MW3 Season 4 patch notes: New maps, modes, killstreaks, and equipment items

Modern Warfare 3 players have plenty to be excited about for the upcoming season, as the update introduces new maps, modes, killstreaks, and equipment items. Here is everything you need to know about Season 4.

Sledgehammer Games has consistently delivered a healthy dose of content for each seasonal update. After launching with 20 6v6 maps in November 2023, that count is now up to 33, with three more coming throughout Season 4. On top of that, a consistent offering of new game modes, events, and features makes it a great time to be a multiplayer fan. Season 4 is no different, as the devs offer up a package that will give players plenty to sink their teeth into.

MW3 Season 4 patch notes

Weapon and attachment adjustments

• Assault Rifles
• BP50
  • Decreased movement speed from 5m/s to 4.8m/s (-4%).
  • Decreased sprint speed from 5.7m/s to 5.5m/s (-4%).
  • Decreased tactical sprint speed from 7m/s to 6.8m/s (-3%).
  • JAK Revenger Kit
    • Decreased movement speed from 5.5m/s to 5.1m/s (-7%).
    • Decreased crouch movement speed from 2.6m/s to 2.4m/s (-8%).
    • Decreased sprint speed from 6.2m/s to 5.8m/s (-6%).
    • Decreased tactical sprint speed from 7.7m/s to 7.1m/s (-8%).
    • Decreased ADS movement speed from 3.3m/s to 3.1m/s (-6%).
    • Decreased maximum damage from 32 to 28 (-13%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage from 28 to 25 (-11%).
    • Decreased medium damage from 25 to 23 (-8%).
• MCW
  • Increased head damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.25x.
• Submachine Guns
• FJX Horus
  • Decreased recoil gun kick from 42.5deg/s to 35.4deg/s (-17%).
  • Increased maximum damage range from 10.2m to 17.8m (+75%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 25.4m (+25%).
  • Increased lower torso damage multiplier from 1x to 1.1x.
  • No Stock Mod
    • Increased ADS movement speed benefit from 9% to 12%.
  • Lopper LX-D Stock
    • Added 3% ADS movement speed penalty.
• RAM-9
  • Increased maximum damage range from 11.2m to 12.4m (+11%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• AMR9
  • Increased maximum damage range from 14m to 15.2m (+9%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• Rival-9
  • Fixed an issue causing the Trebuchet Brake Attachment to be unavailable.
  • Increased maximum damage range from 10.2m to 11.4m (+13%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 21.6m to 22.9m (+6%).
  • JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion
    • Increased rate of fire from 682rpm to 882rpm (+29%).
    • Increased maximum damage from 26 to 33 (+27%).
    • Increased near-medium damage from 24 to 30 (+25%).
    • Increased minimum damage from 22 to 28 (+27%).
    • Decreased neck and upper torso damage multipliers from 1.5x to 1.1x.
    • Decreased lower arm and hand damage multipliers from 1.1x to 1x.
• HRM-9
  • Increased maximum damage range from 16.5m to 17.8m (+8%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 24.1m to 25.4m (+5%).
• Striker 9
  • Increased maximum damage range from 14m to 15.2m (+9%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 20.3m to 21.6m (+6%).
• Striker
  • Increased maximum damage range from 9.7m to 10.9m (+13%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 21.6m to 22.9m (+6%).
• WSP-9
  • Increased maximum damage range from 18.5m to 24.1m (+30%).
  • Increased near-medium damage range from 25.1m to 31.8m (+26%).
• Marksman Rifles
• MCW 6.8
  • MCW 6.8 Full-Auto Conversion Kit
    • Resolved an issue causing recoil overcorrection after firing.
• Launchers
• RGL-80
  • Decreased aim down sight time from 310ms to 260ms (-16%).
  • Decreased explosive damage by 80% in Hardcore game modes.
• RGL-80 explosive damage is now scaled to align with the Hardcore player health scalar.
• PERKS
• Gunslinger Vest
  • Fixed an issue causing Throwing Star kills not to refresh stamina.
• Gunner Vest
  • Updated description to remove mention of Handgun ammo benefit, aligning with existing functionality.
• Compression Carrier (Vest)
  • Fixed an issue causing Throwing Star kills not to trigger health regeneration.
• Assault Gloves
  • Updated description to mention recently-added reticle spread benefit.
• KILLSTREAKS
• Precision Airstrike
  • Decreased delay before damage occurs by 2s.
  • Increased explosive damage radius from 7.6m to 8.9m (+17%).
• Cruise Missile
  • Increased explosive damage radius from 15.2m to 22.9m (+50%)
• SAE
  • Decreased delay before explosive damage occurs by 2s.
  • Increased explosive damage radius from 19m to 20.3m (+7%).
  • Removed stun effect on victims before death.
• Remote Turret
  • Increased cost from 7 Kills (875 Score) to 8 Kills (1,000 Score).
  • Decreased hits required for turret destruction for specific damage types.
    • Melee: from 12 hits to 3 hits
    • Launchers: from 3 hits to 2 hits
  • Improved detection of EMP hits from the Stormender Launcher.
• Wheelson-HS
  • Increased cost from 8 Kills (1,000 Score) to 9 Kills (1,125 Score).
• Overwatch Helo
  • Increased cost from 8 Kills (1,000) Score to 9 Kills (1,125 Score)
  • Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%.
• Emergency Airdrop
  • Decreased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 9 Kills (1,125 Score).
• Carpet Bomb
  • Decreased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 8 Kills (1,000 Score).
  • Increased explosive damage radius from 10.2m to 12.7m (+25%).
  • Increased bomber flight speed by 40%.
• VTOL Jet
  • Increased cost from 10 Kills (1,250 Score) to 11 Kills (1,375 Score).
  • Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%.
  • Decreased machine gun explosive damage from 27 to 20 (-26%).
• Gunship
  • Increased cost from 12 Kills (1,500 Score) to 13 Kills (1,625 Score).
• Chopper Gunner
  • Increased cost from 12 Kills (1,500 Score) to 13 Kills (1,625 Score).
  • Decreased incoming damage dealt by bullets by 50%.
  • Decreased turret explosive damage from 45 to 35 (-22%).
  • Decreased turret explosive damage radius from 1.7m to 1.3m (-23%).
• EMP
  • Decreased cost from 13 Kills (1,625 Score) to 12 Kills (1,500 Score).
  • Visual effects will no longer play twice if the player dies during detonation.
• Swarm
  • Fixed an issue causing drones to divebomb immediately after the player who summoned it dies.
  • Fixed an issue causing drones to spawn away from the playspace on Das Haus and Mercado Las Almas.

Two new 6v6 maps

• Tokyo: Experience Tokyo nightlife in this mid-sized Multiplayer map featuring late night shopping, entertainment, and accommodations for the weary traveler. Battle for the map’s major power positions, the Hotel and Manga buildings facing one another over the main road. Except for these two locations, the fight stays on ground level.
• Paris: Head to the City of Lights for a rendezvous with the enemy, fighting across this mid-sized map dominated by the central Police Station and Gallery. Navigate the surrounding streets to remain on ground level or take the battle to either of the two main buildings. Don’t underestimate the map’s smaller interior spaces, the Bookstore and Shop. These areas provide overhead cover in a pinch and are generally less conspicuous than the large center buildings.

Season 4 new game modes

• Demolition: One of the finest tactical game modes in Call of Duty is finally back! Appearing for the first time since Season 3 of Modern Warfare (2019) this round-based objective mode has similarities to Search & Destroy, with teams alternating between attacking and defending two bomb sites. However, unlike S&D, respawns are enabled and attacking players always spawn with a bomb, and defuses – ninja or otherwise – don’t end the round. This leads to highly tactical engagements – and pandemonium – as teams converge on bomb sites and pressure the opposition. 
• Hyper Cranked: This twisted spin on traditional Team Deathmatch gets even more frantic with this “Hyper” variant. For the uninitiated, Cranked pressures you into chaining kills, eliminating enemy opponents as often as you wish, but within a specific amount of time before a countdown reaches zero, or you’ll explode. Expect a faster reload, weapon swap, and quicker movement speed after your first kill. Points are awarded for every kill, meaning getting kills, staying alive longer, earning more points, and finally claiming victory with your team is the plan in Cranked.
•  Havoc: The action begins with the Team Deathmatch ruleset in effect, with the first team to reach 75 points awarded the win. However, Killstreaks (except those awarded with a modifier) are disabled, and a variety of match-changing modifiers come into play!
• Headshots only: This team mode, played on a small moshpit of maps, is for skilled players who can demonstrate impressive aim. Using Team Deathmatch rules, augmented by the fact that only headshots count when eliminating other players; no damage is dealt, and no team score progression is possible unless your cranium-aiming is true. 

Playlist modifers

• Looping Killstreaks: Streaks reset fully once you reach the upper end of your current streaks, allowing you to earn unlimited streaks in one life.
• Earning Killstreaks: You receive points added to your streak if you slay an enemy player with your Killstreak, or Assist in killing a player with your Killstreak.
• Killstreak Cache: When a player is eliminated, they drop a cache containing a percentage of their earned Killstreak progress. Grab the cache and add it to your own progress!

New killstreaks

•  Intelligent Munitions Systems: The Intelligent Munitions System is loaded with smart explosives that eliminate enemy personnel and vehicles within range. When triggered, it will eject an explosive upwards, which then locks onto its target and propels it towards them.
• Loitering Munition: An unmanned rocket-equipped drone loiters over the targeted areas. On each activation, the drone selects the targeted location with the largest number of viable targets to bombard with rockets. It can be activated up to three times.
• Missile Drone: A small, piloted drone controlled by the player that fires guided missiles.
• DNA Bomb: The discovery of a DNA Bomb Popov Power in Urzikstan is a taste of the tremendous power this brings to a Multiplayer match. The tremendous explosion can be triggered provided you’ve acquired enough consecutive kills without dying. Once you’re granted the DNA Bomb you can detonate it, eliminating all players on the opposing team. Unlike the MGB, the DNA Bomb does not conclude the match.

New perks and equipment

Compression Plate

Immediately regenerate health after a Primary, Secondary, or Throwing Knife/ Throwing Star kill. Objective captures also trigger health regeneration. An icon appears on your HUD when this Perk is active.

Mission Control Vest

• Equipment Slots (6): Tactical, Lethal, Field Upgrade, Gloves, Gear (2)
• Reduces kills required by 1 and score required by 125 for Killstreaks.
• Earn 1 kill or 125 score for every 2 Kill Assists or Cross Fire Assists