Excited for the next Call of Duty? Over the next couple of weekends, Activision is hosting two separate beta weekends for Modern Warfare 3. There’s a lot to keep up with, so we’ve got the rundown on what sort of Modern Warfare 3 beta content to expect, including all the maps and modes you can look forward to, as well as what you can unlock in the beta’s progression system.
- Related Reading: Modern Warfare 3 Game Modes Detailed and Weekly Challenges Confirmed: Cutthroat, War Mode, and More
Let’s hop right into the intel.
Weekend One: October 6-10
Weekend One is available exclusively on PS4 and PS5. Players who pre-ordered the game on PlayStation can play the beta starting Friday, October 6 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT/1am HKT. Starting on Sunday, October 8 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT/1am HKT, the rest of the PlayStation community can begin playing the beta. This first beta comes to a close on Tuesday, October 10 at 10am PDT/1pm EDT/1am HKT.
PlayStation players can download the beta from the PS Store. Players who don’t preorder digitally need a beta code to participate; they’re automatically registered to participate in the Early Access period. If you purchased Modern Warfare 3 through a participating retailer, you should have received a beta code printed on the retail receipt or sent via email on an online receipt.
Weekend One: Maps and Modes
Weekend One kicks off with four maps and four game modes at the start of the Early Access period, with an additional map and mode being added on Sunday when the beta opens up to all PlayStation players
The maps included in Weekend One are:
- Favela – Set in beautiful Rio de Janeiro, Favela’s topography gives you a number of options to choose from when engaging enemy Operators. Stick to the perimeter to keep opponents at range along the streets and through the shacks, or head into the central alleys to fight up close. Use the newer movement mechanics to get around the rooftops with more ease than ever before.
- Estate – Get ready to infiltrate the great outdoors of Estate. Fight for a spot in the lodge or move through the wooded perimeter to flank opponents. Beware of enemies hanging out in the scattered buildings and be ready to swap to a close-ranged weapon when engaging Operators within.
- Skidrow – Roam the streets of Skidrow and utilize the new Tac-Stance to round tight corners in this urban environment. Battle through the central building or take the tunnel and alleys to get around your enemies. Flanking opportunities are abundant here, so keep your head on a swivel.
- Rust – Prepare for chaos. Fight for your position at the top of the tower or use the map’s various obstacles to avoid detection on the ground. It’s all about making the most of your angles in this infamous desert environment. Use your full array of Loadout gear to get the advantage on the enemy team.
- Popov Power (Ground War) – Break through the defenses of the Popov Power Plant. Watch high and low for snipers, armored vehicles, and enemies emerging from the large concrete buildings. Prepare for every range of combat available in Modern Warfare 3 because in the Power Plant, you can and will experience all of them.
Here are the available game modes in Weekend One:
- Team Deathmatch – Use teamwork to eliminate enemy players and reach the score limit.
- Domination – Capture and hold up to three flags to gain points for your team.
- Hardpoint – Capture and hold the Hardpoint (a zone that shifts to several locations during the match) to earn points for your team.
- Kill Confirmed (Open Beta) – Team Deathmatch with a twist. Eliminate enemies and grab the Dog Tags they drop to score for your team. Pick up your teammate’s tags to deny the enemy from scoring.
- Ground War – Large-scale conflict featuring vehicles. Capture and hold objectives to score. Capturing objectives opens forward spawning locations for your team. Like Domination, but with more objectives.
Weekend One: Progression
Players can obtain a maximum level of 20 during the first weekend of the Modern Warfare 3 beta. As you earn additional Player Levels, you’ll unlock more Loadout gear to use after hitting the Player Level 4 milestone when Custom Loadouts become available. See below for the items you’ll unlock for each level on the way to 20.
- Level 1 – Demolitionist: A Loadout focused on explosives and survivability.
- Level 2 – Combat Controller: A close-range, fully silenced Loadout emphasizing stealth and counterintelligence.
- Level 3 – Rusher: A mobile Loadout for point-taking and flanking.
- Level 4 – Custom Loadouts, New Launcher, and Perk
- Custom Loadouts: Player-customized Loadouts that allow you to select Weapons, Equipment, and Perks.
- PILA (Launcher): Portable infrared surface-to-air missile with a free-fire option. Self-propelled missiles have a higher speed and moderate explosive yield.
- Infantry Vest (Perk): Increases Tactical Sprint duration and reduces its refresh time. Duplicate effects do not stack. If equipped with Running Sneakers, gain the effects of Lightweight Boots instead.
- Level 5 – Guardian-SC (Killstreak): A beam-shaped, nonlethal, area-denial weapon. Enemies entering the beam endure similar effects to a stun grenade, such as reduced movement speed, blurred vision, and removed UI.
- Level 6 – 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.
- Level 7 – DG-58 LSW (LMG): A lightweight squad weapon for controlling zones and laying down suppressive 5.8 x 42 mm fire.
- Level 8 – Claymore (Lethal Equipment): Proximity-activated explosive mine.
- Level 9 – 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.
- Level 10 – New Perks
- 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.
- Level 11 – Mission Control Comlink (Perk): Reduce Killstreak cost by one kill. Reduce Scorestreak cost by 125.
- Level 12 – MTZ-556 (Assault Rifle): Boasting an exceptional fire rate for a 5.56 weapon, this closer-quarters Assault Rifle excels at close and midrange.
- Level 13 – Battle Rage (Tactical Equipment): Experimental stimulant that gives you an adrenaline rush. Tactical Equipment is resisted and Tactical Sprint is constantly refreshed.
- Level 15 – Ordnance Gloves (Perk): Throw Equipment farther. Reset fuse timer on thrown back grenades.
- Level 16 – Smoke Grenade (Tactical Equipment): Deploys a smoke screen that blocks vision and automated targeting systems.
- Level 17 – BAS-B (Battle Rifle): A highly controllable and powerful Battle Rifle chambered in .277 Fury, designed for all-round reliability and performance.
- Level 18 – Scatter Mine (Tactical Equipment): Throw a field of mines across a wide area that detonate when enemies come within range.
- Level 19 – Climbing Boots (Perk): Increased climbing and mantling speed. Reduces fall damage.
- Level 20 – Gunner Vest (Perk): Deploy with max ammo. Improved reload speed. If equipped with Mag Holster, gain the effects of Mission Comlink.
That’s everything you need to know before hopping into the MW3 beta this weekend. Have fun and stay safe out there on the battlefield!
We covered just about everything that was revealed at yesterday’s COD Next event, including the future of Modern Warfare Zombies. You can check that out here.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches on November 10 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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