First Midseason Update Dropping In With Double XP, Double Weapon XP Weekend

Round up the squad or prepare to infiltrate solo — Season 01 Reloaded, the midseason update for Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 and Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, will arrive on December 14 at 10 a.m. PT, following a patch to both games.

To celebrate this new update, Double XP and Double Weapon XP will be active during its extended launch weekend, from December 15 at 10 a.m. PT to December 19 at 10 a.m. PT.

Prior to the launch of Season 01 Reloaded, expect patch notes with details on all technical changes, including major fixes and balance tuning. Raven Software will handle Warzone 2.0 Battle Royale updates, and Infinity Ward will detail changes to Modern Warfare® II and the Warzone 2.0 DMZ Beta. Major Patch Notes updates can be found here.

As for the highlights, Season 01 Reloaded brings action on all fronts. In Warzone 2.0, expect a brand-new tactical experience for DMZ and a limited-time mode built for Modern Warfare® FC fans. Modern Warfare II will challenge trios with the first-ever Raid and will bring chaos with the debut of a reimagined Shipment. And across both games, there will be two new Operators, a new Primary Weapon to unlock, and more.

MODERN WARFARE II OVERVIEW

• This is Atomgrad, the first Special Ops Raid. Grab two of your best squadmates and help Price, Farah, and Gaz uncover the secrets held within a highly fortified enemy facility.
• Shipment incoming! Now on the high seas, get ready to complete the rest of those Camo challenges or cause general chaos in this frenetic favorite for core Multiplayer modes.

Introducing the First Special Ops Raid: Atomgrad

Urzikstan: On the trail of their missing team, Price, Farah and Gaz make a grim discovery in an underground bunker.

Continuing from the events of the Modern Warfare II Campaign, the first Special Ops Raid is something that will take, in the words of the captain himself, “violence and timing.”

Those who successfully complete this Raid will unlock a familiar face as a brand-new Operator to use in Multiplayer and Special Ops, as well as in Warzone 2.0. It will also unlock a harder difficulty Playlist that will test even veteran Operators. You can expect to find plenty of Intel that awards additional cosmetic items, in addition to some intriguing data it provides about the Modern Warfare II universe.

Preparing for the Raid

Accessing a Raid requires a Raid Key, which can be earned through the following method(s):

• Complete a specific Daily Challenge either in Multiplayer or Special Ops.
• Place within the top 20 in any Warzone 2.0 Battle Royale Playlist.
• In DMZ, use the final extract helicopter with at least $30,000 in Cash.

Once a Raid Key is earned, that player — and whatever squadmates they choose to bring in — can access the Raid for a full week.

Although there is only one mandatory requirement for Raid access — the Raid Key — we have a couple of additional tips prior to infiltration:

1. Warm up with Special Ops missions. Get familiar with how agents fight against you, how Special Ops Kits work, and the general strategies for completing a Special Ops run through its shorter missions. Completing them and earning Stars give you some permanent rewards as well, making this practice worth your time.

2. Tier up those Kits. Because Raids are part of Special Ops, it uses the Kit system. Having a high-Tier Kit means accessing those additional passive and active benefits during a Raid, increasing your options for survival and progression through it.

Shipment to Arrive in Multiplayer

One of the most iconic maps in Call of Duty history is reimagined for Modern Warfare II Multiplayer.

Set on a cargo ship taking on water in a storm-ridden part of the Atlantic Ocean, a new Shipment is ready to bring back the chaos that only an ultracompact map can provide. If you’re thinking about working around and off the map’s boundaries, which was possible in previous versions, then you might find yourself at sea…

Expect this map to be in featured Playlists throughout the rest of Season 01. Whether you are ready to grind out the rest of those Orion Camo challenges or just embrace chaos, prepare for Shipment’s arrival with the Season 01 Reloaded update.

Holiday Shipment Available for a Limited Time

Decorated in the holiday spirit across its main deck, Shipment will receive a temporary festive visual overhaul from December 21, 2022 though the new year to January 4, 2023.

Those on the naughty list won’t have to fret over any mythological creatures during this holiday season; the only threats here are your fellow Operators looking to get Camos that shine brighter than tinsel.

WARZONE 2.0 OVERVIEW

• Building 21. Find a way into this restricted [REDACTED] and [REDACTED]!
• Warzone Cup, Mini Royale available for a limited time. Get those #SquadGoals in on a virtual pitch or feel the intensity of a more condensed Battle Royale in these limited-time Playlist offerings.

New Area in DMZ: Building 21

New keys have appeared in Al Mazrah… but where do they lead?

Its location is classified. Its benefactors are unknown. But one thing is for certain about the clandestine biological laboratory codenamed Building 21: only the strongest Operators may survive, let alone access one of the deadliest areas of DMZ. Players will need [REDACTED] to access [REDACTED].

With this great risk comes great reward: high-tier Contraband found throughout the building, especially in safes and special areas that require keycard access. What other secrets await you in this facility?

Limited-Time Playlists: Warzone Cup, Mini Royale

Following the Modern Warfare FC Support a Team Feature and the release of three limited-time Operator Bundles, Season 01 Reloaded will complete the hat trick of football festivities — or soccer special features — with Warzone Cup.

This limited-time mode brings two teams of three Operators to the Al Easima Field, home of one of the league rivals to Al Mazrah’s football club. Here, they will have special ATVs with a pulse ability to push a massive football into the other team’s goal. Collect and toss Shock Sticks to stall your opponents or boost through enemy vehicles to ram them out of the way!

The first team to score five goals, or the team with the most goals at the end of the five-minute time limit, wins the match.

Play this mode as any Operators, as well as the fearless Neymar Jr, Paul Pogba, or Leo Messi — all of whom are available in their limited-time Operator Bundles in the Store.

For more traditional Battle Royale fans, Season 01 Reloaded also sees the return of Mini Royale.

A tactical, condensed variant of a standard Battle Royale, expect fewer players but more compact safe zones in Al Mazrah right from the drop. Perfect for those looking to drop in and win within minutes, or who want to test their abilities in closer quarters, Mini Royales are planned to be included as part of scheduled Playlist updates.

GENERAL OVERVIEW

• Gaz and Klaus are coming to town. Task Force 141’s Gaz and a living legend in Klaus are set to bolster the already-deep Operator roster.
• Make it a silent night. The new Chimera weapon, available during the mid-season, is custom-built for stealth operations.
• Don’t just squad up, group up. New Social Feature allows you to meet fellow community members with similar interests both in and out of game.

Two New Operators: Gaz and Klaus

Kyle “Gaz” Garrick

Price’s right-hand man, Gaz became legend in 2019 when his valor during an attack on Piccadilly Circus grabbed the attention of the formidable SAS Bravo Team captain. He ultimately joined Price’s elite unit, known as Task Force 141.

During the events of the Modern Warfare II Campaign, Gaz was pivotal in saving CIA officer Kate Laswell from Al Qatala. Now he will join Price, Ghost, and Soap, as well as ally Farah — all of whom make up Red Team 141 — to help SpecGru maintain peace around the world.

How to unlock: Complete the Atomgrad Special Ops Raid to unlock Gaz and his “Convoy” Skin. Also available in Store Bundle with “Aquatic” Skin. Those who complete the Raid and purchase the Bundle will unlock the “Grass Ops” Skin as a bonus reward.

Klaus Fisker

A member of Denmark’s Elite Special Forces, Klaus Fisker can almost be considered a living legend among Operators.

Some say his scotopic vision — his natural night vision — was powerful enough to help him navigate a mile in pitch-black darkness before he was old enough to  read. Others witnessed his exceptional training record, leading his peers with unbridled optimism through exercises.

But his legacy was cemented one night on the Urzikstan border, where he carried a wounded comrade 18 miles to the nearest base using the lessons taught by his father . . . and with the help of an unusual amount of chocolate that wounded solder carried with him.

How to unlock: Available in the in-game Store via the Klaus Operator Bundle.

New Weapon: Chimera

A new Assault Rifle, part of the Bruen Ops Platform, offers Operators a formidable Primary Weapon for stealth engagements.

“With an integrated suppressor and slow, high-energy subsonic .300 BLK rounds, the Chimera is adept at close-quarters combat. Subsonic Ammo hides kill skulls from the enemy team.”

This weapon is built for keeping Operators completely off the grid. Given the lack of visible tracers, hidden skull indicators and suppressed fire, the Chimera is useful against both enemy Operators and agents, the latter of which are less aware and coordinated when it comes to silent attacks.

As the description suggests, the Chimera’s effective range is shorter than most Assault Rifles, making it a more powerful and silent alternative to the faster-firing M13B from the same platform. So long as the Operator behind it can stay on target, the Chimera can be a versatile force in most short- to mid-range engagements, potentially making it a good complement to a rifle or LMG suited for longer ranges in an Overkill Loadout.

How to unlock: Weapon Challenge or via Store Bundle.

What’s In-Store: Featured Bundles

In addition to the TRACER PACK: Klaus Operator Bundle — featuring the new Operator, two Weapon Blueprints, and other festive items — as well as the three limited-time Operator Bundles for Modern Warfare FC, the Store will be packed with new Bundles, including the Dune Stalker Starter Pack and Year of the Rabbit Bundle.

Pro Pack: Dune Stalker

Available for $9.99 MSRP (or your regional equivalent), the Dune Stalker Starter Pack is a great all-around entry point for building up an arsenal following the midseason update.

It includes two Weapon Blueprints — the “Scarab” SMG based on the M4’s high-capacity, close-range option and the “Duster” Sniper Rifle — along with the “Muddled Up” APC Vehicle Skin, the “Golden Beetle” Weapon Charm, and the “Desert Starter Pack” Animated Emblem.

It also comes with 1,100 Call Of Duty® Points, enough for one season of access to a full Battle Pass.

Year of the Rabbit

Celebrate the Chinese New Year with this Bundle themed on the fourth zodiac symbol of the 12-year cycle.

Highlighting this Bundle is the “Zodiac Rabbit” Operator Skin for Zimo, as well as two Weapon Blueprints: the “Dash of Luck” high-capacity SMG and the “Tokki,” which is based off the new weapon available within this midseason update. It also comes with two Weapon Charms — the “Year of the Rabbit” and “Fortune Punch” — and two Animated Emblems.

New Social Feature: Groups

Whether you’re wanting to make new friends or find squadmates for DMZ and Special Ops missions, the new Groups social feature, launching as part of this update across both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0, can help make those connections.

Accessible via the Social menu, Groups allows you to find or create communities of fellow Call of Duty players — up to 5,000 in a single Group — based on similar interests. These can range from the following labels:

• Call of Duty–based: Preferences on Call of Duty modes, including Battle Royale, DMZ, and Multiplayer, or player experience, such as “Veterans Only” or “New Player Friendly.”
• Vibe-based: Out-of-game interests, such as Entertainment, Gaming, or Sports.
• Community-based: Defining the tone of the group — such as how they play the game (e.g., competitive play or solely for fun) or when they play (e.g., weekend warriors or active daily).
• Other categories: Defining their Group outside of the game, including if the Group is affiliated with a streamer or is part of a Call of Duty League team.

Groups are also defined by their main language and their privacy settings. These, as well as the above labels, are used to help define Groups within the in-game browser for other players to find them.

Once a Group is made, its members can use its dedicated text channels to converse, look up fellow members, and create parties for squadding up within Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0.

Essentially, this new feature can expand your network far beyond a friends list and gives you more options for connections within the greater Call of Duty community. Whether you have a ton of friends and colleagues or are a content team or creator who wants to have an in-game hub for connecting with fans, Groups are another way to get a squad going for that next Modern Warfare II or Warzone 2.0 session.

Combat Record Update

Warzone 2.0 Combat Records will come online with Season 01 Reloaded. The statistics present in the Warzone 2.0 Combat Record will only be from the activation date forward, and will not include statistics from Season 01 launch through Season 01 Reloaded (November 16 to December 14).

 

OUT OF COMBAT OVERVIEW

• Time to Raleigh. The Call of Duty League Major I, which will also host C.O.D.E. Bowl III, will take place December 15 through 18. Tune in at Twitch.tv/CallofDuty.
• Get Your Glow Up. Get the official Call of Duty League Team Pack and League Pack and rock your team’s colors across Warzone 2.0 and Modern Warfare II.   
• Did Someone Say Co-Streaming? Apply to be part of the official CDL Watch Party Program! The first chance host a Watch Party will be during Major I going live Dec. 15–18.
• Get into Call of Duty GearFest! Whether it’s for friends, family, or a self-gift, the Call of Duty Store is stocked for the holiday season.

Call of Duty League Major I, Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl, and More in Raleigh

Four events, one weekend in Raleigh — welcome to Call of Duty League Major I.

Major I will be hosted live by the Call of Duty League at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, from December 15 through December 18. The event will be in a Pro-Am format, with qualified Call of Duty Challengers teams battling pros and $500,000 of prizing on the line and CDL Points for the Call of Duty League teams. Challengers teams who don’t make the Pro-Am will still be able to battle in the Open and make a name for themselves.

The best teams from North America, Latin America, Europe, India, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia are scheduled to compete head-to-head for the honor of bringing home the 2022 World Championship trophy and cash prize. For those who can’t make it to Raleigh, we will be streaming the entire event in-game with free rewards and on the CODM Esports YouTube channel.

For more information on the World Championship, visit https://www.callofduty.com/mobile/esports.

Plus, the Call of Duty Endowment (C.O.D.E.) Bowl III presented by USAA is back on December 16, 2022, on the official Call of Duty Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook channels!

Watch as US and UK military esports teams battle it out alongside top Call of Duty® streamers to become the C.O.D.E. Bowl III champion.