Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Start Times, Content & Download

The First Modern Warfare 3 content update was already revealed prior to the game’s global launch. MW3 Season 1 is rumored to release on Wednesday, December 6th. Season One content updates are expected for Multiplayer, Zombies and Warzone. Here’s everything we know about MWIII Season 01.

MW3 Season 1 Start Times & Download

Rumors earlier this year suggested that the first Season of content for MWIII was slated for December 6th, 2023. Recent Call of Duty blogposts have confirmed an early December target date for MW3 Season 1, but that’s of course subject to change. If December 6th does stick, then expect all content to become playable at 9am PT, 11am CT, and 12pm EST.

As we’ve seen with previous seasonal updates, the preload for new content should become available first on Playstation around two days before the season begins. Around December 4th is when players should be able to download any necessary updates to prepare for Season 01.

MW3 Season 1 File Size & Preload

Judging from the download size of MW2 Season 1 last year, the file should be approximately 30-35GB in size, which is subject to change. While Warzone is expected to receive a huge overhaul and big battle Royale map, MW3 Multiplayer and Zombies are both expecting large amounts of content which may increase the file size.

During the last few seasons of MW2, larger than usual title updates ended up decreasing the overall game size in exchange for needing to download 20-40GB of data for the new content. It’s likely that Modern Warfare 3 will have significantly smoother download windows than MW2 did.

MAIN BATTLEPASS OPERATOR – NOLAN

The main operator (Tier 0 and Tier 100) will be “Andrei Nolan” from the MW3 Campaign! He will come with Blackcell Variants as well, if you choose to purchase it! Not much is known about the Blackcell Variants yet.

SECOND OPERATOR – DOKKAEBI

A skilled spy and robotics engineer, Dokkaebi is Konni Group’s eye in the sky. Dokkaebi has been operating behind the scenes, executing drone attacks for Nolan and Makarov! She will be available at Tier 0 along with Nolan. No Info on their Blackcell Variants yet.

BLACKCELL OPERATOR – Abolisher

This BlackCell Operator’s biographical information has been [REDACTED].

WEAPONS

XRK Stalker (Battlepass – Sector A4)

For one-hit eliminations, look no further. The XRK Stalker Sniper Rifle deals massive damage and is highly customizable to support multiple playstyles. Enhance the weapon’s velocity and stability and strike from the shadows or improve its handling capabilities to become a quick-scoping menace.

RAM-7 (Battlepass – Sector A7)

When you need power and mobility, the RAM-7 is a sure bet. The weapon deals solid damage at close and medium range and in controlled bursts can compete from afar. Its lightweight frame results in a quick reload and fast handling so you can stay on the offensive.

Stormender (Battlepass – Sector A12)

This brand-new weapon has the power to shoot down specific Killstreaks and take out drones with its lock-on capabilities. With unlimited recharging ammo and the ability to disable and delay enemy equipment, this weapon serves as a very real shock to the system, though damage to Operators is minimal.

JAK Purifier (Battlepass – Sector A14)

A new flamethrower underbarrel attachment for multiple weapons, available via the Season 1 Battle Pass!

VORTEX Mode – Zombies Reskin Maps

In this free-for-all mode, one player spawns in with the infamous Zombies Wonder Weapon, the one-shot Ray Gun. Whoever eliminates the Operator with the Ray Gun becomes the new owner of this powerful and otherworldly pistol. Vortex takes place on three remixed Multiplayer maps:

Satan’s Quarry

This is a Zombie Reskin of the current MP Map ‘Quarry’

Sporeyard

This is a Zombie Reskin of the current MP Map ‘Scrapyard’

Tetanus

This is a Zombie Reskin of the current MP Map ‘Rust’

This mode and all of these Zombie Reskins will be available In-Season!

Original 6v6 Multiplayer Maps

Sledgehammer unexpectedly revealed the full slate of standard multiplayer maps for Season 1, ahead of the upcoming roadmap and blogpost revealed. The three new maps are completely original and aren’t derived from any old maps or Warzone points of interest.

Meat (Launch)

Greece (Launch)

Rio (Mid Season)

Gunfight Maps

During a QnA on Reddit, Sledgehammer confirmed that up to six maps are set to be in rotation for Gunfight Season 1. One of the new maps, Training Facility is dropping on launch, while another original map is scheduled for in season. Three unnamed gunfight maps from MW2 (2022) will also be carrying forward throughout the duration of Season 1.

Training Facility (Launch)

Shipment (Launch) – Carry Forward

Ground War, Invasion & War Mode

As of now, no new maps have been revealed for Ground War, Invasion or the War mode in Modern Warfare 3. MW2 did receive a number of new ground war maps throughout it’s life cycle, all of which were based out of Al Mazrah. It’s likely that we’ll see plenty of sections from Urzikstan added for the aforementioned modes throughout the post launch.

Carry Forward Maps

During the pre season window for MW3, several maps from Modern Warfare 2 were added in, allowing players to utilize the new movement and weaponry on last year’s multiplayer maps. the maps included Crown Raceway, Shoothouse, Mercado Las Almas and Farm 18. Gameplay of Shipment inside of MW3 recently surfaced, while Sledgehammer confirmed in a QnA that the fan favorite map is returning in gunfight.

Zombies Content Updates

Treyarch took to Twitter to reveal a ton of early details about Season 1 for MW3 Zombies. New images confirm the return of Black Ops 1’s V-R11 wonder weapon and Dark Aether rifts from Cold War, which will provide players a new challenge on Urzikstan. DETONATED previously posted a separate article about Zombies, which will be updated as more information surfaces. As of now, the list of upcoming content includes:

As Operators continue to push farther into the Exclusion Zone, a new anomaly appears. Sent to investigate, Operation Deadbolt Strike Teams are pulled through to the other side in their first major encounter inside the Dark Aether. Expect a new story mission that begins the next Act of content, with tasks that will test your abilities in the fights ahead.

The Season 1 update brings additional challenges and rewards, including new Prestige Challenges to explore, a new Warlord to battle, an exciting new Wonder Weapon, new Schematics and Acquisitions, new secrets, and introducing the deadly but lucrative Dark Aether Rifts.

Enter the Rift

Dark Aether Rifts bring rewards to those who brave their challenges. These otherworldly labyrinths are located inside the Dark Aether, where players and their squad have 30 minutes to complete a series of increasingly chaotic objectives to earn exceptional rewards. Find Sigils to unlock the Dark Aether Rift and face a new level of challenge!

New Wonder Weapon: V-R11

Season 1 brings the new V-R11 Wonder Weapon.Turn enemies into allies with the powerful V-R11! Shoot zombies and transform them into humans, or blast humans to mutate them into friendly zombies. As you might expect, transformed humans join you in the fight, drawing the attention of nearby zombies, while transformed zombies will commence their ceaseless hunt for your enemy’s flesh!

New Classified Schematics

Dog Bone (Classified Schematic, Legendary, Launch)

• Consume the Dog Bone to summon the strongest friendly Hell Hound companion. The pet Hellhound will follow you and attack nearby threats until its health runs out. This Season 1 item can help take off the heat when it’s really needed.

Golden Armor Plate (Classified Schematic, Legendary, Launch)

• Consuming the new Golden Armor Plate replaces the Armor Carrier with Plates that automatically repair over time, in addition to providing the user additional damage resistances.

Aether Blade (Lethal, Classified Schematic, Launch)

• The Aether Blade is a special Throwing Knife with infinite ammo and a boomerang-like combat style. After striking an enemy, the Aether Blade locates the next nearest enemy to hit before returning to its Operator.

Warlord: Dokkaebi (Mid-Season)

Hoping to counter Operation Deadbolt’s technological advantage in the Exclusion Zone, Jack Fletcher (the leader of Terminus Outcomes) will deploy another of his Lieutenants to the battle space in the coming weeks. South Korean born Dokkaebi will bring with her an intimate understanding of Electronic Warfare, and a fleet of self-programmed autonomous drones, ready to wreak carnage on Operation Deadbolts Operatives from the skies.

Warzone Map, Overhaul & DMZ Hiatus

At COD NEXT, Raven confirmed what is easily the largest Warzone overhaul of all time, with a full MW3 movement integration and plenty quality of life improvements. Although Urzikstan is playing in MWIII Zombies on day 1, the map won’t be available for Battle Royale or Plunder until the start of Season 1 in December.

Activision recently confirmed that while DMZ will remain playable in BETA, it will not receive an integration with MW3, nor will it support new maps like Urzikstan either. The future of DMZ will reportedly be revealed closer to the launch of the first MWIII content update.

Ranked Play

Treyarch recently announced that they’ll once again be taking lead with the Ranked Play modes in both Multiplayer and Warzone. Ever since Cold War (2020), Treyarch has been leading the competitive scene, and likely won’t be stopping with Modern Warfare 3.

MW2 Ranked Play introduced several free rewards players can get just by grinding the game. It’s no doubt that Modern Warfare 3 is going to continue the trend of adding plenty of free cosmetics just from playing.

Seasonal Prestige

Following a similar system to Modern Warfare II, Season 1 allows you to level up past Rank 55 into Prestige Ranks that persist across seasons. Beginning in Season 1, reaching Rank 56 will unlock Prestige 1. Achieving this unlocks rewards and a set of challenges — complete those challenges to unlock multiple exclusive Calling Cards, with separate sets of Cards for both Multiplayer and Zombies.

At the end of Season 1, you can continue ranking up from wherever you landed on the Prestige Ranks. This allows players to catch up in later seasons, while also not resetting the progress of anyone who reached the Max Rank during that season.

THE END

Checkout this video for an in-depth breakdown of everything we know so far about MW3 Season 1:

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