As we’re already partway through the current season in MW3 and Warzone, we’re almost ready for the beginning of the major “Reloaded” update we’ve come to expect during each season. Below, we have a full breakdown of the new content heading our way in the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded update.
With new multiplayer game modes, a new map based in London and new weapons, here’s the full breakdown of all announced for Season 3 Reloaded.
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When Does Season 3 Reloaded Start?
According to the blog post by Call of Duty, the release date for Season 3 Reloaded’s arrival is on May 6th. This currently gives us a solid 11 day window to grind for the current Season 3 season rewards before Reloaded begins.
New Minefield Game Mode
On the Call of Duty blog, they announce the upcoming Minefield game mode with the following statement:
“In this variant, players still adhere to each mode’s basic ruleset with an important caveat: Eliminated Operators drop a Proximity Mine where they fall. The mine cannot be picked up and is deadly to the fallen Operator’s team, setting up the potential for some truly explosive combos.”
This is definitely a unique addition to MW3. As more players are eliminated, of course more proximity mines will be dropped around the map. This will make it an even bigger challenge to track down and hunt your opponents while dodging the ever-growing minefield around the map.
New Escort Game Mode
As well as the aforementioned Minefield, another new game mode is coming to Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded. The new mode, “Escort”, focuses on two teams competing to take three points across the map with the use of a MAW. The MAW will only move however if an operator from the attacking team is nearby, while moving in reverse if a defending operator closes in.
To win the match, the Call of Duty blog states: “Matches take place over two rounds, giving each team a turn on attack and defense. The team who hacks the most points or who hacks all three points in the shortest amount of time wins the match.”
New Core Multiplayer Map: Grime
Also coming in Modern Warfare Season 3 Reloaded are two brand new maps. Both of the new maps are 6V6 core maps. The first of these is based in London and titled “Grime”. The official description of the new Modern Warfare 3 Grime map from the Call of Duty blog describes the map as:
“Navigate an abandoned corner of London as you weave through Grime’s dockside district, a graffiti-laden hub featuring the remnants of the once lively SKN Comms building beside the Captain’s Dog pub and the now-defunct boat house. Swim through the murky waters of the canal and battle along the docks. Surviving this derelict urban location will require smart use of the map’s chokepoints and a penchant for dirty tactics.”
This definitely looks like it’ll be an interesting place to play, as we can see an ample mix of open areas, potential cover and hiding spots across the map from the released image.
New Core Multiplaye Map: Checkpoint
While you likely already recognize this section of map from Rebirth Island, it is brand new to multiplayer in Season 3 Reloaded. As part of the large mid-season update, Checkpoint is the second and final core 6v6 map to be added to Modern Warfare 3. While the map itself is a section of the larger Rebirth Island map, the Call of Duty blog points out the benefits for this particular section to be repurposed into a multiplayer map:
“Checkpoint keeps the fight focused in and around the main buildings of the military comms outpost in a modified version of the map where the upper walkways and control tower are sealed off, emphasizing combat on the ground. Battle within the armory and garage or take on foes in the forward construction site and rear roundabout.”
Arcade Playlist Featuring Powerups
With a whole range of maps and modes included, a new Arcade playlist is coming to Modern Warfare in Season 3 Reloaded. The new playlist will feature a series of powerups and special weapon pickups, allowing you to boost your powers exponentially throughout the playlist.
Powerups: Eliminated enemies will drop a powerup where they fall, granting one of two temporary abilities on pickup: unlimited ammo or unlimited grenades. Let loose on your foes without mundane concerns like ammo supply and grenade count.
Weapon Pickups: Bring the pain with special weapon pickups scattered throughout the environment, immediately noticeable by their glowing effects and floating animation.
These empowered weapons include the Punch Knife with a dramatically increased lunge distance, the MORS Sniper Rifle and Riveter Shotgun loaded with explosive projectile rounds, and a Minigun that provides a constant Battle Rage effect for improved health regeneration, resistance to Tactical Equipment, and a constant refresh on your Tactical Sprint.
Vortex Playlist Returns
Coming back in Modern Warfare 3’s Season 3 Reloaded update is the Vortex playlist. Making it’s return, the Vortex playlist is a free-for-all, multiplayer mode that features several elements from the Zombies game mode. In Vortex, 6 players compete to obtain the Ray Gun and eliminate the others.
New Field Upgrade and New Equipment
Coming to the Modern Warfare 3 Season 3 Reloaded update we also have one brand new field upgrade and one new piece of tactical equipment.
The new field upgrade is the Enhanced Vision Goggles. The goggles feature a limited battery, which will be displayed in the field upgrade charge, depleting as they are used. Infinity Ward states in the blog post that the goggles will help with improved target acquisition in the midst of battle, however we currently have no further details on how they work.
Now, for the new tactical equipment. While Modern Warfare 3 already features proximity mines, the brand new EMD Mine is an interesting new twist. The EMD Mine is a proximity mine that instead of being just thrown on the floor like the usual variety can be stuck to walls.
However, rather than exploding as a player passes by it like with a standard proximity mine, the EMD Mine fires tracking devices at passing enemies, allowing you to view their positions on the minimap as they move past. This can definitely be extremely useful for holding a tactical position without being surprised by an enemy approach.
New Assault Rifle – BAL-27
A further addition coming to both MW3, Zombies, Warzone and Warzone mobile is a brand new Assault Rifle. The BAL-27 base weapon will be unlockable in a new sector in the Season 3 Battle Pass.
With a unique top-loading design, the BAL-27 offers fast reloads. However, the most interesting part of the new gun is it’s unique firing mode. The BAL-27’s initial four shots favour accuracy to hit your opponent with precision. After these initial four shots, the weapon kicks into a higher fire rate, allowing you to precisely target players at a distance before finishing them off with a spray of fire.
New Operators Including Devin Booker Tracer Pack
In the last few years Call of Duty has certainly proven no stranger to introducing celebrity operators. Just in the past year, we’ve had additions such as Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg and multiple characters from hit TV show The Boys such as Homelander.
Now, the latest celebrity operator to come to Modern Warfare in Season 3 Reloaded’s update is Devin Booker. The NBA Phoenix Suns star will be available to play as in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone with a brand new tracer pack. The Call of Duty blog describes the Devin Booker pack as “a Store Bundle that transfers the star’s shooting skills from the court to the battlefield.”
More operators will also be coming to the store throughout Season 3 Reloaded. These include a ripper skin titled “Trash Talk” which features a robotic head, a “Vibrant Vixen” tracer park featuring an animated fox-head faceplate and a bioluminescent skin for for Lucifer, called “Phyto Fighter”.
There will also be a cell-shaded operator skin for Doc, boasting a gas mask and tactical gear that looks like it came straight out of Borderlands.
Elsewhere in the Call of Duty world we have a lot more to look forward to, as a swarm of leaks over time have shown us the weapons and scorestreaks we can expect in 2024’s entry to the series, which is expected to be entitled Call of Duty Black Ops Gulf War.
