*BREAKING* MW2 Season 1 & Warzone 2 Launch Patch Notes

Infinity Ward has released the Patch Notes for MW2 and Warzone 2 as both games are set to kick off later today.

The update brings along a heap of balance changes and more – and while we’ve already pages on most of the individual items, game modes, maps and more – here’s the full patch notes directly from Activision themselves.

BUY NOW: Grab the Modern Warfare 2 Vault Edition on Xbox from Green Man Gaming

There’s a lot to get through, so let’s forge ahead. The update is available now on all formats. All notes are from Infinity Ward’s blog.

Weapons

Progression  

• Players can now progress beyond level 55 and earn Prestige rewards. Seasonal progression will not reset. 

New Weapons

Victus XMR: Sniper Rifle

• Free Weapon acquirable via the Season 01 Battle Pass (A15)

BAS-P: Submachine Gun

• Free Weapon acquirable via the Season 01 Battle Pass (A6)

M13B: Assault Rifle

• Unlocked via Store Bundle or Weapon Unlock Challenge 

Weapon Balancing

Assault Rifles

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Assault Rifles

Kastov 545 

• ADS speed increase
• Improved ironsight ADS sight picture

Kastov-74u 

• ADS speed decrease
• Hip spread increase

M4 

• Hip spread reduction

M16 

• Rate of fire increase
• Hip spread reduction
• Recoil recenter speed increase
• Shot grouping improvement
• Increase ADS movement speed
• Increase strafing movement speed
• Semi auto recoil reduction
• Semi auto damage reduction 

STB 556

• Close range damage reduction
• Reduced sprint to fire speed

Battle Rifles

FTac Recon 

• ADS speed improvement
• 5 round magazine – speed and handling improvement
• Increased flinch caused by bullets
• Hip spread decrease

SO-14

• Increased hip fire when full auto

Handguns

• Increase to close range flinch on all Handguns

Light Machine Guns

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Light Machine Guns

Marksman Rifles

Lockwood 300

• Damage range reduction

SA-B 50

• Minor increase to flinch when hit

SP-R 208

• Large increase to flinch when hit

Shotguns

• Increase to close range flinch on all Shotguns

Bryson 800

• Close range damage increase
• Hip spread increase

Submachine Guns

• Increase to long distance flinch on all Submachine Guns

FFS Hurricane 

• ADS move speed increase
• Increased headshot damage
• Increased far damage range

Minibak 

• Movement speed decrease
• Damage range decrease
• ADS speed decrease
• Hip spread increase

PDSW 528

• Movement speed increase
• Damage range increase
• ADS speed increase
• Hip spread decrease
• Adding Laser and Flashlight Attachments
  • 1mW Artemis Laser
  • 1mW Quick Fire Laser
  • Accu-Shot 5mW Laser
  • VLK LZR 7mW
  • 7mW Canted Laser
  • Schlager ULO-66 Laser

VEL 46 

• Damage range increase

Sniper Rifles

Signal .50

• Fixed attributes on the Signal .50 barrels:
  • 21.5″ Fluted Fifty
  • 23.5″ SA Fifty-H7

Weapon Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue with the Schlager TTF3 Riser ammo comb on the STB 556 Assault Rifle
• Dropshot exploit fix
• Fixed exploit with bipod mount launching, re-enabled bipod use.
• Fixed incendiary damage over time to not flinch the player

Vehicle Updates

Balancing

• Reduced the critical damage multiplier on the Heavy Tank (from 1.6 to 1.25)
• Reduced the damage of the PILA against tanks from 30 to 25%
• Reduced vehicle explosive damage against other vehicles (percentage varies by vehicle)

Bug Fixes

• Tuned exiting the RHIB to help mitigate an issue with players getting stuck
• Exiting the RHIB now places you within the boat. You’ll no longer be left in the water behind the boat when moving.
• Fixes to vehicle-on-vehicle bug that caused vehicles flying as a result of certain collisions and vehicles pushing others back.
• Fixed a bug where the vehicle camera was re-initializing after repairing a wheel.
• Fixed vehicles becoming permanently submerged when another vehicle lands on top of them.

Multiplayer

Maps

• Shoot House (6v6) is now live with Season 01. Set in Las Almas, this map will engage new and veteran players alike.

• Battle Maps
  • Fixed floating grass in Sarrif Bay
  • Fixed stretched texture in Santa Seña
  • Miscellaneous bug and exploit fixes across all Battle Maps

• Core Maps
  • Fixed bullet penetration issues across some maps
  • Player and equipment collision fixes
  • Al Bagra Fortress barracks lighting fixed
  • Fixed some deployable cover locations
  • General exploit fixes

Modes

• Multiplayer
  • Tier 1 is live with Season 01  

• Special Ops
  • “Defender: Mt. Zaya – Modified” mission is now available
  • “High Ground” mission now available
  • Fixed bug where players were unable to revive a teammate if they went down near an ammo box
  • Now rewards Stars when collecting intel
    • Stars awarded upon collecting 5 intel; 2 for every intel

• Single Player
  • Addressed issue where player could get stuck in the elevator during the “Countdown” mission
  • Fixed issue where sequence would not kick off during second half of “Kill or Capture” mission

Equipment

• The Drill Charge sticking to the Riot Shield will always kill the player using the Riot Shield (even if they have the Bomb Squad perk).

Killstreaks

• Cluster Mines now stick to all vehicles.
• Ally deaths no longer give the player assist points while their Counter UAV is active.

UI/UX

• Combat Record has been added for Core Multiplayer
• Calling card menu has been revamped to show challenges
• Customize tab added (with the addition of custom loading screens)
• Other new content types:
  • Operator finishing moves
  • Gunscreens
  • War Tracks
• Updates to Weapons tab including:
  • Weapon brands visible
  • Streamlined Blueprint navigation

CDL Moshpit

• Due to recently discovered issues, CDL Moshpit will not go live on the morning of 11/16, as expected. Stay tuned to @Treyarch on Twitter for updates on launch timing while fixes are implemented.
• When enabled, play competitive, 4v4 matches using the same modes, maps, and settings used in the Call of Duty League 2023 ruleset.
  • Select Weapons, Attachments, Equipment, Perks, Field Upgrades, and Streaks are restricted based on official CDL Competitive rules. 
  • Game Modes and Maps:
    • CDL Search and Destroy
      • Al Bagra Fortress
      • Breenburgh Hotel
      • El Asilo
      • Embassy
      • Mercado Las Almas
    • CDL Hardpoint
      • Al Bagra Fortress
      • Breenburgh Hotel
      • Embassy
      • Mercado Las Almas
      • Zarqwa Hydroelectric
    • CDL Control
      • Al Bagra Fortress
      • Breenburgh Hotel
      • El Asilo

Warzone 2.0

Playlists

Battle Royale

• Solos
  • Max Players: 150
  • Assimilation*: Off
• Duos
  • Max Players: 150
  • Assimilation*: Refill
• Quads
  • Max Players: 152
  • Assimilation*: Refill
• Third Person
  • Trios
    • Max Players: 150
    • Assimilation*: Refill
• Unhinged
  • Trios
    • Max Players: 150
    • Assimilation*: Up to 6 Players Per Squad

Battle Royale

• Core
• Third Person
• Unhinged
  • *Break the squad limit boundaries by using Assimilation to grow your squad up to 6 players! Alliances are fragile in this game mode and you may find yourself out numbered at any point.

DMZ

• Trios
  • Max Players: 66
  • Assimilation Setting: Up to 6 Players Per Squad
  • Solos or Duos can elect not to fill

Gameplay

Feature Highlights

New Strongholds & Black Sites

• Strongholds are a brand new, multifaceted feature that are going to fundamentally change the way some players choose to spend their time. They represent a high-risk opportunity for teams to get a full Loadout early and a localized UAV for strategic positioning. Teams that are the first to clear a Stronghold will be granted a single Black Site key – an invitation to challenge fortified enemy combatants for the most valuable loot Al Mazrah has to offer. Black Sites are only found in Battle Royale. 

New Gulag Experience

• This new 2v2 Gulag offers different pathways to ensure redeployment including an unprecedented co-optional one. Duos can choose to eliminate the enemy squad to secure release before overtime. Players will spawn with a Pistol or Shotgun, one Lethal Equipment, and one Tactical Equipment. Superior ground loot will spawn towards the center of the map, getting progressively more valuable over match time.  Once Overtime kicks in, The Jailer will spawn. Players will have the choice to work together to eliminate this foe, rewarding all 4 Players with redeployment to the battlefield. Ultimately, however you choose to win, you’ll redeploy with everything you looted for another chance at victory.

New Multi-Circles

• At random, and at any point during a Battle Royale match, the circle can split into upwards of 3 smaller circles, which will ultimately remerge for the final showdown. With mobility being a crucial factor here, we’ve put an emphasis on player choice as far as vehicles go and whether your team travels by air, land, or sea.

New Loadout System

• Custom Loadouts
  • Custom Loadouts can be built in the Gunsmith menu and are composed of a Primary Weapon, a Secondary Weapon, a choice of Lethal Equipment, a choice of a Tactical Equipment, and a choice of a Perk Package designed around preferred playstyles.
• Buy Stations
  • The Primary Weapon that players design for their Loadout will be available to purchase via Buy Stations found throughout Al Mazrah.
• Stronghold Crates New Landmark Rewards
  • In Battle Royale, if players want to access the entirety of their Loadout early, they’re going to have to work for it. Full Loadouts can be earned as a reward for completing one of the three active, AI-defended Strongholds found throughout the map.
• Loadout Drops
  • not willing to brave an early Stronghold? A new mid-game Public Event will drop a limited number of Loadout Drops for players to claim. It’s worth noting that an individual Loadout is only usable once per player on a team, but will remain on the field for other teams to loot.

New Looting System

• Players will have access to the new Backpack & Inventory system, uniquely adapted to Battle Royale and DMZ modes, which allows for a more strategic approach to looting. 
• In Battle Royale, loot will pop out of Supply Boxes onto the ground, allowing players within close proximity to automatically pick it up. This will either stack with existing slots or fill new ones.
• In DMZ, players will be presented with the entirety of the new Backpack, having to carefully choose when to loot and how to manage their inventory.
• Loot containers can come in different shapes and sizes, including but not limited to: duffel bags, cash registers, weapon lockers, and medicine cabinets. 
• Player opponents will also drop a lootable Backpack upon elimination that uses this system.

Quality of Life

Console Field-of-View Slider

• Consoles now have the option to adjust their field-of-view setting up to 120 degrees.

Improved Footstep Audio

• The audio team has made significant improvements to the audio system to address this key area.

Squad Score in the UI

• Players will now be able to see the total scores for their entire squad in the in-game Scoreboard.

Join In Queue  

• Players are now able to join other Players while they are queued up.

If a Player joins a full squad that is already queued, the squad will be removed from said queue.

Stowed Weapon Infil

• To guarantee a fair match start, weapons are stowed while skydiving during initial deployment.

Ascenders

• Players now can look around and shoot their weapon while using an ascender. 
• Players can now attach to an ascender while falling.

Parachuting

• Players who are parachuting can now mantle and ledge hang.

Ledge Hanging

• The new ledge hanging mechanic makes it easier to traverse over large obstacles.

Automatic Item Pickup

• Backpack slots occupied by stackable items will automatically pick up additional copies until that stack reaches max capacity. This works great when players want to plan ahead for future ammo needs.

UI/UX

New Menu Features

Tactical Ping Wheel

• Players can now hold the Ping keybind to communicate via custom visuals and voice lines including:
  • General Ping
  • Attacking Here
  • Watching Here
  • Looting Here
  • Regrouping Here
  • Stay Quiet
  • I Need Help
  • Assimilation Related

Looking For Party

• This feature now includes the following preference filters:
  • In-Game Communication Style: Voice Chat, Text Chat, Ping
  • Main Language: Select up to 3 language preferences
  • Playstyle (Primary, Secondary): Competitive, Casual, Objectives, High Kills
• To access this, click “Find A Party”, select the mode you want to play to access a lobby, and find your team based on preferences.      

PC Settings 

• Stow Keybind
  • By default, you hold the “Scoreboard” key to stow and “Interact” to equip. Now you’re able to set a different keybind for Stow.

• Gyro Aiming
  • You’re now able to aim using your gamepad’s gyroscope.

• “Backpack Behavior: Mixed” 
  • This new option makes it possible to use the backpack with toggle (cursor) and hold (no cursor).

• Ledge Hang Behavior
  • This option changes the inputs required to perform a Ledge Grab.

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