Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is the direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ll. Players will experience a rich and immersive campaign with unprecedented player choice, picking up directly after Modern Warfare ll, all-new open world Zombies set on the largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever, and one of the greatest collections of Modern Warfare multiplayer maps ever assembled – both fan favorites and all new ones.

Get ready for an all-new Campaign that continues the story immediately following the events of Modern Warfare II. Lead developer Sledgehammer Games, in partnership with Infinity Ward is set to deliver a full Campaign of action-packed operations ranging from signature, cinematic experiences to free-form Open Combat Missions, resulting in more player choice than ever before.

Expect a world-class Multiplayer experience celebrating the Modern Warfare series’ greatest legacies; all 16 launch maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) have been modernized with new modes and gameplay features and will be available at launch to get everyone started, while over 12 all-new core 6v6 maps will fuel post-launch live seasons.

For the first time, team up with other squads to survive and fight massive hordes of the undead in the largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever. Modern Warfare Zombies (MWZ) tells a new Zombies story from developer Treyarch, with missions, core Zombies features, and a host of secrets to discover.

In the direct sequel to Modern Warfare II, Captain Price, and Task Force 141 face off against the ultimate threat. The ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov is extending his grasp across the world, causing Task Force 141 to fight like never before.

Combat means making decisions; using different Loadouts and planning different paths through every operation across an involved and thrilling Campaign. In addition to the signature, cinematic Call of Duty missions, Modern Warfare III introduces Open Combat Missions, with even greater emphasis on player choice. Naturally, you’ll have the use of all the weapons, equipment, and tactics present in an action-packed Modern Warfare single-player experience, but for some of your engagements, it is completely up to you to decide on an appropriate course of action.

Open Combat Missions (OCMs) are an exciting innovation to the Call of Duty Campaign. Not only do these complement the cinematic missions you’ve come to expect, but they also provide you with numerous additional choices regarding your methods of mission completion. For example, if you prefer to use stealth techniques, you may wish to undertake an OCM with a lights-out approach, using night-vision goggles and suppressed weapons and complete your objectives without your adversaries knowing you were even there. However, if loud explosions and reckless abandon are part of your repertoire, strap extra armor plates onto your torso and hit those targets head-on!

Feel free to take advantage of any operable vehicles within your area of operations. You’re able to experiment with and leverage tactical and lethal equipment. You have the flexibility to maneuver across the sizable landscape of a mission’s AO and approach objectives from multiple angles. You can truly play how you want to play, and Open Combat Missions will support it.

Fresh from Gamescom, we have new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III intel to share today, including "Operation 627," the first Campaign mission that introduces the next chapter of the Modern Warfare universe, plus timing for Call of Duty: Next and Multiplayer Open Beta weekends. Operation 627 takes players to an area that they know all too well - Verdansk, seen from a new perspective. This time, however, it's 2023 and Verdansk is facing an all-new threat.

A New Campaign to Eliminate the Ultimate Threat

Task Force 141’s rules of engagement changed to fight the ultimate threat, and it’s time to adapt or die.

Welcome to Operation 627, the first mission of the Modern Warfare® III Campaign.

Developed by Sledgehammer Games in partnership with Infinity Ward, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III Campaign is the direct sequel to the events of Modern Warfare II.

Tis Campaign features a seamless integration of missions built around Call of Duty’s signature, cinematic moments that have defined two decades of the franchise’s action-packed, narrative-driven, single-player experiences, and brand-new Open Combat Missions designed to give the player freedom to approach the action in a variety of different ways.

The full Campaign, of course, is available up to one week prior to the game’s official launch on November 10, and is available through Campaign Early Access, included in all digital pre-order editions of Modern Warfare III (*1). One week based on estimated access; actual play time subject to possible outages and applicable time zone differences.

Prepare for uneasy alliances and unfinished business: To save a world on the brink of war, the time has come to confront your past:

 the first mission in the Modern Warfare III Campaign is “Operation 627,” a traditional cinematic experience that introduces the next chapter of the Modern Warfare universe.

In this prelude, an elite PMC fireteam – “Alpha Team” – invades a stone fortress in an area that Call of Dutyveterans know all too well: Verdansk.

While familiar, Verdansk will be seen from a new perspective in Modern Warfare III’s Campaign: in the year 2023, a new threat completely locked down this capital of Kastovia.

Now it’s time to dive deeper into “Operation 627”

On October 13, 2023, at 0200 hours (2 AM) local time, Alpha Team successfully infiltrates the Zordaya Prison Complex via amphibious tactics, using water suits, oxygen tanks, and diver propulsion vehicles to reach the complex’s base.

After ascending the battlements’ slope, the team follows the mission’s optimal plans, using suppressed weapons, night-vision goggles (NVGs), and stealth tactics to move along the wallwalk until they find a breach in its western section.

Alongside parachuting reinforcements, Alpha Team moves into position down off the battlements and onto the courtyard level, confirming visual on an HVT entering a prisoner transfer helicopter… But it’s not “our guy.”

Because “our guy” is deeper in the complex, Alpha Team calls in a distraction play, using an explosive outside the facility to get the first strike from behind on enemy forces.

Quickly losing its low profile, Alpha Team uses a smokescreen for cover before finding a hatch in the courtyard, which they then use to descend further into the complex via its intricate tunnel network.

Fortunately, they land right near the heart of the panopticon, the gulag’s proper prison with a central security observatory tower, which Alpha Team sees moments before they radio in for total darkness.

With only muzzle flashes, lasers, and their NVGs as their only sources for light, Alpha Team methodically rappels down the interior spine of the prison, instigating a successful prison riot by downing several prison guards who desperately try to re-establish order.

The cell gates unlock, and the inmates barge out and into the curved corridors, intent on revenge, as klaxons blare and confusion reigns. Alpha Team eventually reaches the prison’s lowest level.

As locked inmates cheer and clank their cell bars in support, Alpha Team eliminates several more guards and reaches the sub-level to “get our guy.” A sealed interior door is breached with explosives…

And the rest… Well, you’ll have to wait until Campaign Early Access (*1) for that part of the story.

Tomorrow’s Intel Drop: Open Combat Missions

In addition to “Operation 627” and other cinematic missions,Modern Warfare III’sCampaign seamlessly integrates more freeform single-player experiences into the mission structure. These are known as Open Combat Missions. Expect a detailed overview of this innovation here on the Call of Duty Blog, tomorrow on August 23.

Your Next Mission: Call of Duty Next on October 5

With a peek into the Campaign, and Open Combat Missions confirmed, let’s talk about what’s Next.

Call of Duty: Nextreturns on October 5, 2023, and can be watched live on the Official Call of Duty Twitch Channel or Call of Duty YouTube Channel.

With the help of Call of Dutydevelopers and community representatives, Call of Duty: Nextis the premier showcase for Modern Warfare IIIMultiplayer, a look forward to what’s coming to Call of Duty: Warzone™, as well as a livestream where updates from Call of Duty’s mobile experiences will be shared.

More intel on Call of Duty: Next will be shared in the coming weeks. However, be sure to save the date – October 5, 2023 – for this epic event.

Modern Warfare III: Open Beta Dates

Call of Duty: Nextis also the prelude to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIMultiplayer Open Beta. It will feature a variety of maps – both a selection of Core maps from the modernized 16 originals in Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2(2009), as well as new experiences in Ground War – modes, and a litany of new loadout options to choose from.

NOTE: Carry Forward content will not be accessible in the Modern Warfare III Multiplayer Beta.

Both Multiplayer Beta weekends will feature Early Access days (*2) as well as an Open Beta period, and it will be First on PlayStation. ® A PlayStation Plus subscription is not required (*3) (*4).

Internet access is required for participation.

More details are to come on the full Beta details, but start marking those calendars to include these important dates:

Weekend One - PlayStation Exclusive

• Available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, the first Beta weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 6 at 10 A.M. PT and end on Tuesday, October 10 at 10 A.M. PT. 
• PlayStation Early Access: Those who preordered the game on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, can begin playing the Beta on Friday, October 6 at 10 AM PT. 
• PlayStation Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Sunday, October 8 at 10 AM PT to Tuesday, October 10 at 10 AM PT, is accessible to all PlayStation players regardless of preorder status.  

Weekend Two - Crossplay

• The second Beta weekend is for all platforms, and is scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 12 at 10 A.M. PT and end on Monday, October 16 at 10 A.M. PT.  
•  PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5: This is a free Open Beta weekend for all PlayStation 4 and 5 owners, regardless of their pre-order status. 
•  Xbox and PC Early Access: Those who preordered the game for Xbox Series X | S or on Xbox One, or who pre-purchased for PC via Battle.net or Steam, can begin playing the Beta on Thursday, October 12 at 10 AM PT.  
• Xbox and PC Open Beta: The rest of the weekend, from Thursday, October 12 at 10 A.M. PT and ending on Monday, October 16 at 10 A.M. PT, is accessible to Xbox and PC players regardless of their preorder status. 

Weekend Two Open Beta Note: An Xbox Live Core Subscription will not be required for Xbox players, for this period only.

Modern Warfare III celebrates the 20th anniversary of Call of Duty with one of the greatest collections of Modern Warfare Multiplayer maps ever assembled.

Afghan. Derail. Estate. Favela. Karachi. Highrise. Invasion. Quarry. Rundown. Rust. Scrapyard. Skidrow. Sub Base. Terminal. Underpass. Wasteland.

All 16 launch maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) have been modernized, both graphically and with meticulous attention given to the authenticity and aspects of the maps that made them so popular. Veteran players love these Core 6v6 maps, and there’s no better time to introduce a generation of new players to experience the community’s favorite Modern Warfare content.

Prepare for seminal design to meet modern gameplay. This faithful modernization of the maps keeps their authenticity intact while infusing the latest tech, gameplay, modes, content, and more. Though you might have noticed elements of Terminal and Highrise during your time in Al Mazrah, the Modern Warfare III versions of these maps are built from scratch from the original 2009 designs.

In addition to brand-new modes like Cutthroat (a competitive 3v3v3 experience), a full range of fan-favorite and innovative gameplay features will be available at launch to get everyone started, like choosing to play Hardpoint and Kill Confirmed on Favela, modes that were never part of the original map offering, providing a refreshing multiplayer experience within these familiar environments.

The 16 Core launch maps are further complemented with the addition of four huge environments ready at launch and containing a host of new play spaces. These are composed of three brand-new Battle Maps — large scale locations where Modern Warfare III’s Ground War and Invasion game modes will be fought — and a single, colossal War map, as Modern Warfare III marks the welcome return and evolution of the legendary War Mode that first debuted in 2017’s Call of Duty®: WWII.

With Day One Multiplayer content featuring faithful modernizations of Modern Warfare’s fan-favorite maps, over 12 all-new core 6v6 maps will fuel post-launch live seasons.

Expect many customization advancements and new gameplay mechanics to further evolve the quintessential, fast-moving gameplay. Here are three innovations, with more to be revealed in the coming weeks:

Breach and clear with the new Tactical Stance feature, a perfect middle-ground between hip-fire and aiming down sights. When entering tight hallways and cramped rooms, toggle Tac-Stance on to improve weapon performance and win the fight. Here’s what to expect from Tac-Stance:

• The operator unshoulders the weapon and holds it in a canted firing position.
• You can toggle in and out of Tac-Stance dynamically while aiming down sights.
• Tac-Stance trades precise accuracy for improved mobility and handling.
• Some spread to your firing will occur, best described as a middle ground between full ADS and hipfire.
• It is designed to be used in aggressive, close-quarter combat situations.
• By default, you fire in Tac-Stance while Sliding.

Modern Warfare III brings new levels of customization to Create-a-Class. Get ready to build your Loadout based on cutting-edge military equipment, such as gloves, tactical vests, boots and more; allowing you to fine-tune more aspects of gameplay.

The evolution of the Gunsmith continues with the addition of After-Market Parts. This is a special set of customization options allowing you to focus on your preferred and specific playstyle. After-Market Parts enable you to construct unique weapon configurations or types such as customizing a machine gun into a bullpup configuration (with the firing grip in front of the breech rather than behind it), thus increasing mobility and handling without compromising on damage output.

After-Market Parts will also offer new progression paths, and challenges to unlock. We will be sharing more information on these innovations in the coming weeks.

The core mechanics of Modern Warfare III deliver a massive offering of classic features bringing exceptional freedom of choice, movement, and customization to gameplay.

Here are the Multiplayer features confirmed for Modern Warfare III Multiplayer, coming Day One:

• Map Voting returns, allowing players greater autonomy over their Multiplayer matches.
• Classic Minimap Behavior, with red dots indicating when an enemy is firing an unsuppressed weapon.
• All chosen Perks are available at the start of each match.
• The Covert Sneakers Perk allows for silent movement (assuming you’ve chosen the correct footwear).
• Core Multiplayer Health is increased to 150, lengthening the Time-to-Kill (TTK). Hardcore mode is not affected.

When maneuvering in Modern Warfare III Multiplayer, expect the following movement abilities in terms of your Operator’s general responsiveness:

• You can cancel Slide animations (i.e., “slide cancel”), but Slide Cancelling does not reset Tactical Sprint.
• You can cancel partial Reloads during an animation (i.e., “reload cancel”) to immediately return fire.
• Mantling is faster, and you can Mantle while Sprinting.
• You can fire during and immediately after Sliding.
• Tactical Sprint durations are increased (the exact duration depends on the weapon being used).
• Tactical Sprint recharges while Sprinting.

As discussed before, a vast amount of content and weapon progression from Modern Warfare II will come with you to Modern Warfare III. That means every Multiplayer weapon you currently have in your MWII arsenal, along with all the new weapons available in Modern Warfare III, will be accessible to use on Day One.

• The depth of choice here truly honors the player investment into Modern Warfare II.
• All MWII weapons, attachments, and unlocks will Carry Forward. There will be seamless functionality between new attachments and global Weapon Platforms.
• Any MWII attachments that were considered “universal” (such as some Muzzles) will be available to attach to MWIII weapons, where applicable.
• In certain cases, MWII weapons carried forward into MWIII will be able to utilize MWIII attachments that you unlock, where applicable.
• The number of Weapon Platforms (AKA “Receivers”) have been increased for some categories, reducing restrictions on weapon customization by allowing for core attachments to be added to your favorite MWII weapons.

For the first time, team up with other squads to survive and fight massive hordes of the undead in the largest Call of Duty Zombies map ever. Modern Warfare Zombies (MWZ) tells an involved and unearthly Dark Aether Zombies story set in the Modern Warfare universe. Expect to undertake missions across different regions that escalate in difficulty, with core Zombies features and a cavalcade of secrets to discover. Ready up for an open-world player versus enemy (PvE) extraction survival experience against some of the biggest enemies in Call of Duty history.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare III is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC on Nov. 10, 2023.