Modern Warfare 2 Season 4 patch notes: Shotgun buffs, new maps & weapons, more

Modern Warfare 2 players have plenty to look forward to in Season 4, as multiplayer is set to receive six new maps and limited-time 12v12 playlists.

Modern Warfare 2 fans slammed the devs for a lackluster offering of content in Season 2. Infinity Ward responded by adding three new 6v6 maps over the course of Season 3 and brought back the fan-favorite mode, Gunfight.

After experiencing a few growing pains at launch, Infinity Ward made a few tweaks to restore the 2v2 mode to its former glory.

The devs one-upped themselves in Season 4 by announcing seven new maps over the course of the full season and will bring back 12v12 playlists for a limited time.

Modern Warfare 2 Season 4 roadmap

This is the Modern Warfare 2 Season 4 roadmap, showing off everything coming in the current season of MW2 as well as Warzone and DMZ.

New maps including classic COD 4 Showdown

Showdown is a small-scale multiplayer map that first appeared in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, but also makes up part of the Al Mazrah map in Warzone 2.

Alongside it comes another 6v6 map, Kunstenaar District, which is set in Amsterdam, the same as the new Resurgence map, Vondel.

There are also two Battle maps, Mawizeh Marsh and Akhdar Village, as well as new Gunfight maps in Mercado and Penthouse.

Shotgun buffs

There were a number of weapon buffs and nerfs in the Season 4 patch notes, but most significantly for Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer is almost all shotguns being buffed across the board, with only the KV Broadside being nerfed overall.

Most of the buffs and nerfs in the Season 4 update were focused on Warzone, such as a Cronen Squall nerf and Fennec 45 buff.

Full Modern Warfare 2 Season 4 patch notes

WEAPONS

Tempus Razor Back: Assault Rifle

• A masterclass in exceptional manufacturing, this Tempus Armament assault rifle features a bullpup design and frame-vibration control, resulting in a smooth and controllable full-auto 5.56 weapon.
  • Unlock in Battle Pass Sector D13

ISO 45: Submachine Gun

• The ISO Platform’s answer to room clearing. This SMG dominates with a high fire rate and the stopping power of .45 Auto rounds.
  • Unlock in Battle Pass Sector D19

Tonfa: Melee

• This hard-polymer, edgeless melee weapon delivers blunt trauma without risk of dulling or breaking. Versatile, comfortable, and lethal in the right hands.
  • Unlock via Assault on Vondel Event

• Shotgun
  • Pellets now use damage priority
    • If more than four pellets hit a target, the highest damage among those hit pellets will be used 
• Melee
  • Fist Lunge Range decreased 
  • Gunbutt Lunge Range decreased
  • Gunbutt Damage decreased | Warzone Only 

WEAPON BALANCING

These changes to Player Health and the application of Armor Damage ultimately result in the Time to Kill feeling slower, more consistent, and more reactable at every engagement distance.

While a select few Weapons are listed below, it is important to note that most Weapons will see their effectiveness altered as a result of the change to Armor Damage. For now, we will be retiring the term “Armor Damage” and any future changes that are Warzone specific will be followed by “Warzone Only.”

» Battle Rifles « 

• Cronen Squall 
  • Full-Auto
    • Bullets to Kill increased by 2 | Warzone Only
    • Maximum Damage increased | Warzone Only
    • Minimum Damage added | Warzone Only
  • Semi-Auto
    • Bullets to Kill increased by 1 | Warzone Only
    • Maximum Damage decreased | Warzone Only
    • Minimum Damage increased | Warzone Only

» Shotguns « 

• Bryson 800 
  • Minimum Damage decreased | Warzone Only
  • Head Multiplier increased 
  • Neck Multiplier increased 
  • Upper Torso Multiplier increased 
  • Arm Multipliers increased 
  • Leg Multipliers increased 

• Bryson 890 
  • Minimum Damage decreased | Warzone Only
  • Head Multiplier increased 
  • Neck Multiplier increased 
  • Upper Torso Multiplier increased 
  • Arm Multipliers increased 
  • Leg Multipliers increased 

• Expedite 12 
  • Minimum Damage added | Warzone Only 
  • Leg Multipliers increased 

• KV Broadside 
  • Mid Damage decreased 

• Lockwood 300 
  • Minimum Damage decreased | Warzone Only
  • Head Multiplier increased 
  • Neck Multiplier increased 
  • Upper Torso Multiplier increased 
  • Arm Multipliers increased 
  • Leg Multipliers increased 
  • Hip to ADS Spread transition speed increased
    • Becomes accurate faster after aiming down sights 
  • Mid Damage Ranges increased 
  • Mid Damage decreased slightly 

» Submachine Guns « 

• Fennec 45 
  • Bullets to Kill decreased by 1 | Warzone Only 

• FTAC Siege 
  • Akimbo FTAC Siege (NEW)
    • Unlock through in-game Challenge: 25 Hip Fire Operator kills with the FTAC Siege
• Kastov-74u 
  • KSTV-17 Barrel (NEW)
    • Added to Kastov-74u progression, replaces 5.45 Tracer at Level 9
      • Players who have progressed beyond this level will have it retroactively granted to their account following the launch of Season 4 
• KV Broadside 
  • 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
    • Close-range Damage increased slightly 

• Fixed an issue with the SZ Aggressor-IR Optic where its ADS penalty was higher than intended 
• Fixed an issue with 12-Gauge Dragon’s Breath residual damage where it would be counted as a headshot for scoring 
• Fixed an issue that caused Death Effects to intermittently occur on incorrect bodies 
• Fixed numerous incorrect Attachment unlock criteria
• Fixed an issue where the in-game challenge completed overlay for the KL40-M2 Drill underbarrel Attachment showed a placeholder name
• Fixed an issue causing the .300 BLK Overpressured +P ammunition to remain locked without unlock requirements, despite the Weapon being at max level
• Fixed an issue where Bipod Attachments were not blocked on some Weapons when using the canted iron sights

EVENTS

• NEW: Assault on Vondel
  • Your mission is to fight back against Nikto’s clandestine army, and reclaim the city in our seasonal event. The Assault on Vondel begins at the launch of Season 04 and goes through July 7. Earn rewards through two types of challenges during the event:
    • Community Challenges: All Players must work together to gather medals through classic challenges, unlocking gameplay rewards such as the Taxi Boat and Trams,  Reinforcement Flare Field Upgrade, the Favorite Supply Box and a brand new Tonfa melee Weapon.
    • Mastery Challenges: Individual challenges that are directly tied to a cosmetic reward while also contributing to the Community Challenge. The most efficient way to get all cosmetic rewards is to land on Vondel, but playing across the game is also supported.

FIELD UPGRADES

• Field Upgrades now refund properly when shocked by a shock stick mid-deployment 
• Throwing Star kills now properly extend Battle Rage and Dead Silence 

AUDIO

• Added ability for War Tracks to play in 3D positions from Vehicles in the world, rather than only to Players riding in a Vehicle

UI/UX

• Multiple Attacker Notifier Quality of Life
  • When a Player is downed while simultaneously under fire from multiple enemy Players, a text notifier will appear near their crosshair indicating the total number of recent attackers.

• Added a new splash that calls out when a Player is downed or killed by more than one attacker
• Players  can now view Skins for locked Operators
• Added the ability to select Skins for Tacticals and Lethals… check out the new Wumpa grenade! 
• Added the ability to remove all of your equipped attachments on your weapon by pressing and hold RT/R2 in Gunsmith.
• Improved clarity on which Attachments have Skins, are Tunable, or are Pro-Tuned
• Added the Pro-Tuned tag to the loadout preview widget for Blueprint-tuned Weapons
• Added Pros and Cons for all Attachments
• Improved usability of Loadout select
• Perk Packages now use a double-stacked row
• Additions and improvements to the HUD for Search and Destroy and Rescue Modes
• Added reticles and tracers to the Loadout preview in Gunfight
• Added a POI label under the Compass in Gunfight
• General visual improvements to the HUD in Gunfight
• Redesigned AAR and Scoreboard to accommodate 6v6 and larger matches

GLOBAL BUG FIXES

• Fixed an issue where exiting the Tactical Camera would sometimes leave a blurry screen 
• Fixed an issue where the Player would have their controls locked if they tried to re-enter a Recon Drone as it dies, while looking through a Spotter Scope
• Fixed an issue where the Wheelson could be deployed on top of other vehicles
• Fixed an issue where the Player’s FOV would remained zoomed in after leaving control of the Gunship
• Fixed an issue that prevented bots from being able to revive downed teammates
• Fixed an issue where Weapon progress trackers could become misaligned with their Weapons in the Weapon Challenges menu
• Fixed an issue where the Buy Battle Pass menu launched abruptly when accessed for the second time while on View Map in the Battle Pass tab
• Fixed an issue where the Operator could disappear when the Player enters the Emblem or Calling Card tab and goes back
• Fixed an issue where Players could experience dropped frames when switching Calling Card tabs
• Fixed an issue where loot could be destroyed if a Player died on top of an exploding vehicle
• Fixed an issue where the Player would exit the Light Helo but still remain inside of it
• Fixed an issue that could cause Players to end up in a broken state when performing a roof exit on a vehicle as it blew up
• Fixed an issue where vehicles didn’t collide with Players reviving other Players
• Fixed an issue where collision sounds on the armor of the armored pickup truck didn’t play
• Fixed an issue causing a number of missing vehicle icons in Ground War’s Tac Map legend

• Fixed various collision and/or geometry issue on MultiPlayer maps
• Fixed an issue on Guijarro where the Overwatch Helo would drop from the sky when leaving the Map

PLAYLIST

• Added Battle Map (12v12) Search and Destroy
• Added Battle Map (12v12) Prisoner Rescue
• Added to Quickplay:
  • 10v10
  • 3rd Person
  • Infected 
  • Gun Game
  • Drop Zone
  • Grind 

GENERAL

• Tuned spawns for Breenbergh Hotel, Black Gold, Exhibit, and Himmelmatt Expo
• Updated the rate at which UAV sweeps are performed for the infected team in Giant Infected:
  • One sweep every 20 seconds by default
  • One sweep every 3 seconds when less than 24 survivors remain
• Updated class tables to include Blueprints through Season 03 Reloaded
• Moved the bag locations from the top of barrels to the ground on Black Gold in Knock Out
• Added “Score Limit” and “Time Limit” options for Bounty
• Adjusted Weapon locations on Blacksite in Gunfight O.S.P. 

BUG FIXES

• Fixed several exploits with the Tactical Camera
• Fixed an out of bounds issue with the Recon Drone
• Fixed an issue where Players would sometimes not receive the proper rewards when killing Players downed in Last Stand
• Fixed a connection timeout issue some Players would encounter in Drop Zone
• Fixed a bug where some melee kills would not count as one-hit-kills in One in the Chamber
• Fixed an issue where some in-game Weapon challenge camo unlock text was cutoff and did not include the Weapon name
• Fixed an issue in Private Matches where the Player could not earn Killstreaks properly with the “Retain Streaks on Death” and “Persistent Streak Progress” options tuned on

MWII RANKED PLAY

MWII Ranked Play continues in Season 04, featuring NEW Seasonal Rewards including the Pro Re-Issue Vaznev-9k! Whether you’re jumping into your first Ranked Play match or continuing your grind, there’s more to unlock and competition to face. Below are the Season 04 specific details to keep in mind for returning competitors and further below is a full refresher for all players.

Here are the highlights for returning Season 03 competitors.

Competitive Game Modes, Maps, and Settings

• Updated Minimum Level requirement for Ranked Play entry: Level 45
• New Season 04 Restrictions
  • Assault Rifles
    • Tempus Razorback
  • SMGs
    • ISO 45
  • Melee
    • Tonfa

SR (Skill Rating) & Divisions

• End of Season Skill Setback Update: At the end of each Season, your ending Skill Division will determine where you start the following season:
  • Bronze through Crimson I players are set back three Tiers below where they finished in the previous season.
    • Example: A player ending Season 03 in Gold III will begin Season 04 in Silver III.
  • Players Crimson II and above will start Season 04 in Diamond I.
• Season 04 Rewards
  • Season 04 Win Rewards
    • Throughout the Season 04, players can earn the following rewards:
      • 5 Wins: ‘Season 04 Competitor’ Weapon Sticker
      • 10 Wins: Pro Re-Issue Vaznev-9k Weapon Blueprint
      • 25 Wins: ‘Please Rotate’ Weapon Charm
      • 50 Wins: ‘Lock it Down’ Large Weapon Decal
      • 75 Wins: ‘MWII Ranked Play Season 04’ Loading Screen
      • 100 Wins: ‘MWII Season 04 Ranked Veteran’ Weapon Camo
  • End of Season Division Rewards
    • At the end of each Season, players will be awarded Skill Division rewards that represent their highest attained Division that Season.
      • Division Skins:
        • Earn a Skill Division Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions to represent your highest Skill Division. Once the Skins from one Skill Division have been unlocked they can be permanently used in following Seasons and anywhere you play:
          • Top 250: Unlock the ‘Top 250 Competitor’ Skin by finishing a Season in the Top 250 Skill Division. Players must be in the Division at the end of the Season to qualify for this reward.
          • Gold – Iridescent: Earn the applicable ‘Gold Competitor’, ‘Platinum Competitor’, ‘Diamond Competitor’, ‘Crimson Competitor’, or ‘Iridescent Competitor’ Skin based on your highest Skill Division reached over the course of the Season. 
  • Seasonal Division Rewards
    • Each Ranked Play Season features a unique set of Division Rewards awarded at the end of the Season to celebrate the player’s highest Skill Division reached that Season. 
    • The Season 04 rewards are as follows:
      • Top 250: ‘Season 04 Top 250’ Weapon Charm, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Iridescent: ‘Season 04 Iridescent’ Weapon Charm, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Crimson: ‘Season 04 Crimson’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Diamond: ‘Season 04 Diamond’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Platinum: ‘Season 04 Platinum’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Gold: ‘Season 04 Gold’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Silver: Emblem
      • Bronze: Emblem
    • Ranked Play First Place: The player who finishes Season 04 in the #1 position on the Top 250 Leaderboard will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem for the ultimate bragging rights.

Here’s a complete overview of MWII Ranked Play for new Season 04 players!

Competitive Game Modes, Maps, and Settings

• Ranked Play continues in Season 04! Play competitive, 4v4 matches using the same maps, modes, and settings used in the Call of Duty League 2023 ruleset.
  • Updated minimum Level requirement for Ranked Play entry: Level 45
• Select Weapons, Attachments, Equipment, Perks, Field Upgrades, and Streaks are restricted.
  • New Season 04 Restrictions
    • Assault Rifles
      • Tempus Razorback
    • SMGs
      • ISO 45
    • Melee
      • Tonfa
• 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
    • Breenburgh Hotel
    • El Asilo
    • Himmelmatt Expo

SR (Skill Rating) & Divisions

Test yourself against your peers and track that progress with a visible SR (Skill Rating) that determines your place across 8 Skill Divisions.

• All new Ranked Play players begin their journey in Bronze I with 0 SR.
• Players increase their SR by winning matches and lose SR whenever they lose matches. 
• Both individual and team performance will impact how much SR you gain or lose per match. In higher Skill Divisions, team performance has a bigger impact on SR gained or lost so that all winning playstyles are more consistently rewarded.
• Players can progress through eight Skill Divisions by reaching SR milestones:
  • Bronze – Starting Division
  • Silver – 900 SR 
  • Gold – 2,100 SR 
  • Platinum – 3,600 SR 
  • Diamond – 5,400 SR 
  • Crimson – 7,500 SR 
  • Iridescent – 10,000 SR 
  • Top 250 – 10,000+ SR
• End of Season Skill Setback: At the end of each Season, your ending Skill Division will determine where you start the following season:
  • [Updated] Bronze through Crimson I players are set back three Tiers below where they finished in the previous season.
    • Example: A player ending Season 03 in Gold III will begin Season 04 in Silver III.
  • Players Crimson II and above will start Season 04 in Diamond I.

Ranks & Rewards

MWII Ranked Play is the most rewarding competitive Call of Duty experience ever, with a variety of valuable rewards available to players at launch and Season after Season.

• Unlocked Rewards can be used in Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0. Unlock what the mode has to offer to show off your Rank and Skill wherever you play.
• Ranked Play now features brand new Season 04 Rewards!
• Ranks and Rank Rewards
  • Separate from the player’s SR and Skill Division is Rank. Rank persists across Seasons to celebrate the player’s lifetime win total across their Ranked Play career. 
  • All players start at Rank 1 and can progress to Rank 50.
  • Players increase their Rank by winning matches to earn Stars. Each win grants one (1) Star. Win enough matches and you’ll earn enough Stars to reach the next Rank. 
  • Every 5 Ranks players will progress their Rank icon and unlock a set of Rank rewards:
    • Rank 5: Ranked Competitor Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions.
    • Rank 10: ‘Press F’ Emblem 
    • Rank 15: Pro Issue X12 Weapon Blueprint
    • Rank 20: ‘Ace’ Weapon Charm
    • Rank 25: ‘Turn It Up’ Emblem
    • Rank 30: ‘Ranked Win Tracker’ Gun Screen that displays the player’s lifetime Ranked Play win total. 
    • Rank 35: ‘I’m Cracked’ Large Weapon Decal
    • Rank 40: Pro Issue Combat Knife Weapon Blueprint
    • Rank 45: ‘Sweep’ Weapon Charm
    • Rank 50: Ranked Veteran Emblem & Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions.
  • Each Rank Milestone also unlocks a Calling Card that represents the player’s achieved Rank. 
• Season 04 Rewards
  • In addition to Rank Rewards, each Ranked Play Season will give players the opportunity to earn exclusive limited-time rewards. 
  • Throughout the Season 04, players can earn the following rewards:
    • 5 Wins: ‘MWII Season 04 Competitor’ Weapon Sticker
    • 10 Wins: Pro Re-Issue Vaznev-9k Weapon Blueprint
    • 25 Wins: ‘Please Rotate’ Weapon Charm
    • 50 Wins: ‘Lock it Down’ Large Weapon Decal
    • 75 Wins: ‘MWII Ranked Play Season 04’ Loading Screen
    • 100 Wins: ‘MWII Season 04 Ranked Veteran’ Weapon Camo
• End of Season Division Rewards
  • At the end of each Season, players will be awarded Skill Division rewards that represent their highest attained Division that Season.
    • Division Skins:
      • Earn a Skill Division Skin for use with both CDL Male & Female Operators on both Factions to represent your highest Skill Division. Once the Skins from one Skill Division have been unlocked they can be permanently used in following Seasons and anywhere you play:
        • Top 250: Unlock the ‘Top 250 Competitor’ Skin by finishing a Season in the Top 250 Skill Division. Players must be in the Division at the end of the Season to qualify for this reward.
        • Gold – Iridescent: Earn the applicable ‘Gold Competitor’, ‘Platinum Competitor’, ‘Diamond Competitor’, ‘Crimson Competitor’, or ‘Iridescent Competitor’ Skin based on your highest Skill Division reached over the course of the Season. 
  • Seasonal Division Rewards
    • Each Ranked Play Season features a unique set of Division Rewards awarded at the end of the Season to celebrate the player’s highest Skill Division reached that Season. 
    • The Season 04 rewards are as follows:
      • Top 250: ‘MWII Season 04 Top 250’ Weapon Charm, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Iridescent: ‘MWII Season 04 Iridescent’ Weapon Charm, Emblem, and Calling Card
      • Crimson: ‘MWII Season 04 Crimson’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Diamond: ‘MWII Season 04 Diamond’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Platinum: ‘MWII Season 04 Platinum’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Gold: ‘MWII Season 04 Gold’ Weapon Charm and Emblem
      • Silver: Emblem
      • Bronze: Emblem
    • Ranked Play First Place: The player who finishes Season 04 in the #1 position on the Top 250 Leaderboard will receive a unique, one-of-a-kind Calling Card and Emblem for the ultimate bragging rights.

Competitive Integrity Features

• From Start to Finish: Players who disconnect or quit matches will receive SR penalties as well as temporary suspensions, with escalating penalties for repeat offenders. 
• SR Forgiveness: If a player disconnects or quits in the middle of the match, all team members outside of that player’s party will not lose ANY SR.
  • It is still possible to earn SR if players can overcome their disadvantage, but a loss at a numerical disadvantage will not yield SR loss for players outside of the leaving player’s party.
• Fair Fights, Even Teams: If a player quits or disconnects before the start of a match, the match will be canceled and will not count. The remaining players will be returned to the main menu.
• Professional Conduct Only: Friendly Fire is enabled in Ranked Play per CDL rules. Repeated Friendly Fire will result in players being kicked from games and receiving penalties and suspensions.
• Demotion Protection: After advancing to a higher Skill Division, players will be granted temporary Demotion Protection and will not lose any SR within the first three games in the new Division. Following that initial protection, if players were to lose enough SR to be demoted, they will first be dropped to the minimum threshold of their current Skill Division instead of being demoted. Losing their next match will result in a demotion. 
  • Demotion Protection is also applied for the player’s first 3 games of each Ranked Play Season. 
• Party SR Restrictions: To ensure competitive fairness and balance of matches in higher Skill Divisions, players in certain Divisions can only party up with players around their current SR. The player with the highest Skill Division in the party determines which Party SR Restrictions are used:
  • Iridescent (Including Top 250) & Crimson: Can party with players within 1 Skill Division
  • Diamond: Can party within 2 Skill Divisions
  • Bronze – Platinum: Can party up without any restrictions