Call of Duty

MW3 & Warzone January 23 update patch notes: Aftermarket Parts & AMR9 changes, bug fixes, more

Max Candelarezi
MW3 Warzone Operator holding gunActivision

Call of Duty released a surprise update burning a ton of improvements, bug fixes, and a major Aftermarket Parts rework. Here are the full patch notes for the January 23 update in MW3 and Warzone.

MW3 and Warzone received an update on January 23 bringing several long-awaited improvements. Given the rough release of Season 1 Reloaded, devs decided to introduce a new update set to improve both titles’ experiences.

Despite Warzone only receiving several needed bug fixes, Modern Warfare 3 got a massive weapon and Aftermarket Parts balance to fix the way the gun roster worked after the mid-season update.

Check out the full patch notes for the MW3 and Warzone January 23 update.

MW3 Aftermarket Parts overhauled

For the first time since their release, MW3’s Aftermarket Parts received a massive overhaul to update how each one works after devs realized they “did not function as designed.” Among them are the JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit, JAK Thunder LMG Kit, and JAK Signal Burst.

MW3 Aftermarket Parts Season 1Activision
The AMR9 and Holger 556’s AMPs were hugely criticized for their “horrible” performance.

MW3 & Warzone January 23 patch notes

GLOBAL

CUSTOMIZATION

  • Operator Skins and Blueprints that are not actively available in the Store can now be purchased directly via the Armory.
    • Note: This does not include limited-time, upcoming, or discounted items.

MULTIPLAYER

UIX

  • Addressed an issue causing Camo challenges to appear multiple times during the After Action Report.
  • Selecting the Carrack .300 11K Optic Attachment will no longer unexpectedly kick the player back to the menu.
  • Revised multiple Attachment descriptions to better reflect their true effects.
    • XTEN ERX-10 Mini Optic
    • Tac 840C Stock
    • CDG T-25 Light Barrel
  • Revised Fully Loaded challenge descriptions to clarify Attachment requirements.

PROGRESSION

  • Broken Signal Camo for the TAQ Evolvere can now be progressed to completion.
  • Electric Shock Event challenge will now track progress as intended.

MODES

  • Supe’d Up (Limited-Time Mode)
    • Temp V abilities can now be earned more than once per life.
    • Adjusted columns displayed on the in-match Scoreboard.
      • Kills
      • Confirms
      • Denies
  • Private Match
    • Adjusted several game rules to further align with the Competitive Settings v1.0 ruleset while a CDL game mode is selected.

WEAPONS & ATTACHMENTS

Many balance adjustments in today’s update target Aftermarket Parts. In the following section, you’ll find insights from our Design team that aim to explain the intent behind some changes.

One goal of our Design team is to create Conversion Kits that offer players fun and unexpected experiences with familiar Weapons. A part of this goal is to maintain a balance where Conversion Kits enhance a Weapon’s capabilities without overshadowing its original role. Based on your feedback and a review of recently released Aftermarket Parts, we’ve implemented significant changes for you to experience today. Looking ahead, we’ve refined our approach to balancing Aftermarket Parts to ensure they’re powerful, worth the grind, and most importantly, fun!

» Assault Rifles «

  • Holger 556
    • JAK Signal Burst
      • Increased gun kick control benefit by 10%.
      • Increased recoil control benefit by 10%.
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 120ms to 90ms (-25%).

Although the JAK Signal Burst possesses lethal 1-burst kill potential, its recoil often limits its effectiveness at the most common engagement ranges. Additionally, its burst delay caused difficulty in landing a follow-up burst to confirm kills. Today’s changes target these weaknesses, making this Aftermarket Part a more favorable option.

» Battle Rifles «

  • Sidewinder
    • JAK Thunder LMG Kit
      • Decreased bullets required to reach maximum rate of fire from 25 to 15 (-40%).

The JAK Thunder LMG Kit is all about committing to a gunfight and letting the rate of fire accelerate to deadly RPMs. Today’s change gets this Weapon to its maximum damage potential significantly faster. Let loose! Equip the JAK BFB or Billeted Brake Attachments and pre-fire to your heart’s content for maximum effectiveness.

» Submachine Guns «

  • AMR9
    • Decreased maximum damage range from 16.5m to 14m (-15%).
    • Decreased near-medium damage range from 22.9m to 20.3m (-11%).
    • Decreased medium damage range from 38.1m to 35.6m (-7%).
    • Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.2x to 1.3x (+8%).
    • Decreased lower-torso damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
    • Decreased lower-arm damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
    • Decreased hand damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1x (-9%).
    • Increased upper-leg damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).
    • Increased lower-leg damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).
    • Increased foot damage multiplier from 0.9x to 1x (+11%).
    • Increased rate of fire from 789rpm to 833rpm (+6%).
    • JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit
      • Overhauled firing mechanism to simultaneously fire two bullets per shot.
      • Added locational damage multipliers.
        • Head: 1x
        • Neck: 0.9x
        • Upper-Torso: 0.9x
        • Lower-Torso: 0.9x
        • Upper-Arm: 0.9x
        • Lower-Arm: 0.8x
        • Hand: 0.8x
        • Upper-Leg: 0.8x
        • Lower-Leg: 0.8x
        • Foot: 0.8x
      • Decreased aim down sight spread by 75%.
      • Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 50%.

Upon release in Week 6, the JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit did not function as designed. With this update, this Conversion Kit has been reworked to truly fire two bullets at once (it is no longer a 2-round burst), noticeably improving its time-to-kill. Additionally, we’ve significantly reduced the aim down sight spread and recoil of this Conversion Kit, allowing better control in close-mid range engagements where the Ettin is intended to shine.

  • Rival-9
    • JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion
      • Decreased maximum damage from 30 to 26 (-13%).
      • Decreased medium damage from 29 to 24 (-17%).
      • Decreased minimum damage from 25 to 22 (-12%).
      • Increased headshot damage multiplier from 1.3x to 2x (+54%).
      • Increased neck damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.5x (+36%).
      • Increased upper-torso damage multiplier from 1.1x to 1.5x (+36%).
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 80ms to 66ms (-18%).
      • Decreased sprint to fire penalty by 10%.
      • Decreased aim down sight time penalty by 7%.
      • Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 20%.

True to its namesake, the JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion is most lethal when accurately landing shots to the head and upper-torso. Today’s changes increase its lethality and decreases the burst fire delay in order to improve its ability to duel at a distance. We intend for this Aftermarket Part to play more like an agile, mid-range Assault Rifle than a Submachine Gun; we expect that it may be out-performed by the base Rival-9 at close range. Equip damage range, bullet velocity, and recoil control Attachments to highlight its strengths.

» Marksman Rifles «

  • DM56
    • JAK Signal Burst
      • Increased gun kick control benefit by 10%.
      • Increased recoil control benefit by 10%.
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 120ms to 90ms (-25%).

EQUIPMENT

  • Breacher Drone (Lethal)
    • Detonation upon impact within 5m will now occur with a decreased detection radius.

Previously, the Breacher Drone could not detonate upon impact with a player within the initial 5 meters of its flight. Now, it can detonate with a reduced detection radius within this range, addressing reports of the drone “passing through” enemies. Functionality beyond 5 meters remains unchanged.

ZOMBIES

WARLORDS

Warlord Randomization

  • Dokkaebi’s week-long spotlight has ended, and now a random Warlord will be selected at the start of each match.
  • Players can view which Warlord is active via the Tac Map. Plan accordingly!
  • Players can also progress the Act 4 Mission ‘Storm the Castle’ by eliminating any Warlord when this mission is active.

Warlord: Dokkaebi

  • Players will no longer be able to eliminate Dokkaebi in one shot with multiple weapons.

WARZONE

WEAPONS 

» Assault Rifles «

  • Holger 556
    • JAK Signal Burst
      • Increased gun kick control benefit by 10%.
      • Increased recoil control benefit by 10%.
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 120ms to 90ms (-25%). 

» Battle Rifles «

  • Sidewinder
    • JAK Thunder LMG Kit
      • Decreased bullets required to reach maximum rate of fire from 25 to 15 (-40%). 

» Submachine Guns «

  • AMR9
    • Increased rate of fire from 789rpm to 833rpm (+6%).
    • JAK Ettin Double Barrel Kit
      • Overhauled firing mechanism to simultaneously fire two bullets per shot.
      • Decreased aim down sight spread by 75%.
      • Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 50%.
  • Rival-9
    • JAK Headhunter Carbine Conversion
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 80ms to 66ms (-18%).
      • Decreased sprint to fire penalty by 10%.
      • Decreased aim down sight time penalty by 7%.
      • Decreased hipfire spread penalty by 20%.

» Marksman Rifles «

  • DM56
    • JAK Signal Burst
      • Increased gun kick control benefit by 10%.
      • Increased recoil control benefit by 10%.
      • Decreased burst fire delay from 120ms to 90ms (-25%).

EQUIPMENT

  • Breacher Drone (Lethal)
    • Detonation upon impact within 5m will now occur with a decreased detection radius.

BUG FIXES

  • Fixed an issue that would cause players to encounter an error while attempting to open the Custom Loadout Menu of a Loadout Drop.
  • Fixed an issue with text alignment on the Champion’s Quest tracker widget.
  • Fixed an issue causing an incorrect icon to appear when pinging Cash Deposit Balloon’s in Plunder.
  • Fixed an issue that was causing the Champion’s Quest tracker to show progress towards a new token when the on
  • Fixed an issue that was preventing the Bouncebackalicious Daily Challenge from tracking self revives.
  • Fixed an issue causing Perk Packages to equip incorrectly when selecting a Loadout.
  • Fixed an issue causing the Champion’s Quest third element to spawn without destroying the attack helicopter.
  • Fixed an issue causing the Champion’s Quest safe to not be marked on the map.

For more on MW3 and Warzone, be sure to check out all of the MW3 Ranked Play rewards, or how to get the Nuke in Warzone by completing the Champion’s Quest.

SOURCE: Call of Duty

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