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The first of several multiplayer beta tests for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III began on October 6 and is now underway on Xbox and PC. Like in past years, the beta for Modern Warfare III was initially only be available on PlayStation but will eventually open to everyone. Here’s everything we know so far about the beta, including when it starts and how to access it.
For more, check out GameSpot’s Modern Warfare III beta guides:
CoD: Modern Warfare 3 MP Beta Is Drenched In Sweaty Movement And NostalgiaBest Settings For CoD: Modern Warfare 3 Beta – Controller Layouts, Sensitivity, And MoreCall Of Duty: MW3 Recommended Perks And Loadouts For The MP BetaTable of Contents [hide]Beta datesPreloadingHow to get inWhat’s in the beta?ProgressionWeekend 2 patch notesGAMEPLAYWEAPONSKILLSTREAKSMODESMAPSOPERATORSUIXSTABILITYWill progress carry forward to the full game?
Beta dates
There are multiple sets of dates for the Modern Warfare 3 beta, depending on your platform and whether you’ve preordered the game. PlayStation users who preorder got in first, starting this Friday, October 6. For the second weekend, cross-play is enabled, as PlayStation users will be joined by Xbox and PC players. The full dates are below.
Weekend 1: PlayStation
October 6-7 — PlayStation users who preorder can start playing at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ETOctober 8-10 — All PlayStation users can play starting at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Weekend 2: Cross-play
October 12-13 — PC and Xbox users who preorder, and all PlayStation membersOctober 14-16 — Open beta for everyone, on all platforms, regardless of preorder status
Preloading
Pre-loading for Weekend 2 is now underway for Xbox and PC, with PlayStation users already having access to the beta client. As a reminder, those who preordered on Xbox get in early, with all players getting access beginning October 14.
How to get in
The Modern Warfare III beta is free and open to everyone. However, people who preorder Modern Warfare 3 will get early access. Those who preorder digitally do not need a beta code; they will be automatically granted access to the beta. People who preordered a physical copy at a retailer should have received a code on their receipt or had it emailed to them.
Additionally, Xfinity subscribers in the US can get a code to access the beta as part of their subscription. It can be found in the Rewards tab of the Xfinity website.
What’s in the beta?
The beta includes Favela, Skidrow, Estate, and Rust. The Ground War mode is featured in the beta, too, with players able to test out the Popov Power map. The Cutthroat mode has been added for Weekend 2.
Modes featured in the beta include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, and Ground War. Orlov Military Base was added for Weekend 2 on Ground War.
Progression
Players can reach a max level of 20 during the first weekend of the beta. For levels 1-3, players can choose from three pre-made loadouts, including Demolitionist, Combat Controller, and Rusher. At level 4, players can unlock custom loadouts. The PILA launcher is available as an unlockable, as is the Infantry Vest perk that increases tactical sprint duration. At level 5, players can unlock the Guardian-SC killstreak that emits a “beam-=shaped, nonlethal, areal-denial” effect. You can see the rest of the unlocks below, as written by Activision:
Unlocks for Level 6: New Field Upgrade
Comms Scrambler (Field Upgrade): Disables communication with intel within its radius. Enemies will not be able to activate Killstreaks. Enemy UAV and intel systems will not detect you and your teammates. Location of the scrambler is visible in the enemy minimap.
Unlocks for Level 7: New Weapon
DG-58 LSW (LMG): A lightweight squad weapon for controlling zones and laying down suppressive 5.8 x 42 mm fire.
Unlocks for Level 8: New Lethal Equipment
Claymore (Lethal Equipment): Proximity-activated explosive mine.
Unlocks for Level 9: New Killstreak
Remote Turret (Killstreak): Automated turret that scans for nearby enemies and fires incendiary-based rounds. The Operator can also take manual control of the turret.
Unlocks for Level 10: New Perks
Vests are new to all players of the Call of Duty franchise, changing your Loadout in meaningful ways, including changing the type and number of gear slots available to you.Engineer Vest (Perk): Spot enemy Equipment, Field Upgrades, and Killstreaks through walls. Aiming down sights highlights them for your team. Faster Field Upgrade recharge.Tac Mask (Perk): Reduces strength of enemy flash, stun, and gas grenades. Immunity to shock, EMP, and Snapshot Grenades.
Unlocks for Level 11: New Perk
Mission Control Comlink (Perk): Reduce Killstreak cost by one kill. Reduce Scorestreak cost by 125.
Unlocks for Level 12: New Weapon
MTZ-556 (Assault Rifle): Boasting an exceptional fire rate for a 5.56 weapon, this closer-quarters Assault Rifle excels at close and midrange.
Unlocks for Level 13: New Tactical Equipment
Battle Rage (Tactical Equipment): Experimental stimulant that gives you an adrenaline rush. Tactical Equipment is resisted and Tactical Sprint is constantly refreshed.
Level 14 — not mentioned in the COD blog post for some reason
Unlocks for Level 15: New Perk
Ordnance Gloves (Perk): Throw Equipment farther. Reset fuse timer on thrown back grenades.
Unlocks for Level 16: New Tactical Equipment
Smoke Grenade (Tactical Equipment): Deploys a smoke screen that blocks vision and automated targeting systems.
Unlocks for Level 17: New Weapon
BAS-B (Battle Rifle): A highly controllable and powerful Battle Rifle chambered in .277 Fury, designed for all-round reliability and performance.
Unlocks for Level 18: New Tactical Equipment
Scatter Mine (Tactical Equipment): Throw a field of mines across a wide area that detonate when enemies come within range.
Unlocks for Level 19: New Perk
Climbing Boots (Perk): Increased climbing and mantling speed. Reduces fall damage.
Unlocks for Level 20: New Perk
Gunner Vest (Perk): Deploy with max ammo. Improved reload speed. If equipped with Mag Holster, gain the effects of Mission Comlink.
Weekend 2 patch notes
Activision is making a series of changes to the Modern Warfare III beta following the first weekend of testing. In addition to changes, the level cap is raising to 30 to give players the ability to unlock even more content. You can see the patch notes below, as shared by Activision.
GAMEPLAY
UIX Enemy Operators will now display a red nameplate above their head.
WEAPONS
Reduced Tac-Stance spread while sliding for several weapon classes. Assault Rifles: Decreased 17-26%.Submachine Guns: Decreased 14-17%.Light Machine Guns: Decreased 30-45%.Marksman Rifles: Decreased 29-31%.Pistols: Decreased 10-20%.Striker (Submachine Gun) Decreased near-medium damage from 39 to 36.Decreased near-medium damage range from 24m to 19m (-21%).Decreased medium damage range from 30m to 25m (-17%).Decreased far-medium damage from 28 to 27.Decreased minimum damage from 23 to 21.Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.3x.Increased lower-arm damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x.
KILLSTREAKS
Guardian-SCDecreased health from 550 to 400 (-27%).Decreased lifetime from 120s to 60s (-50%).
MODES
Ground WarVehicles driven by the player no longer have limited fuel.HardpointDisabled overhead spawn camera sequence upon respawn.
MAPS
EstateAdded collision near various areas of the Waterfall to prevent players from accessing unintended locations.FavelaPlayers will no longer be killed immediately after respawning near the yellow car on the Side Street.Popov Power (Ground War)Added collision near Reactor Beta to prevent players from accessing an unintended location.
OPERATORS
Operator movement animations will now play properly in the moments following a respawn.
UIX
Added a missing icon for the Incursion XII Long Barrel Attachment for the SVA 545.Players will now be properly notified of Playlist updates while idling in the menus.
STABILITY
Addressed a crash that occurred while matchmaking in the Ground War playlist.Addressed multiple crashes that occurred while launching the game.Resolved an issue that caused an error message stating “a required network service has failed” upon attempting to join another player’s party.
Will progress carry forward to the full game?
Don’t expect that to be the case, as Activision typically wipes the slate clean.
Keep checking back with GameSpot for more on the Modern Warfare III multiplayer beta as we get closer, as Activision is expected to divulge many more details in the time ahead.
For now, you can read up on what’s new in Modern Warfare III and how to preorder the game.
