Modern Warfare 3 preseason patch brings updates to progression and Zombies

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 artwork.

The preseason patch notes for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 are now live, detailing a ton of changes that aim to address multiplayer and Zombies mode, progression, and more.

Ahead of the launch of Season One on December 6, Activision released patch notes yesterday (November 21) for the current preseason with the main focus aimed at adding changes to several game modes, while also improving the game's stability and performance.

Some notable features include a resolution to a crash that would occur while viewing Weapon Challenges, as well as a UI modification to reflect the now-fixed Armory Unlocks that were preventing players from completing Daily Challenges. 

There's also a bug fix for the XP requirements in the progression menu, which should no longer "display as negative values under certain conditions", and attachments that are incompatible with the current selection can no longer be equipped to a weapon.

The Zombies mode has received quite a few changes, for instance, in the 'Storm the Castle' mission, Warlord kill credit is now squad-based, and Activision has changed things so the required mission item will now spawn when a member of a player's squad kills the target. 

In 'Interceptor', destroying a Mercenary Convoy now "accurately tracks completion", so picking up a keycard from a mercenary at the convoy will now always count toward mission completion.

As for enemies, Zombie spawn priority has been adjusted to favor increased ground spawning and players can now "expect fewer ambient Zombie spawns on rooftops and higher elevations."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 preseason patch notes 

Stability & Performance

• Resolved a crash that could occur while viewing Weapon Challenges.

UIX

• Bug Fixes
• Closed an exploit that allowed players to equip Weapon Camos they have not yet unlocked.
• Addressed an issue that prevented players from equipping the Borealis Weapon Camo once it has been unlocked.

Cosmetics

• Dragonfly Blueprint for the M4 (MW2) will now appear as expected across all platforms.
• Addressed an issue that prevented the appearance of the Io Operator (MW2) from dynamically changing as expected.
• Adjusted the Ghoulie Camo (MW2) to prevent it from becoming overwhelmingly bright in dark environments.

Multiplayer
UIX

• Wins will now progress Armory Unlocks without first completing Daily Challenges.
• Today’s update includes UI modifications to reflect this previously-implemented change.

• Bug Fixes
• Players will no longer experience graphical corruption when transitioning between the Field Upgrades and Social menus.
• XP requirements in the Progression menu will no longer display as negative values under certain conditions.
• Attachments that are incompatible with the current selection can no longer be equipped to a Weapon.

Progression
Challenges

• Updated the description of the Gilded Camo challenge for the MTZ-556 (Assault Rifle) to accurately reflect the intended requirements.
• Weekly Challenges requiring Triple Kills and Quad Kills will now properly track completion.

Maps

• Derail - Adjusted environmental fog to increase contrast, improving visibility.
• Estate - Decreased grime on windows of the Lodge to improve clarity.

Weapons

• Holger 556 (Assault Rifle)
• Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.3x.
• Decreased neck, upper-torso, arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x.
• Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 231ms (+10%).
  DG-58 (Assault Rifle)
• Decreased maximum damage from 44 to 40 (-9%).
• Decreased medium damage from 35 to 33 (-6%).
• Decreased neck damage multiplier from 1.4x to 1.1x.
• Increased burst delay from 100ms to 120ms (+20%).
• FR 5.56 (Assault Rifle)
• Decreased maximum damage from 44 to 43 (-2%).
• Decreased near-medium damage from 40 to 36 (-10%).
• Decreased minimum damage from 36 to 33 (-8%).
• Decreased headshot damage multiplier from 1.5x to 1.4x.
• Decreased leg and foot damage multipliers from 1x to 0.9x.
• Increased aim down sights time from 240ms to 260ms (+8%).
• Increased sprint to fire time from 210ms to 231ms (+10%).
• Striker (Submachine Gun)
• Increased maximum damage range from 9m to 19m (+114%).
• Increased near-medium damage from 33 to 36 (+9%).
• Increased far-medium damage from 27 to 33 (+22%).
• Decreased aim down sights time from 240ms to 230ms (-4%).
• AMR9 (Submachine Gun)
• Increased lower-torso, lower-arm, and hand damage multipliers from 1x to 1.1x.
• Decreased sprint to fire time from 294ms to 206ms (-30%).
• Striker 9 (Submachine Gun)
• Decreased maximum damage from 32 to 27 (-16%).
• Decreased aim down sights time from 275ms to 225ms (-18%).
  
• The highlight of this balance pass is a reduction to the lethality of the FR 5.56 and DG-58. Both Weapons will now require two headshots to kill an enemy with a single 3-round burst fire. Additionally, these changes aim to improve the consistency and viability of Submachine Guns to the intended target for the class.

Perks

• Ordnance Gloves - Removed undocumented reduction to the cook duration of Frag Grenades.

Zombies
Gameplay

• Missions
  • Storm the Castle
    • Warlord kill credit is now squad-based, and the required mission item will now spawn when a member of your squad kills the target.
  • Interceptor
    • Destroy Mercenary Convoy now accurately tracks completion.
    • Picking up a Keycard from a mercenary at the convoy will always count toward mission completion.
• Perk-A-Colas
  • Tombstone Soda
    • Tombstones will no longer appear in the next session if a player exfils while in last stand.
• General
  • Essence can no longer be stowed.
  • Addressed an issue where newly stowed items, acquisitions, or schematics would be replaced, and therefore lost, with previously sold items that underwent a swap item menu interaction.
  • Closed various exploits related to the use of Cymbal Monkeys.
  • Closed an exploit that permitted duplication of scorestreaks.

Enemies 

• Zombies
  • Zombie spawn priority has been adjusted to favor increased ground spawning. 
    • Players can expect fewer ambient Zombie spawns on rooftops and higher elevations.
• Terminus Outcomes
  • All Mercenaries
    • Mercenary damage against Player Armor has been reduced.
  • Shielded Soldiers
    • Shielded Soldiers now have a slower fire rate when engaged.

Weapons

•  Pack-A-Punch
  • Addressed an interaction and UI issue that would incorrectly show Pack-A-Punch Level III as Pack-A-Punch Level IV.

Stability

• Various stability fixes.

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