM PT on April 30.
While the public Playlist will be available throughout this weekend for practice, the actual competition — and opportunity for official scoring for WSOW Stage I — will take place on April 28 through April 30 from 10 AM to 2 PM PT.
The top 50 Trios in each region will advance to the Qualifiers later in May, where they will play in a special five-map, custom lobby series with WSOW scoring. The 25 best Trios from this event — in addition to 25 Trios who will receive invitations from Activision — will compete in the WSOW Stage I Finals at the end of May.
At the WSOW Stage I Finals, teams will compete in a six-map, custom lobby series with WSOW scoring. The top 25 Trios in each region will automatically secure a place in their region’s WSOW Stage II Finals. The bottom 25 Trios will still end up with a place in the WSOW Stage II Qualifiers.
WSOW Stage II will take place in June and July with a similar In-Game Open, Qualifier, and Final format. However, the top 15 Trios in each regional Stage II Final will punch their ticket to the WSOW Global Final!
Meanwhile, the bottom 35 Trios will be joined by 15 Trios invited by Activision in the Last Chance Qualifiers, to be held in late July. This special five-map event will see the top 4 Trios qualify for the Global Final before a special WSOW Wildcard match.
In the WSOW Wildcard, the winning Trio — as in, the No. 1 team in terms of placement in that match — will take the final regional qualification spots in the WSOW Global Final.
New Regions for 2023
For a list of eligible countries and a breakdown of what countries apply to each region, please see the official full WSOW rules here.
The WSOW team will provide an update when these dates and additional qualifiers are locked, so stay tuned.
The WSOW Global Final and #SOLOYOLO Drop
The WSOW Global Final, to be held in September, will see the top 50 Trios in the world battle in a six-map, custom lobby series with WSOW scoring. Only then will the best Warzone Trio in the world will be crowned, with half a million dollars on the line. In addition, each Trio will be travel and accommodations as part of their qualification.
Stay tuned for more information about this Global Final, including when tickets are available for purchase and the venue where it will take place.
How to Compete for Over $1 Million in Prizing
For now, all your Trio needs to do is sign up for the WSOW Stage I Open on GameBattles , and get ready for the public Playlist to go live on the last weekend in April. Your Trio can track their progress using the WSOW In-Game Open Leaderboard, which will be launched during Season 03.
Can’t compete that weekend? No problem — you still have a chance to play for a Global Final spot in June and can practice until then with Ranked Play, coming later in-Season.
For those unfamiliar with WSOW scoring, players earn one WSOW Point for every elimination, then have that score multiplied by their placement in that match:
Essentially, if you watched the Call of Duty Endowment Bowl earlier this year, you are ahead of the game when it comes to understanding how WSOW is scored. And who knows? You might just see those service members and influencer captains in your next WSOW In-Game Open lobby…
Rules and Settings
WSOW Stage I In-Game Open and Qualifier settings will be under WSOW rules, which is a variation of a standard match of Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0. This includes changes such as:
- No turreted vehicles nor the Heavy Chopper (new to Season 03) - No in-match events (e.g. Fire sales, Jailbreaks, Restocks or Champions Quest)
After the debut of Warzone Ranked mode, all subsequent WSOW competitions, including the WSOW Stage I Finals, will utilize the Warzone Ranked competitive settings.
Competitive integrity is paramount in the World Series of Warzone.
During WSOW Qualifiers, Finals, and Last Chance Qualifiers, all participants must stream their gameplay and may be required to implement a stream delay or other configurations to their broadcast, such as frame rate and resolution as detailed by WSOW administration. Participants must stream their gameplay on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook.
All accounts will be checked to ensure they are in good standing before advancing in the competition. In order to be eligible to progress beyond the In-Game Open, you must be located in an eligible country; be over 18 years of age; be able to stream your gameplay on Twitch, Facebook Gaming, or YouTube; and register your team on GameBattles.
In addition to RICOCHET Anti-Cheat™ — a multifaceted approach to combat cheating that includes server-side tools that monitor analytics to identify cheating, enhanced investigation processes, and more — all participants will need to pass an extensive and internal Activision security check to make sure their Activision accounts are in good standing. Participants found to have violated competitive integrity standards will be banned from all future Activision sponsored Warzone events and may be subject to further action. Participants will also need to ensure good standing with any current or future World Series of Warzone program partners.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Gunfight Returns in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II Season 03
Grab a friend and prepare to battle against another Duo when Gunfight returns in Season 03 of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, launching on April 12.
In this round-based match, players must use randomly assigned Loadouts to overcome the opposition and secure the round win. And with just one life per round, every move counts.
Whether you need to brush up on the returning mode or this is your first 2v2 duel, read on for the rules of engagement and tips for achieving victory.
Gunfight 101
In Gunfight, two teams of two compete in a round-based match. There are no respawns and no health regeneration, and all players are assigned the same randomized Loadout at the start of each round.
The assigned Loadout changes every two rounds, and you never know what you’re going to get; you may be trading shots from afar with Sniper Rifles one round, then rushing in with Shotguns the next. Each Loadout includes a lethal and tactical equipment.
In other words, take what’s given and make it work.
In each round, players have 40 seconds to eliminate the enemy team. If time runs out and both teams are still alive, an Overtime Flag will spawn on the map for ten seconds. The first team to capture the flag or eliminate the enemy team wins the round. If neither team wins during Overtime, the team with the most health wins.
The first team to win six rounds wins the match.
The Gunfight Playlist will feature four close-quarters environments suited for 2v2 play: Alley, Blacksite, Exhibit, and Shipment.
Alley: Somewhere in the Al Mazrah region, a small marketplace is cleared out as strike teams prepare to go in, weapons hot.
Blacksite: A training ground for Operators wanting to return to the warzone. Its location is classified. Blacksite will also become the new Gulag in Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 Season 03.
Exhibit: Another Gunfight locale among the core four at launch.
Shipment: Iconic and perfect for 2v2 play, Operators have been battling on Shipment since its introduction in the Season 01 Reloaded update.
Start from Scratch in Gunfight: OSP
Season 03 will also introduce the game mode variant Gunfight: OSP (On-Site Procurement). In this version of Gunfight, Operators load into the map with nothing but their fists. Procure weapons and equipment placed throughout the map and eliminate the enemy.
Weapon locations remain consistent through every match, so you’ll always find an Assault Rifle or a Sidearm in the same place, though the exact weapon may change.
Learn the locations of your favorite items on each Gunfight map to get the advantage in future matches. Don’t underestimate the power of equipment, either; just be sure that when the enemy comes knocking, you’re done scavenging and ready to fight.
Top Gunfight Tips
1. Keep up the pressure. With just 40 seconds on the clock, there’s no time to waste. Don’t let your enemies determine the flow of the round; form an attack plan and execute it with haste. By forcing enemies to react to your actions rather than the other way around, you gain better control of the match, increasing your chances for success.
2. Punish predictable plays. Sometimes you’ll encounter a Duo who are extremely effective…at just one type of play. If, for example, your opponents are strong slayers who consistently rush the center of the map, try flanking out in different directions and eliminating them with a pincer movement. Find the flaw and exploit it.
3. Cover and flank… Have one player go loud right at the start of the round while the other flanks to either side in an attempt to eliminate enemies rushing after the more obvious teammate.
4. …or go straight through. Sometimes all-out aggression does make for the best play. Keep your opponents on their backfoot by charging straight at them the moment the round begins. Best used when mixed in with other opening strategies.
5. Bait the Overtime Flag. It doesn’t take long to capture the Overtime Flag, but sometimes it’s best to let the enemy try for it first. This is especially effective when your side has more health, meaning that you’ll win the round if the flag isn’t captured in time. This forces their hand, so get them when they run in for the capture.
6. Rat in a maze. Enemy on your tail? Get your teammate to move up ahead of you and take the enemy down the path to their position. Now see how they do against both of you.
7. Watch your back. On maps this small, it’s rarely a good idea to hunker down and wait for enemy movement. Even in the 40-second round limit, fast-moving Operators can circle around their opponents to attack from behind. For this reason, it’s best to stay on the move and use cover only when you need it in a fight.
8. Communicate. With six rounds needed to win the match, there’s plenty of time to strategize attacks and counterplays as the rounds progress. The best Duos will use the downtime they have to formulate and execute a plan for each round, with the ability to pivot as needed. The rounds go by fast, so communicate clearly and keep it brief. Even simple plans will overcome an unprepared enemy.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
MWII/WZ2: It’s Anyone’s Game in Season 03 - Launching April 12
The world of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II is in chaos with a global power struggle playing out in plain sight.
Task Force 141 is deep into the deadly border region between Urzikstan and Al Mazrah, uncovering an intercontinental ballistic missile primed for launch. South of the border in Al Mazrah, the group responsible for downing a plane over the DZ is still at large, as intel reports there is a new Blacksite and a mysterious facility within the region. Meanwhile, the dangerous conflict in DMZ is about to reach a new level, as Legion, White Lotus, Black Mous, Crown, and a mysterious newcomer called REDACTED are in a deadlock for control over important strategic areas within Al Mazrah and Ashika Island — and over the secrets within Building 21.
And with Alejandro and Valeria now back in play, only one thing is for certain:
It’s Anyone’s Game.
This is Season 03 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, launching on April 12. During this season, you can expect the return of Gunfight and Plunder, additional features such as the Barter System in DMZ, a legendary Sniper Rifle now under a new manufacturer, the launch of Warzone Ranked Play, and a new way to dominate the Battle Pass AO by joining the ranks of the exclusive BlackCell.
Season 03 of Modern Warfare® II and Warzone™ 2.0 will launch on April 12 at 10 AM PT. This seasonal update will be available to download on April 10 at 10 AM PT, with Patch Notes to come between the update download and the season’s launch.
MODERN WARFARE II OVERVIEW
• Get Your Duo. Gunfight is back with four maps, including the new Warzone 2.0 Gulag Blacksite and fan favorite Shipment. Prepare to prove you are a part of a dominant Duo.
• Three 6v6 Maps, Two Battle Map Locales. Ship out to Spain for the new map Pelayo’s Lighthouse, go dark with the nighttime map Black Gold, and stay tuned for another Core Map to round out a trio of new Multiplayer locales later this season. Also: two new Battle Maps for Ground War and Invasion.
• New Special Ops. Later this season, outlast waves of enemy reinforcements in the Defender: Hafid Port Special Ops mission; then prepare for a new Raid Episode.
Gunfight Returns for MWII, New Maps
Small team, multi-round cage matches. First duo to reach the round win limit is victorious.
A contemporary classic from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® (2019) and the precursor to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ Gulag confrontations, Gunfight is the four-player, duo-against-duo game mode where random Loadouts and small cage-match-style maps dictate tactical and fast-paced combat.
For those unfamiliar with this mode: Each round, two duos spawn on either side of a map with the same random Loadout. A duo wins a round when they reduce the opposing duo’s health to zero or, if this is not done before the round timer expires, the first duo who captures an Overtime flag at the center of the map wins. Ties can occur if duos have the same health and the Overtime flag is not captured at the end of a round’s overtime period, at which point both duos will be awarded a “round win” for scoring purposes. The first duo to win six rounds wins the match.
Here’s where you’ll find a squadmate and drop in to face off against a rival duo:
Introducing the Map Rotation
Alley: Somewhere in the Al Mazrah region, a small marketplace is cleared out as strike teams prepare to go in, weapons hot.
Blacksite: A training ground for Operators wanting to return to the warzone. Its location is classified. Learn more about this new map, which also serves as the new Warzone 2.0 Gulag for Al Mazrah, elsewhere in this announcement blog.
Shipment: The OG since 2007; get your sea legs as soon as the timer hits zero, lest you get thrown overboard.
Exhibit: Another Gunfight locale among the core four locations at launch.
Gunfight OSP to Be Available in Regular Playlist Updates (In-Season)
In addition to the standard Gunfight mode, the Gunfight OSP mode variant (coming in-season) will be made available during the season as part of regular Playlist updates.
OSP stands for On-Site Procurement, which defines this variant of the traditional mode. Players will have to grab weapons and equipment spread out across the map instead of receiving a random Loadout every round. This makes quick movement and coordination even more crucial to success when playing this mode variant.
Three New Core Maps, Two Battle Maps In-Season
New locales, familiar Battle Maps, and the first nighttime infiltration in Modern Warfare II lead a strong mix of additions to the game’s Multiplayer map pool:
Pelayo’s Lighthouse (Core Map, Launch)
As rain pounds the cliffs of this small, craggy island, a lighthouse offers guidance to passing ships in the night. Even so, nearby shipwrecks tell of the immense danger that comes with navigating the rocky seas.
Black Gold (Core Map, Launch)
Based on the Rohan Oil section of Al Mazrah, this Core Map will be the first iteration of night operations in Modern Warfare II. Operators will have to use their night vision goggles, equip thermal optics, or use the available light sources to their advantage to secure victory in this critical strategic location.
Rohan Oil (Battle Map, Launch)
An expansion of the Core Map, Rohan Oil widens the combat arena across this Warzone 2.0 point of interest and shifts into daytime, allowing for plenty of air and land vehicles to barrel past refinery silos toward objectives.
Sattiq Cave Complex (Battle Map, Launch)
South of Rohan Oil, the Sattiq Cave Complex provides an interesting mix of verticality, small building skirmishes, and interior combat via its intricate cave network. Note the downed plane and the area surrounding it; this may be familiar to veterans of the franchise. . . .
Also, stay tuned for information on another brand-new Core Map, to be released at midseason.
Modes: Cranked, Face Off, and GW Infected Are Coming to MWII
Along with fan-favorite Playlists and rotations that feature Season 03’s new maps, you can expect some returning modes to be in the weekly Playlist rotation updates:
Cranked (Launch)
First seen in Call of Duty®: Ghosts and most recently as part of Modern Warfare® (2019) and Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War, Cranked takes Team Deathmatch and amps up the intensity by putting a countdown on any Operator who earns an elimination. If they cannot earn another elimination before the timer hits zero, they meet an untimely explosive death.
Because you will feel the pressure of going on elimination streaks, your Operator is likely to gain the effects of the Fast Hands and the Double Time Perks while Cranked. Furthermore, Cranked eliminations count for more — in a standard game to 150 points, the first elimination in each life will award 1 point, and eliminations earned while Cranked will award 2 points each.
Face Off (In-Season)
There will also be the return of Face Off, a classic small team mode originally from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3 and more recently brought back in Modern Warfare® (2019) as a 3v3 mode, which will arrive sometime during the mid-season update.
GW Infected (In Season)
Everything you loved about Infected, now on a larger Battle Map.
Fight with your fellow survivors — if you are not chosen as the initial Infected — to last as long as possible in what should be all-out chaos. It may be easier in this mode to earn a fabled Killstreak, although survivors may need plenty of skill and potentially a bit of luck to unleash the ultimate explosive ending. . . .
New Multiplayer Ranked Play Rewards
Ranked Play grinders and Call of Duty League™ hopefuls will have all-new rewards to earn at the start of Season 03. Here is a breakdown of the new Season 03 Ranked Play match win rewards:
Win 5 Ranked Matches: Season 03 Competitor Sticker
Win 10 Ranked Matches: Pro Issue TAQ-56 Weapon Blueprint
Win 25 Ranked Matches: “Top Dog” Weapon Charm
Win 50 Ranked Matches: “Tippable” Weapon Vinyl
Win 75 Ranked Matches: Ranked Play Season 03 Loading Screen
Win 100 Ranked Matches: Season 03 Ranked Play Veteran Camo
Players also have the chance to earn higher Skill Division Operator Skins and cosmetics for having a season-high placement within the Gold Division or above, with special rewards for the Top 250 and No. 1 player in the world at the end of the season. That means if you did not get a chance to earn the Crimson Ranked Play Operator Skin set, now is your chance to get those hoodies!
And remember: Ranked Play rewards are earned based on whatever your best rank was, so don’t worry if you got hard carried to Crimson only to fall back to your rightful place in Gold. . . .
Also, expect all Season 02 Ranked Play rewards to be available at the start of Season 03.
For more information on Ranked Play, check out our extensive guide on it here.
Coming Mid-Season: New Core Map, Special Ops Mission, Raid Episode 03
As previously mentioned, a new Core Map will be available as part of Season 03’s mid-season update, but that is not the only offering this update will bring.
Special Ops will see a major content update at mid-season in the form of a new mission and a new Raid episode. This new mission will see Operators take on the Las Almas Cartel somewhere in Al Mazrah in an all-out fight for survival and is sure to help you boost that Special Ops Stars count.
Along with that new mission, the mid-season update will include the next exciting episode of Raid, where Operators continue Task Force 141’s story after the events of the Modern Warfare II Campaign, and will be released with the Season 03 mid-season update.
Play the first two Raid episodes now to get caught up with the story so far before the mid-season update!
WARZONE 2.0 OVERVIEW
• Massive Resurgence Eminent. At launch, up to 150 players can drop in for Resurgence across Al Mazrah. Expect chaos (and plenty of XP)!
• Prepare to Plunder Once More. The team-based, respawn-enabled mad dash for cash is back during Season 03. Time to level up those Loadouts and get rich — or die trying.
• A Host of Additional New Features In-Season. Redeploy Drones reach Al Mazrah; protect yourself with Tempered Plate Carriers; get Perk Packages (in-season); UAV Towers appear in Battle Royale; and more.
• DMZ Reaches a New Level. Bring and buy items with the new Barter System; take on a new contract and additional missions from the new REDACTED faction; and tinker on your Contraband workbench before facing off against two new bosses and dropping into a [[REDACTED]].
• Ranked Play Arrives at Mid-Season. The much-anticipated experience will be the proving ground for all Warzone competitors. Still itching for some competition? Try out for the World Series of Warzone™ in mid-April!
Resurgence Comes to Al Mazrah
The Resurgence of Resurgence
Fans of the fast-paced Resurgence mode will have a new version of Resurgence to look forward to, in addition to Ashika Island remaining as a game mode option.
This new version, called Massive Resurgence, is a Resurgence mode on the larger Al Mazrah map. The player count will be increased to fit Al Mazrah, so prepare to take on dozens of duos or other squad sizes, depending on the weekly Playlist offering.
Plunder Arrives In-Season
Warzone 2.0 is adding the mode that launched with the original Call of Duty®: Warzone™ just over three years ago: Plunder, set to launch during Season 03.
For those who have yet to experience this fun and frenetic mode, Plunder is a respawn-enabled, squad-against-squad mode where the team with the most Cash wins. Cash can be earned by eliminating players and picking up their valuables, scavenging for Supply Boxes and loose Cash, or completing Contracts and in-game events. Operators can use their Loadouts right from the first drop and will redeploy with a reduced portion of their current Cash if eliminated.
As you gear up for Ranked Play and continue to prove your Battle Royale prowess, focusing on Plunder is an excellent way to practice with your Loadout before hopping into competitive matches. Because most of the core gameplay mechanics, including health and armor, are similar between Plunder and other Warzone 2.0 modes, this mode is a great opportunity to live-fire test some Loadouts or level up new weapons, such as the ones coming this season.
New Gulag in Al Mazrah
Get your last duels in the first Warzone 2.0 Gulag now, because in Season 03, eliminated Operators will enter a new Gulag in Al Mazrah (if it is not closed due to time during the match). This is known as the Blacksite, which is separate from the Black Site, a super Stronghold that appears in Battle Royale.
A training ground for Operators wanting to return to the warzone, this roughly rectangular, asymmetrical map has several interior spaces and long external routes. This Blacksite Gulag’s current location is [[REDACTED]].
Those who own Modern Warfare II can get some practice on Blacksite and learn its routes by playing Gunfight or hopping into a Private Match.
New and Returning Features to Battle Royale
Adjust your personal meta accordingly: Warzone 2.0 is getting some new features across all its Battle Royale modes alongside Massive Resurgence and Plunder, which will be further detailed in our Tactical Overview blog coming before the season’s launch.
Redeploy Drones in Al Mazrah (Launch)
Flying over from Ashika Island, the Redeploy Drones will provide a fast way to travel around the map, outside of the train and wide selection of air, sea, and land vehicles.
These Drones operate like those accessible on Ashika Island, so get used to them by playing some Resurgence or Mini Royale modes before they descend upon Al Mazrah.
Tempered Plate Carriers (Launch)
Another Caldera-first feature, Tempered Plate Carriers change how your Operator handles Armor Plates.
With a Tempered Plate Carrier equipped, your Armor will be two half-bars instead of three thirds, making it easier and more efficient to replate after one (or both) are cracked.
UAV Towers (Launch)
First seen in DMZ, UAV Towers are vital fixed sources that can be activated during a match to give you intel on your enemy’s position. After interacting with a tower’s on-board computer, an Operator and their allies will receive several circular UAV sweeps from the tower’s location out to a few dozen meters.
A quick word of warning to those ready to punch into every tower on the map: Operators will receive an audible notification when a UAV Tower is activated, and the icon for active towers will be visible in red on the Tac Map and overworld.
More to Come at Mid-Season, Including Decontamination Stations
In addition to the above, expect even more new and returning features and items within Warzone 2.0 to arrive as part of a Mid-Season Update, including the Decontamination Station.
Those who spent some time on Caldera know the power of this lifesaving Field Upgrade, which creates a bubble of safe air to protect Operators from the toxic circle collapse.
After finding a Decontamination Station in the wild, you can place it almost anywhere. It lasts for several seconds, which can be the difference between surviving the final circle and succumbing to it.
Perk Package Items (In-Season)
Another addition to the loot pool within Season 03 is the preset Perk Package, which can be found in Supply Boxes. Specific, lower-rarity Perk Packages are available at Buy Stations.
Based on the Perk Packages from Season 01 and Season 02, these items are incredibly valuable given their passive benefits, helping Warzone Operators who opt not to obtain a Loadout Drop be on the same level as those who do. Alternatively, these Perk Packs can make the early game a bit more interesting, especially to those who secure areas, collect Cash, and reap the rewards of scavenging around the map.
Deployable Buy Station (In-Season)
Continuing the list of returning items is the Deployable Buy Station, a portable version of the Buy Station with limited stock.
Especially helpful in Buy Station deserts — although there will be more Buy Stations across Battle Royale overall — or in the final few circle collapses, the Deployable Buy Station allows you to put that leftover Cash to use on some potentially game-changing items.
Gulag Entry Kit (In-Season)
One last (literal) small item with a massive potential impact is the Gulag Entry Kit.
Those who find one in a Battle Royale match and perish beyond their initial Gulag visit can re-enter the fight via the Gulag. That means those who know they can clutch up that 1v1 have another chance to get a redeployment without needing to request one from their squadmates.
DMZ Overhaul Includes Barter System, Workbench, and More
Operators, prepare for one of the largest DMZ updates yet.
Barter System
One of the biggest additions since the launch of DMZ is the Barter System, a way to award Operators who stock up on items and can reach a Buy Station to swap them for other valuables. In general, the Trader may not have what you want, but they will always have what you need. . . .
There is no peer-to-peer trading through this system, but of course, you are still free to swap items during a match with friendly Operators (especially those who operate taxi services, as we heard they are incredibly helpful).
Workbench
Another major addition to DMZ is the Workbench, which can be found near Buy Stations and allows you to modify Contraband weapons.
For a nominal Cash fee, the Workbench allows an Operator to add attachments they have unlocked for the Contraband’s weapon platform onto a piece of Contraband or remove them piece by piece.
Helpful for those times when a 5.5x scope does not fit on a fast-firing SMG or when a Sniper Rifle needs an extended mag, the Workbench will become another way to spend that hard-earned Cash on something impactful for that infiltration and beyond.
Active Duty Operator Slots
In Season 03, you won’t just have one Operator to infiltrate the deniable areas.
Every player will start with three Active Duty Operator Slots, which equates to having three separate Operators who have their own on-soldier items. These items include your Backpack, Plate Carrier, Killstreaks, Self-Revive, and Gas Mask.
For every infiltration, you can choose which Active Duty Operator you bring in, meaning that you can calculate risk to whatever missions you want to tackle or the type of experience you want to have for that match. For example, you can have one Active Duty Operator saved up for the major Story Missions and Building 21 runs, stacked up with a Three-Plate Carrier, Self-Revive Kit, and more, then have another that is built for scavenging items with nothing but a One-Plate Carrier to their name.
New Faction
An unknown faction, REDACTED, is coming to Season 03 and will have three of its mission tiers at launch, plus two more in-season.
New and Remixed Missions, Contract
Infinity Ward is introducing a new set of faction missions for this upcoming season, as well as a new contract:
That is the Secure Supplies Contract, which flags containers in the Exclusion Zone with essential gear for this experience. This is a great way to get built up after a previous run in DMZ where you failed to extract.
New Bosses
Operators should prepare to face new threats across the various Exclusion Zones, as there are not one, but two bosses that intel suggests are [[REDACTED]]. Intel also suggests that deep underground in Al Mazrah, there is [[REDACTED]].
We have plenty more to share as part of a dedicated DMZ blog to be released before Season 03’s launch, including new Backpack and Plate Carrier types.
World Series of Warzone™ Is Back for 2023
More competition, more prizing, more regions, and the first-ever in-person Global Final.
The World Series of Warzone 2023 is ready to expand to new regions and host a finale you won’t want to miss. Check back here for an official deep-dive blog on this year’s World Series of Warzone on April 6.
Warzone Ranked Play Is Almost Here!
Assemble the trio and prepare for the road to the Top 250.
Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Warzone Ranked Play will act as the proving ground and true test for trios wanting to become the best in the world.
More information on this new experience will be available at mid-season. For now, get to practicing in trios or participate in the World Series of Warzone qualifiers.
Season 03 – Alejandro v. Valeria | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II & Warzone 2.0
What you don't do your competitors will :scorpion::snake:
Alejandro and Valeria settle this once and for all in Season 03 launching April 12.
RICOCHET Anti-Cheat Progress Report – Season 03 Update
Since launch, the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat™ team has been developing and deploying new techniques and technologies to combat unfair play for both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. In the Season 03 Anti-Cheat Progress report, we detail several new layers of security and detections to protect all modes, with a focus on Ranked Play for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0.
RICOCHET Anti-Cheat maintains a zero-tolerance policy related to cheating in all modes, including Ranked Play:
• All accounts caught cheating may be permanently banned across Call of Duty titles as outlined in the Security and Enforcement Policy. • Banned accounts will have their records purged from the Ranked Play Top 250 and other competitive Leaderboards. • Specific to Ranked Play: RICOCHET Anti-Cheat and development studios may adjust the Skill Rating (SR) for players that have frequently played with and benefited from banned cheating accounts, even if they themselves have not used cheats.
REPLAY INVESTIGATION TOOL
Thanks to the development studio teams, #TeamRICOCHET has deployed a new Replay investigation tool to help protect the integrity of Modern Warfare II multiplayer and Warzone 2.0.
Using captured and stored match gameplay data, our teams can load up and watch any completed match as part of our investigation process. Replay will be used as one of many tools by the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team and our studio partners to identify cheating behavior in all multiplayer modes for both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, including Ranked Play.
With respect to Ranked Play in both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, #TeamRICOCHET will automatically capture and store all match data for the highest tiers of competition for potential investigation use. We also are capturing match data from suspicious accounts across all multiplayer modes for easy Replay access.
Though it's a new tool for #TeamRICOCHET, Replay has already helped with investigations into suspicious accounts resulting in permanent bans.
Any player caught cheating via any of our systems will be banned across Call of Duty titles outlined in the Security and Enforcement policy. Banned players will be removed from all leaderboards.
Reporting any cheating behavior you may encounter is helpful to our investigation process. Reports help flag accounts for review through our systems, including Replay, so we urge everyone to use the in-game tools to report suspicious players. Learn how to report players on the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat website.
THIRD-PARTY HARDWARE DEVICE DETECTION
Since our previous progress report, #TeamRICOCHET has developed and tested a detection for third-party hardware devices that alter the Call of Duty gameplay experience. These devices act as a passthrough for controllers on PC and console and, when used improperly or maliciously, can provide a player with the ability to gain an unfair gameplay advantage, such as reducing or eliminating recoil.
Testing is complete: This detection is deployed globally on all platforms.
Users across PC or console who are detected to be using third-party hardware devices to impact the Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0 gameplay experience will first see a warning about the improper use of these devices (screen below).
Continued improper use of these devices may lead to additional warnings, the deployment of mitigations, account or feature suspensions, or the banning of the offending account across Call of Duty titles, per our Security and Enforcement Policy.
We will continue to monitor this new detection’s effectiveness and update our systems against further circumvention over time.
We know players have been asking us to examine the improper use of these devices and we’re happy to lay the foundation for this detection to protect against unfair play across PC and console.
IN-GAME MITIGATIONS
The videos below represent previously revealed mitigations that are currently active in both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, with other unannounced surprises deployed and in testing or planning. Mitigations are used to negatively impact the experience of cheaters, while also giving our team the opportunity to collect valuable data from the bad actors. This intel provides the RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team with valuable information to help combat their behavior in the future.
CLOAKING: the process of hiding legitimate players from cheating players
https://youtu.be/YcbOVz_9jws
DISARM: the process of removing weapons and equipment from cheaters while in-game
https://youtu.be/le7_ZMD6Y9E
DAMAGE SHIELD: the process of providing legitimate players with a protective barrier against cheaters
https://youtu.be/wDQhQOVWtWo
The RICOCHET Anti-Cheat team is constantly monitoring and tuning our systems to help combat cheating we see in all modes, including Ranked Play, banning players across titles who engage in such behavior.
ADDITIONAL BEHAVIOR WARNINGS
Account boosting, game glitching or exploiting, and player griefing are in opposition to the Call of Duty Security and Enforcement Policy and Code of Conduct. Players that engage in these behaviors will see in-game warnings detailing these offenses.
If these behaviors persist, accounts may be subject to additional warnings and penalties, including game or feature suspensions, progression resets, and more. Read the Security and Enforcement Policy to learn more about these offenses and their consequences.
The above represents only some of the advancements #TeamRICOCHET has been working toward. Our team is constantly fighting an ongoing cat-and-mouse game to lock out cheaters and preserve fair play. Follow Call of Duty’s social channels for any updates and information coming from #TeamRICOCHET in the future.
Battle amongst the wintry peaks surrounding the Himmelmatt Expo; skirmish through the cargo ship containers on the compact, fan-favorite Shipment; and join Captain Price, Farah, and Gaz as they embark to Atomgrad in Special Ops Raid Episode 01.
Following the launch of Season 02 Reloaded, the Free Access period will feature a limited selection of Multiplayer and Special Ops experiences for non-game owners to get into Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II.
From March 16 through 20, Free Access players can battle across six Multiplayer maps and a variety of game modes alongside the first Co-Op Raid. Invite your friends and family to compete, whether they’ve been your squadmates in Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 or they’re jumping into the fray for the first time.
Take in the Scenic Views of the Himmelmatt Expo
Escape to an idyllic winter getaway nesting on the shoulders of a European mountain range. In this brand-new, medium-sized Core Multiplayer map available as part of Season 02 Reloaded, Operators will navigate through the facility’s main event center and its surrounding amenities such as the saunas, pool, and Restaurant & Bar.
See our in-depth Himmelmatt Expo map guide for tips and tricks that are sure to heat up the cold winter scenery, whether you’re looking for Perk and Loadout suggestions or guidance on where to break at the start of the match.
Party Up and Drop In: Game Modes
Expect a wide variety of available Game Modes, from team-based modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination, to a selection of modes that released with Season 02 and Season 02 Reloaded.
Highlights include Infected (avoid the eliminated as they grow in number to overwhelm the surviving side), Gun Game (a competition of gun skill featuring an 18-weapon rotation), All or Nothing (rack up 20 eliminations with only Throwing Knives and a pistol), and One in the Chamber (everyone receives a handgun with a single bullet; bring down opponents to add ammo to your arsenal).
Deploy to Special Ops Raid Episode 01
Try your hand at completing the first ever Call of Duty® Raid in Special Ops Raid Episode 01.
Team up with two other players and take on the roles of Captain Price, Farah, and Gaz as they infiltrate an underground bunker in search of Echo Team. Throughout the Raid, players must coordinate their every move to overcome the traps, environmental hazards, and enemy forces encountered along the way.
Complete Atomgrad Episode 01 to unlock a new Operator Skin for Gaz along with a Mystery Case holding one of several rewards from a greater Raid loot table.
Note that the Free Access period includes only the standard difficulty version of Atomgrad Episode 01, though that’s plenty tough enough against all but the most skilled teams.
The Full List
Looking for the full rundown of Free Access content? Here’s a list of all the maps and modes that will be available as part of the Free Access period:
Core (6v6) Maps: Farm 18, Mercado Las Almas, Shipment, Dome, Himmelmatt Expo (NEW!) Core Modes: Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Gun Game, Infected, One in the Chamber, All or Nothing
Battle Maps: Santa Seña Battle Map Modes: Ground War, Invasion
Special Ops: Atomgrad — Special Ops Raid Episode 01 (Standard difficulty only)
Modern Warfare® II Multiplayer Free Access begins on March 16 10 AM PT and ends on March 20 at 10 AM PT. An additional download is required to play.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com and www.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow @Activision and @CallofDuty on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Season 02 Reloaded: Patch Notes
New Path of the Ronin Challenges
Forge a new path with all new challenges to unlock new camos, including Winds of Ash. Complete all ten challenges to earn another new camo for every weapon — Bowing Blossoms — as well as a golden Charm that represents your dedication to following the Path of the Ronin.
Saint Patrick’s Day
You never know what you might find at the end of the rainbow… but you’ve got “one-shot” to find out if luck is on your side in Al Mazrah!
NEW RAID EPISODE
Atomgrad Episode 02
Reminder: play Episode 01 first to avoid spoilers!
We find Price, Gaz and Farah where we left them at the end of Episode 01 - and Atomgrad’s story will pick-up there…
Complete Raid Episode 02 to unlock the “Bad Boonie” Operator Skin for Captain Price, and check out the new Raid Bundle for even more of the Captain’s looks. This bundle also includes the fastest way to level up your kits for success in the Raid.
No Assignment Necessary
As part of the Season 02 Reloaded update, anyone who owns Modern Warfare II will be able to access Raid Episode 01 and Raid Episode 02. There is no Raid Assignment required for access to this tactical team-based experience that continues the story of Task Force 141.
Need a Squad?
Don’t forget to use the Party Finder feature in the Lobby if you need teammates for the Raid.
WEAPONS
Tempus Torrent: Marksman Rifle
This hard-hitting DMR from the Tempus Armament offers the versatility of the M4 Platform and the velocity and impact of 7.62 rounds. A patient hand and keen eye will result in on-target shots and quick kills.
Can be acquired via Weapon Challenge or Store Bundle.
Weapon Balancing
» Assault Rifles «
STB 556
Added minimum damage against Armor (limits bullets to kill at furthest range)
» Light Machine Guns «
RAAL MG
Reduced far range damage
Small increase to close range damage
Reduced headshot damage
Reduced upper torso damage
Increased recoil
RPK
Reduced walking speed
Reduced muzzle velocity
Sakin MG38
Reduced damage range
» Marksman Rifles «
Crossbow
Increased time period to trigger double kills for challenges
» Submachine Guns «
MX9
Increased mid damage ranges
BAS-p
Increased sprint to fire time
Increased damage ranges
PDSW 528
Slightly offset weapon while ADS using iron sights to improve visibility
Vel 46
Increased close damage ranges
Fixed attributes on 30 round magazine to improve handling and mobility
Lachmann Sub
Reduced movement speed
Reduced aim down sight speed
Improved recoil control
LM Nebula Barrel
Improved damage range
Improved recoil control
» Shotguns «
KV Broadside
Reduced lower torso damage
12 Gauge Ammo
Reduced damage ranges
Reduced close range damage
Dragon’s Breath Ammo
Reduced damage ranges
Reduced close range damage
Global reduction to 12 gauge Dragon’s Breath maximum residual damage
Bryson 800 and Bryson 890
Increased headshot damage on all slugtype ammo
Added minimum damage against armor
ATTACHMENTS
» Global «
Flinch
Reduced recenter speed for Flinch
Minor increase to Flinch on ARs, SMGs, LMGs, and Shotguns
» Ammunition «
Hollow Point Rounds
Removed bullet velocity penalty
Frangible Rounds
Changed healing delay timer to set from last bullet’s impact (lengthens the overall delay on a Player)
Removed damage range penalty
Overpressure Rounds
Removed recoil penalty
Increased flinch imparted on Players
12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
Reduced residual damage while burning
12 Gauge Slugs and HE Slugs
Added minimum damage against armor
» Underbarrel Launchers «
Removed movement penalty from Grenade Launchers
Added recoil control bonus to Underbarrel Grenade and Shotgun Launchers
Added one extra ammunition stock to Grenade Launchers
» Stocks «
Reduced flinch received on no stock modifications
» Bipod Grips «
Reduced ADS penalty for the Bipod V9 grip
CORE BP2 Bipod Grip:
Fixed bug in stat reporting
Added hip recoil control
Reduced hip walking speed
Removed ADS penalty
Added grip to compatible LMGs and Marksman Rifles
» Underbarrel Grips «
Reduced ADS penalty on all under barrel grips
Reduced movement speed penalty for all vertical grips
» Muzzle Attachments «
Breachers
Greatly reduced ADS penalty
Added hip movement speed buff
Flash Hiders
Reduced ADS penalty
» Optics «
Reduced ADS penalty on holo optics
Removed movement penalties on holo optics
Reduced ADSand movement penalties from all thermal, hybrid, and variable zoom optics
Reduced ADS penalty on shotgun scopes
» Comb Attachments «
Fixed Handling stat UI on:
Shlager TTF3 Riser
FSS Ammo Sleeve
PD-A40 Sleeve
Wingman Comb
FSS EL-T Pouch
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue where equipping some attachments to the KV Broadside shotgun would cause Players to not be able to Infil into DMZ
Fixed Heartbreaker Crossbow Blueprint’s reticle appearance in Killcams
Fixed an issue that prevented Crossbow bolts from penetrating water
EQUIPMENT
Frag Grenade
Damage against armor increased
Claymore
Damage against armor increased
Semtex
Damage against armor increased
AUDIO
Submix fixes that were affecting enemy footstep volume
Equalized sand footsteps to better cut through the mix similar to dirt & concrete
Fixed an issue that caused War Tracks to randomly stop playing when in active in a vehicle
Fixed an issue preventing the War Tracks of a Patrol Boat's driver from being heard while in the Patrol Boat turrets
UI/UX
Update Requires Restart
If the title requires a restart due to an update, it will restart automatically
New Menus
All new menus for Weapon and Camo Challenges
Added a Store tab for Players to see all available bundles for a specific weapon
New Party Queuing
Party queuing allows players to automatically join a friend’s party once they are finished with their active match. Just like inviting friends to a party or channel, you can access party queuing via the in-game social menu.
BUG FIXES
Global
This update contains several fixes to reduce the number of known crashes. We continue to prioritize increased stability and crash fixes across all platforms.
Fixed issue where Players were hearing incorrect team faction voiceover on certain maps
Fixed an issue where a Player’s squad number would appear inside a ping for a vehicle
Fixed an issue where the Last Stand revive was not interrupted when a Player was hit with a Shock Stick
Flash and Stun grenade blast will no longer kill Players at low health
Fixed a handful of issues that would cause the target marking feature of the Spotter Scope to persist when not aiming down sights
Throwing Knives can now kill Recon Drones and Bomb Drones
Fixed an issue with the Gus Operator sometimes appearing without a full character model during a match
Killstreaks
Fixed an issue where the Player would lose a placed Sentry Gun if they try to pick it up while diving
The Player's field of view will now reset properly when transitioning to a new round if they were in a Cruise Missile sequence when it happened
Killstreak command actions from the Wheelson and VTOL are now disabled when a Player is in Last Stand
Fixed an issue that prevented Players from marking a Mortar Strike and Precision Airstrike position through certain fences
Fixed an issue causing Care Packages to time out while a Player is using it
Fixing an issue that played an incorrect voice over when pinging an Overwatch Helo
Fixed an issue that could cause the Player's view to be looking downwards after using a Cruise Missile
Equipment
Fixed an issue preventing the Drill Charge from eliminating Agents in Battle Royale and DMZ
Field Upgrades
Fixed an issue where enemy C4 models destroyed by a Trophy System would not delete
Fixed an issue preventing the Trophy System from destroying Cluster Mines as they are being deployed
Fixed an issue where DDoS was not working properly on the Recon Drone and Bomb Drone
Adjusted the deployment position for the Recon Drone and Bomb Drone within a train so they will no longer destroy themselves immediately afterwards
Fixed a duplication issue with the Deployable Cover when picking up another Field Upgrade on the ground in Battle Royale and DMZ
UX/UI
Fixed an exploit where Players could equip two of the same weapon
Fixed an issue where changing the receiver in Gunsmith on the Blissful Ignorance Blueprint (SP-X 80) would kick a Player to the previous menu
Fixed an issue where the weapon preview camera sometimes pointed at the Secondary weapon when the Primary was selected
Fixed an issue allowing Players to access the Loadout Drop menu after the game has ended
Fixed an issue causing Navigation bar headings to be cut off in some languages
Fixed an issue causing Private match menu headers to occasionally overlap in some languages
Fixed an issue where a Player’s full ATVI ID was not showing in Play of the Game
Fixed an issue where some Players would display a garbled clan tag
Fixed an issue where the Gus Operator would sometimes appear without a full character model
Fixed an issue where some Players’ Operator would disappear in the pre-game lobby
Fixed an issue where the background would not load when backing in and out of Showcase
Social
Fixed various issues affecting Social notifications
Fixed an issue where splitscreen was displaying channels incorrectly
Fixed an issue where the Friends List scroll bar would sometimes disappear while scrolling
Fixed an issue affecting the displayed Lobby elapsed match time
Fixed various issues affecting Displayed Party Members
Fixed an issue where Queued Party Members display when they are in a Private party but not in Lobby
Fixed an issue affecting Queued Party Members in View Party Panel
Fixed an issue causing Members in Voice count to appear incorrectly
Fixed an issuing causing “Join Player” option to appear for people that are already in the Player’s Party Queue
Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the “Invite to Party” option to not appear while in a Lobby
Fixed an issue causing Party member client search states to not appear correctly on screen when the Party leader initiated a queue
Fixed various issues with Party Queuing, including Party Members Join/Invite availability
Fixed an issue causing Players in a Party that are kicked for inactivity to be removed from the group
Fixed an issue to improve Social Hub Tile actioning
Fixed an issue affecting Queued Party Members in Game Chat
Fixed various issues affecting Game Chat in Parties
Vehicles
Fixed an issue causing vehicles to sometimes run over enemy combatants after unloading them
Fixed an exploit where Players could use an ATV to push teammates into the ceiling of some buildings
Fixed an issue causing neutral vehicles to crush Players resulting in death, instead of moving them out of the way
Fixed an issue causing some vehicles to get stuck under the Exfil chopper in DMZ
Fixed an issue causing the vehicle explosion danger indicator to disappear when a Player was still in range of the vehicle explosion
Fixed an issue making vehicle explosive damage too high in Battle Royale and DMZ
Fixed an issue preventing Players from deploying a Claymore on the Heavy Chopper
Fixed an issue causing the Heavy Chopper to take damage from explosions far away from it
Fixed an issue preventing windows on vehicles from breaking if the Player enters from the roof through that window
Fixed an issue causing vehicles parked at extreme angles to become unusable
Fixed an issue causing the Inflatable Decoy to not stick to the train when it inflates
Fixed an issue where the Player would be instantly killed when colliding with a vehicle at the top of an ascender
PC SETTINGS
Audio
PC users will have an audio update allowing Players to select stereo or surround outputs. This option will default to stereo if not set. We have been investigating clips which appear to only include the front left and right channels, when the output on some PCs may default to surround - resulting in missing channels of audio.
Gyro Aiming Ratcheting
A "Gyro Ratcheting" setting has been added in the Controller category (Advanced tab) for Season 02 Reloaded. This option improves the Player experience by allowing a Player to disable manually the Gyro function by pressing a specific button, that can be chosen by the Player among several options, to be able to reposition the controller as desired. Players looking for more controls regarding the Gyro Aiming experience should customize this setting.
ACCESSIBILITY
Inverted Flash
An "Inverted Flash" option has been added as an accessibility option in the Interface category for Season 02 Reloaded with two values: Off (default behavior) and On (added behavior). This option allows to change the color of the flash effect of the flashbang tactical grenade from white to black. We recommend adjusting this option for Players who feel discomfort when affected by the full white screen effect of the flashbang tactical grenade.
Duration and visual are at parity between the two values of the option, providing no competitive advantage.
SPECIAL OPS
COOPERATIVE
General
Added a new fill bar for Last Stand and Dog Tags to match Battle Royale and provide additional clarity for downed teammates
Added new challenges to the Co-op Pool of Daily Challenges
Fixed an issue where equipment UI could appear as orange or flicker white
Low Profile
Fixed an issue allowing Players to use aerial equipment during Infil
Fixed issue that could cause Player to become temporarily invincible
Defender: Mt. Zaya
Fixed an issue preventing Players from driving enemy vehicles
Fixed an issue where enemy pilots could be seen floating in the sky
Fixed bug that would prevent Players from restarting the mission if the bomb goes off
Fixed an issue with map borders so Players can no longer exit map while in vehicles
ATOMGRAD RAID EPISODE 01
A Weapon XP token is now unlocked for each completion of the Raid
Added 1 Camo to the regular loot pool
Added additional clarity in the AAR for all Raid related unlocks, including, Operator unlocks, Veteran completion unlocks and the random rewards
Added a Kit Select to allow players to modify their kits in-game if needed
Added clarity to which rewards are unlockable and which rewards are already unlocked via a list in the lobby
Removed Raid Assignment requirement so Players can easily queue through the Party Finder with no barriers
Added unique [CLASSIFIED] Reward Type
Added "Special Ops Kit Boost" to Raid Store Bundles which allows Players to gain 10 stars per Kit and instantly unlock all Kits upon purchase
Added “Vote to Skip” functionality for in-game intro cutscenes
Fixed an issue where an extra oxygen tank icon could appear on the screen of the equipped Player
MULTIPLAYER
PLAYLIST
New Map
Himmelmatt Expo
Mix business with pleasure at Himmelmatt Expo, a new Core (6v6) Multiplayer map situated on a European mountainside.
New Modes
Drop Zone
Capture and hold the Drop Zone to earn points in this chaotic team-based mode. For every 15 seconds that the Drop Zone is occupied, a Care Package containing a Killstreak will be dropped in the vicinity.
One in the Chamber
Load into the match with a pistol, one bullet, and three lives. Each player fights for themselves, and a single shot to any part of the body earns the elimination, granting the attacker one more bullet for the next fight.
All or Nothing
Equipped only with Throwing Knives and a pistol with no ammo, each Operator must fight for themselves in a race to earn 20 eliminations. Earn additional Perks by eliminating enemies, starting with the Scavenger Perk to allow for ammo pickups.
BUG FIXES
Fixed several out of bounds and collision based exploits across 6v6 maps
Addressed spawn issues on Farm 18
Fixed an exploit for capturing a point in Control on El Aliso
UPDATES
The Obituary (Killfeed) has been expanded by 2 Players to display 6 interactions at a time
RANKED PLAY
Restrictions
The following have been restricted in Ranked Play to match updated Call of Duty League rules:
Weapon Tuning (All)
Kastov 762 Assault Rifle
Players should notice that existing Weapon Tuning will revert to default options in-game, but we recommend that you review your classes before your first match.
Quality of Life
Improved visual feedback when a match is canceled because a player left within the first 30s.
The Skill Division Rewards screen now displays rewards from all Divisions by default.
Added Top 250 Profile images for a handful of CDL Pro players who were previously missing them.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue that prevented players from selecting the CDL Operators and equipping an earned Ranked Play Skin.
Addressed a visual bug that suggested a player's SR had been reset.
Fixed an issue that was occasionally causing an unintended Suspension after backing out of searching for a match before the lobby was formed.
WARZONE 2.0
BATTLE ROYALE
PLAYLIST
Battle Royale - Al Mazrah
Standard
Solos
Max Players: 150
Assimilation: Off
Duos
Max Players: 150
Assimilation: Refill
Trios
Max Players: 150
Assimilation: Refill
Quads
Max Players: 152
Assimilation: Refill
Ashika Island - Resurgence
All squad sizes for Resurgence will be available through Season 02 Reloaded:
Solos
Max Players: 52
Assimilation: Off
Duos
Max Players: 52
Assimilation: Off
Trios
Max Players: 52
Assimilation: Off
Quads
Max Players: 52
Assimilation: Off
For regular updates about the Playlist and other Scheduled Events, check out the dedicated Warzone Trello Board.
EVENTS
Warzone’s 3rd Anniversary!
To celebrate three years of Warzone, Players will be able to redeem a new free gift each day via the in-game Store that are symbolic of memories made since its surprise launch on March 10, 2020.
Rewards:
Verdansk Anniversary Calling Card
Caldera Anniversary Calling Card
Verdansk Emblem
Blacksite Completionist Calling Card
Blacksite Sticker
Blacksite Emblem (Animated)
Stronghold Calling Card
GENERAL
Bomb Drones
Bomb Drones have been temporarily removed from Battle Royale and Resurgence whilst we finetune them. Expect to see them return in the future.
GAMEPLAY
General
Pacing Balancing
As a team we are focused on two core areas of the pacing of Battle Royale:
The combat engagements in the mid-game
The regain opportunities in the late game
We will be addressing this across Season 02 Reloaded and going into Season 03, with the first change being a guaranteed “Restock” Public Event in the 4th Circle.
Future improvements will include:
More ground loot Supply Boxes, especially in the North of the map
Resurgence Supply Boxes being sprinkled throughout the map
Additional Ammo Caches
And more…
Gameplay Adjustments
Al Mazrah | Battle Royale
Light Helo
The Light Helo has been disabled in Solos. We are protective of the Solos squad size being a fair and balanced experience, and the Light Helo went against that ethos.
Contract Availability
Increased the number of Contracts revealed over the course of the match to increase their availability in later circles.
Final Circles (In-Season)
We are temporarily disabling final circles in the north-western section of the map while we work on improvements for upcoming seasons.
Ashika Island | Resurgence
Redeployment Drones
Redeployment Drones are currently active across Ashika Island and will remain live as part of the Resurgence experience.
AI Combatant Departure
As the Path of the Ronin event comes to an end, the Shadow Company operatives that have occupied the island will depart in pursuit of their next mission.
Players will now be public enemy number one for Search & Seizure Contracts and the Data Heist Public Event.
Circle Balancing
The first circle will be approximately 20% larger, and more likely to be on land, to better enable a successful Infil.
Pacing Balancing
Actions that affect the Resurgence Countdown have been adjusted to allow for more windows of opportunity to Team Wipe the opposing team.
Buy Station Availability
Improvements have been made to better spread the Buy Stations more evenly through the map.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Killstreak Availability
The existing “Airspace is too crowded” message will now have a trailing “for X seconds” attached to it to add better context for players.
Cluster Strike & Precision Airstrike Improvements
Improved the Airstrike danger notification to be more consistent based on each damage location.
Improved directional tracing to prevent the Precision Airstrike targeting from sometimes landing behind the Players.
Players will now be notified when calling a Cluster Strike or Precision Airstrike if they are too close to the affected zone.
Give-Up Timer Consistency
The give-up timer while downed is now more consistent across modes and will last at least 3 seconds.
Navigation Pings
Increased the scale of navigation pings on the Tacmap and Mini-Map for improved readability.
Armor Break
The text has been removed from the Armor Break notification (when breaking all of an opponent’s Armor Plates) for improved clarity, whilst the icon has remained.
Resurgence Killfeed
The killfeed will now display who is about to redeploy when their Resurgence timer reaches 0.
Auto-Looting Armor Plates
As Armor Plates are a critical part of the gameplay loop, Players will now automatically pick up Armor Plates as long as they have available inventory or Backpack space.
Spawn Protection
Spawn Protection will now disable at 25 meters, up from 19 meters, from the ground or a grounded player in Battle Royale modes.
We will continue to refine as we move forwards given the importance of this feature to redeploying players.
UI/UX
Spectating
Friendly pings and splash screens are now visible to spectators.
Gas Mask
Loot cards for gas mask now more accurately reflect their damage amounts
BUG FIXES
Tac Map & Minimap
Fixed an issue preventing elevation arrows on map icons not accurately indicating their position.
Fixed an issue causing the Counter UAV to affect Player maps even while outside of the effective range.
Redeploy Token
Fixed an issue allowing Redeploy Tokens to appear in Buy Stations even after the Gulag had closed.
General
GFX - Fixed some issues causing rainbow glare to appear on the horizon in Al Mazrah (Xbox only)
DMZ
GAMEPLAY
We have updated the usage requirements for Building 21 Access Cards:
Players no longer need to bring Building 21 Access Cards into the match by equipping them prior to infiltration
At least one Player in a squad must have a Building 21 Access Card in their Inventory to allow infiltration
If a Player does infil to Building 21 with an Access Card in their Backpack, they will lose that card if they do not extract with it
This change only impacts Building 21 Access Cards and not the Access/Key Cards for locked spaces inside Building 21, as those must still be equipped in your Backpack prior to infiltration
Enemy combatants in DMZ can now operate or arrive in a variety of vehicles, not just the Armored Truck
We have added some variations to infiltration and exfiltration points
The Destroy Supplies Contract has been updated to reveal the 4 closest safes, instead of revealing all safes within a distance of the Contract
Reduced the total number of vehicles in Modern City for more even distribution of vehicles throughout Al Mazrah
Enemy combatants now have a small chance to drop upgraded weapons upon death
BUG FIXES
Fixed several Stronghold access issues across DMZ
Fixed an issue where the Secure Nuclear Material contract could select a locked toolbox on Ashika Island
Increased minimum distance between Secure Nuclear Material contracts on Ashika Island so they do not overlap
Fixed Favor for a Friend Mission having an incorrect location description
Fixed description for Stronghold Reacquisition Mission incorrectly stating that the Legion Deal Intel must be extracted
Fixed an issue where taking a weapon directly from an enemy's Backpack wouldn't register it as an enemy weapon for some Missions
Fixed issue where the Overlord voiceover would fade out improperly when extracting
Fixed issues where certain Missions weren't sharing progress with squadmates, including missions that have you use field upgrades and killstreaks such as Death From Above
Fixed issue where Key Elimination wasn't giving progress for unlocking a cache instead of a locked door
Fixed an issue where some Players did not get credit for the final exfil due to timer
Fixed an issue where match search would stop if the party leader left the group
Fixed an issue that would prevent the Player from using their Armor temporarily, when trying to use Armor and the Radiation Blocker at the same time
LOOKING AHEAD
We can’t wait to see you drop-in to Season 02 Reloaded! We will continue to update these Patch Notes throughout the coming weeks. For more on live issues tracking and the latest updates, visit the official Infinity Ward Trello board.
Good luck, have fun! Be good to each other!
➤ Infinity Ward ➤ Raven Software ➤ Treyarch ➤ Beenox ➤ High Moon Studios ➤ Toys for Bob ➤ Demonware ➤ Sledgehammer Games ➤ Team Ricochet
For regular updates about Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 2, follow @InfinityWard. For regular updates about live issues, patch notes, and more on Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, follow @RavenSoftware. For updates about Call of Duty®: Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard Zombies, and Ranked Multiplayer Modes, follow @Treyarch. For regular updates about Call of Duty®: Vanguard, follow @SHGames. For updates about Call of Duty® PC platform discussions, follow @BeenoxCODPC. For all sorts of other franchise content, check out our Call of Duty® blog.
*Game features described above are based on current in-development features that are subject to change based on final development changes and/or game tuning or updates that may remove or modify some or all of the above features.
