While the increasingly bizarre operator skins in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 have been divisive, I've been a fan of them. It makes matches more fun when my nemesis is Snoop Dogg or Discount Bobby Flay, but none of that matters now. Gundam is coming to Modern Warfare 3, and Raven Software has direct acces??s to my wallet.

I fully support Gundam cosplay in Modern Warfare 3

Announced today on the Call of Duty blog, three tracer packs are coming alongside a Gundam-themed event in Season 4. The packs include operator skins for OGs RX-78-2 and the ?Zaku II alongside a more recent Gundam, the Aerial.

There's not much information outside of that, but I'm desperately hoping the exclusive mode pits the Principality of Zeon against the Earth Federat?ion via the RX-78-2 and Zaku II operator skins. I wouldn't mind seeing Suletta going up against her own ghosts, but there (sadly) isn't any word on a Gundam Calibarn operator skin.

RX-78-2 Bundle

• RX-78-2 Gundam Operator Skin
• (3) Blueprints

  • (2) Gundam Tracers
  • Mobile Suite Malfunction Dismemberment death effect

• Calling Card
• Emblem
• (2) Loading Screens
• (2) Weapon Stickers
• (2) Weapon Charms
• Large Decal
• Newtype Finisher finishing move

Zaku II Bundle

• MS-06S Zaku II Operator Skin
• (3) Blueprints

  • (2) Zaku Tracers
  • Mobile Suite Malfunction Dismemberment death effect

• Calling Card
• Emblem
• (2) Loading Screens
• (2) Weapon Stickers
• Weapon Charm
• Large Decal
• Searing Slash finishing move

Gundam Aerial Bundle

• XVX-016 Gundam Aerial Operator Skin
• (3) Blueprints

  • (2) GAerial Tracers
  • Mobile Suite Malfunction Dismemberment death effect

• Calling Card
• Emblem
• (3) Loading Screens
• (3) Weapon Stickers
• (3) Weapon Charms
• (2) Large Decal

The Gundam crossover will?? go live sometime during Season 4. Make sure to ??watch out for any Newtypes in the lobbies.

The post Yes, it’s real, Gundam is coming to Call of Duty appeared first on Destructoid.

One new feature that may have slipped under your radar with the recent Season 3 Reloaded update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ??are the weapon prestige camos. These new camos are unlockable in-game by anyone, not for purchase. So when you see someone with a shiny gold-leafed gun you've never seen before??, here's how to unlock it yourself.

How to get weapon prestige camos unlocked

Weapon prestige camos in Modern Warfare 3 are unlocked by doing one thing: using a gun a lot. The only way to get the one available camo right now is to earn a tremendous?? amount of XP with a single weapon. Doing so will unlock the camo just for that weapon. Unfortunately, that means you'll have to earn that XP repeatedly for every weapon you want the camo on.

The 'One Trick' gold cam??o can be found and tracked under the 'Weapon Prestige' tab while viewing a weapon's camo options. It's unlocked by completing a challenge, which is to earn 150,000 weapon XP. Though it sounds like a lot, if you play the game fairly often and always use the same weapon, it won't take too long. Unlocking it for every other weapon, however, might be a bit of a grind.

Can you unlock the classified weapon prestige camos?

While viewing the weapon prestige camos for a weapon, you can see there are a few more listed. Though each one is blocked out with 'Classified' written over it. When hovering over each of these options, it says they'll become available in future seasons. It looks like we'll get a sin??gle weapon prestige camo per season, as one says Season 4, another Season 5, and so on.

For now, the One Trick weapon prestige camo is the only one you can earn by getting 150,000 XP per weapon. XP is earnable faster by completing challenges with the weapon of your choosing, whic??h includes challenges for other camos on each weapon, if you don't already have them all.

The post How to unlock weapon pre??stige camos in Modern Warfare 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 3 Reloaded introduces weapon prestige camos for every MW3 and MW2 weapon. Sledgehammer Games promised to deliver? new versions of this camo in each upcoming season. Here is everything you need to know about the new fe?ature.

After around five months of playtime, a large segment of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone players have already completed the weapon camo grind. There isn't much left to do after unlocking Interstellar and Borealis weapon mastery camos, so Sledgehammer Games decided to introduce a brand? new grind for players to start chipping away at.

How to unlock weapon prestige camos in MW3 and Warzone

Max weapon level is the only prerequisite to starting the unlock process for weapon prestige camos. After reaching the max level, players must earn 150k weapon XP to unlock the weapon prestige camo for that weapon. This new feature is on a per-weapon basis and doesn't have to be completed in any spe?cific order.

Sledgehammer Games gave fans a preview of what the molten gold animated camo looks like on Twitter, and this won't be the final option. The devs confirmed that four weapon prestige camos will be introduced throughout the next several seasonal updates. Each new camo will have a different weapon XP requirement to keep players busy for the rest of MW3's life cycle.

The post Warzone and MW3 weapon prestige camos explained appeared first on Destructoid.

The WSP Swarm is a high-mobility SMG that's perfect for Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer. While it may lack the damage required to be effective in Warzone, the quick time-to-kill in standard multiplayer makes it viable. It's the perfect weapon for players with a fast paced plays??????????????????????????tyle that get in close to the action.

How to build a WSP Swarm loadout for accuracy

In Season 3 of Modern Warfare 3, there are a few viable ways to build the WSP Swarm. Using the SMG means you'r??e getting in close, using it nearly point blank, and want to have high mobility. This specific build is meant for that, while also allowing some mid-range firing to be accurate. We wouldn't recommend using it as a first priority when engaging enemies from far away.

• Sonic Suppressor S Muzzle
• Bruen Heavy Support Underbarrel
• Marauder Grip (Rear)
• FSS Fortress Heavy Stock
• 100 Round Magazine

The magazine is a completely optional attachment for this build. It's ea??sily swappable with a few other things depending on what you'd prefer. Obviously, the 100 round magazine means you'll rarely have to reload mid-fight. However, it does hurt the mobility quite a bit.

Best WSP Swarm multiplayer loadout for mobility

For this version of the SMG, you'll want to use entirely mobility-based attachments. It won't necessarily harm the WSP Swarm's damage output, however, it will make it much less accurate from further than close range. Using this version means you should be running around, getting into the fight as much as possible. This is for you slide-ca?ncelling sweats that don't post up on a roof.

• Sonic Suppressor S Muzzle
• DR-6 Handstop Underbarrel
• Marauder Grip (Rear)
• VLK LZR 7MW Laser
• FSS CQC Stock

One of these two versions will work for you in Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer, depending on your playstyle. ??This SMG isn't the best optio?n in the game, but it'll easily win you most close-range battles if your aim is up to the task.

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During Season 3 of Call of Duty: Warzone, not much has changed. Every once in a while we get a new, completely overpow??ered weapon to use for a week or two before it gets nerfed to infinity. Hopefully, that's coming soon. In the meantime, you might as well take advantage of the KV Broadside conversion kit while you can, your enemies aren't going to have a problem killing you with it.

What is the KV Broadside conversion kit?

If you aren't familiar, the KV Broadside is a shotgun in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It's not that special to be honest, just a regular shotgun that's good up close and not-so-good from further away, as you'd expect. However, there's a new conversion kit that turns the shotgun into a battle rifle, making it fully automatic and giving it ??much better range.

Using the conversion kit doesn't change the ammo type, so you'll still have to stow away shotgun ammo to use it. Additionally, it only comes with 20 rounds per magazine, which is quite low for taking on four-person squads in Warzone. For playing trios, duos, or solos, however, it's more than enough. Especially when you see how quickly the gun actually ??kills.

Best KV Broadside conversion kit loadout for Warzone

During our testing, three-plated enemies were able to withstand just a few shots from the converted KV Broadside. Six shots to kill in the body, with even fewer depending on how many headsho?ts you hit on a fully-plated enemy. Since the gun is fully automatic, that is a very fast time-to-kill that's worth using. It's not the best for very long distan??ce fights, but close-to-mid-range is the Broadside's bread and butter.

We'd recommend this build for Resurgence game modes, as regula??r battle royale requires too much long-range shooting.

• VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
• Bruen Heavy Support Underbarrel
• Demo-X2 Grip (Rear)
• JAK Jawbreaker conversion kit
• MK.3 Reflector or optic of your choosing

If the iron sights are fine for you, feel free to skip the op?tic and choose a stock that lessens recoil or increases aiming stability. For most, however, an optic will help a lot with killing enemies at a distance.

The post How to build the KV Broadside conve??rsion kit OP loadout for Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.

Finding the best loadout in Warzone is the only way to ensure you're winning gunfights. For some, pinpointing the right weapon is a nearly impossible task, especially if you don't own Modern Warfare 3. If you do own the previous Call of Duty installment, Modern Warfare 2, there is an SMG that's ??viable on the battlefield.

What is the best MW2 SMG for Warzone?

For season 3 of Warzone in the Modern Warfare 3 era, the best MW2 SMG is? the FSS Hurricane. It was always a decent option, but it's currently able to compete with some of the meta options. No, it's not ?meta, and certainly won't beat the HRM everyone is using right now. However, it provides consistent and easy accuracy, a fast time-to-kill, and excellent mobility.

If you don't have MW3 guns leveled up, or just want a ?huge change of pace from all the MW3 weapons, the FSS Hurricane is a good choice. With the newly unlockable JAK Cutthroat stock, it's a whole new gun.

Best FSS Hurricane loadout for Warzone

Building the FSS Hurricane SMG from MW2 for Warzone requires s?ome familiar attachments and one new one. The latest unlocka?ble aftermarket part, the JAK Cutthroat stock is essential for building the gun. Here's the best loadout right now:

• Zehmn35 Compensated Flash Hider Muzzle
• Schlager PEQ Box IV Laser
• XRK Edge BW-4 Handstop Underbarrel
• Sakin ZX Grip Rear Grip
• JAK Cutthroat Stock

These attachments provide optimal mobility and decent range for an SMG. The FSS Hurricane is versatile enou?gh to pair with a sniper if you're feeling accurate today. It also ??has a high headshot multiplayer, so every shot to the head will speed up the time-to-kill quickly, rewarding great aim with fast kills. Try it out and see how it feels.

The post Best MW2 SMG loadout for Warzone MW3 Season 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

There is nothing quite like giving an enemy player a shotgun to the face in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. The shotgun is the ultimate close quarters weapon in both titles??, and the Lockwood 680 is one of the best in its class.

For those trying to perfect their game, here are the best Lockwood 680 loadouts for both MW3 and Warzone so you can dominate short-ran??ge encounters no matter the game or mode.

Best Lockwood 680 loadout for MW3

Modern Warfare 3 is all about smaller-scale maps, compared to battle royale, so the shotgun is an excellent way to do well on them. The best loadout for the Lockwood 680 in MW3 takes full advantage of the s??trengths of t??his weapon, while also alleviating some of the weaknesses that hold it back from true greatness.

Here is the Lockwood 680 loadout ??we recommend players to use in general multiplayer mode?s:

• Barrel: Bryson Hammerforged Long Barrel
• Underbarrel: Bruen Bastion Angled Grip
• Guard: Matuzek X-ray Skeletonized Guard
• Bolt: Express Light Bolt
• Stock: Sawed-Off Mod

This particular loadout is our favorite and it plays arguably better in multiplayer modes than even battle royale. The Lockwood 680’s main weakness comes from its poor speed com??pared to the other shotguns in its class. This loadout makes it a bit faster to fire off, in addition to providing that extra bit of range to its shells.

The result is a shotgun that will defeat enemies in a couple of quick shots, with the?? capability of firing at nearly mid-range. Players won’t know what?? to think when faced with this shotgun.

Best Lockwood 680 loadout for Warzone

On the other hand, Warzone is all about massive, large-scale maps. As such, you want a shotgun that won’t feel like a waste of ??a weapon slot??. Shotguns are tricky to use in battle royale, but they can be excellent short-range companions for a solid sniper or assault rifle class.

Our best Warzone loadout for the Lockwood 680 shotgun turns this beast into a deadly up-close weapon that will dominat??e short-range fi??ghts:

• Laser: Hipshot L20
• Barrel: Lockwood Defender Heavy Long Barrel
• Ammo: 12 Gauge Dragon’s Breath
• Bolt: Express Light Bolt
• Stock: Sawed-Off Mod

Even if this loadout is the best one for Warzone, ther??e are some inherent flaws with it. The main problem is that this weapon becomes much more unwieldy in combat. Players will need a considerable level of skill and accuracy to make it work. But if you can overcome its mobility issues, you will be able to blast away at foes with some of the most powerful shells in the game. Foes will go down in a matter of a couple of shots, even with armor on.

The post Best Lockwood 680 loadout for MW3 and Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone have a plethora of submachine gun options for players to choose from. But with recent changes to modes like Ranked Play and nerfs for weapons like the Rival-9, it is worth looking into SMG alternatives. The best Striker 9 loadout for both Warzone and MW3 Ranked Play is one such worthy solution.

Best Striker 9 loadout for Warzone

Warzone features massive maps and constant battles to the death with pretty much one life per game (excluding stuff like redeploys). As such, how you use an SMG like the Striker 9 is quite different in the battle royale game modes. The goal here with the best Striker 9 Warzone loadout is to em??phasize its incredible ?accuracy and long-range capabilities.

• Barrel: Striker Elite Long
• Muzzle: Sonic Suppressor S
• Underbarrel: Bruen Heavy Support Grip
• Ammo: 9mm High Grain Rounds
• Magazine: 50 Round Drum

What this particular loa??dout does is turn the ??Striker 9 into a neat hybrid between an SMG and an assault rifle. In some cases, it even feels like a mini-LMG with the massive 50-round magazine. The Striker Elite Long gives this weapon some of the best range for any SMG in its class. While it may be a bit slower than its fellow SMGs, it makes up for that in its tight aim and impressive damage with the 9mm High Grain Rounds.

Best Striker 9 loadout for MW3 Ranked Play

On the other hand, Ranked Play and general multiplayer modes in MW3 are a bit different than battle royale. These take place on smaller, narrower maps than in Warzone, such as Rio and 6 Star. These locales are playgrounds for SMGs to dominate in clo??se quarters and blast away at foes with ease. The Striker 9 is solid in Ranked Play and other multiplayer modes, but a little slower than some of them.

To maximize its potential, here is the best Striker 9 loadout you should use in MW3 Ranked Play and other multiplayer modes:

• Barrel: Striker Recon Long Barrel
• Muzzle: Purifier Muzzle Break S
• Underbarrel: DR-6 Handstop
• Rear Grip: Sakin ZX Grip
• Stock: RB Crotalus Assault Stock

Like the other loadout, this particular one for? Ranked Play contains a long barrel to increase the range for the Striker 9. This ma?kes it a bit more on par with assault rifles. However, it gains an edge over them with a bit more speed, thanks to other key attachments. This gives it the right mix of a speedy SMG and mid-range killer, so it will do well in most scenarios.

Be it capturing a point or defending the Search & Destroy bomb, this is a flexible SMG that will rival othe?rs like the WSP Swarm and RAM-9.

The post Best Striker 9 loadout for Warzone and?? MW??3 Ranked Play appeared first on Destructoid.

The Holger 556 assault rifle has been right on the cusp of the Warzone meta for most of Season 3. However, other weapons have been superior for a few reasons. Now, with a small update o??n April 16, a slight Holger 556 buff makes it one of the ?best mid-to-long range options in the game.

How did the Call of Duty update improve the Holger 556?

With the recent update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone, the Holger 556 got a little better. To be more specific, the update 'adjusted recoil and gun kick to decrease deviation, allowing a more predictable pattern,' according to the patch notes.

In short, this means it'll be easier to control when you're firing it. Instead of the recoil being all over the place and nearly uncontrollable at times, the Holger 556 now provides a predictable recoil pattern you can learn and easily adjust to while shooting. This instantly makes it one of the best ranged options in Warzone alongside the Ram-7 and SOA Subverter.

Best Holger 556 Warzone build after update

Despite a more predictable recoil pattern, every Holger 556 user will still need the optimal build for Warzone. As always with Call of Duty weapons, nothing is at its best until it has ??the best attachments. Here's how to put together the best loadout for the newly buffed weapon?:

• VT-7 Spiritfire Suppressor Muzzle
• Chrios-6 Match Barrel
• Bruen Heavy Support Grip Underbarrel
• 40 Round Magazine
• JAK Glassless Optic (or optic of your choosing)

With these attachments equipped, the Holger 556 delivers high damage, good bullet velocity, and very easy-to-control recoil. It's easily capable of competing with any automatic weapon in the game at mid-to-long range, and should be one of your loadout options in Warzone thanks to the new update.

The post How to build a newly buffe??d Holger 556 loadout ?for Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.

Penetration kills in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (MW3) are needed to get certain daily challenges completed. You can then unlock additional Killstreaks by completing these tasks. Here's how to get Penetration kills in MW3.

How to get a Penetration kill

In order to get a Penetration kill in MW3, your bullets need to pass through a wall before hitting your foe. The cover can't be too hard because the bullet won't go through it. Try to find a wall that's made of wood to get the Penetration kill and attack your foes as they approach. Get a proficient headset and listen out for nearby s?oldiers. Various modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, or Hardpoint offer plenty of opportunities for these kills.

While the Drexsom Prime-90 optic can't see through the wood, I found it excellent for spotting enemies with its thermal view of the area. It's a?lso a good idea to equip the Snapshot Grenade and the UAV Killstreaks to pinpoint their location. Set up a Portable Radar Field Upgrade near a wall to increase your chances of getting the elimination.

In addition to wooden coverage, shooting through fences may count toward a Penetration kill. It helps y??ou get a clear shot of the enemy, differing from the ob??structive objects.

What do you need for Penetration kills in MW3?

To gain Penetration kills in MW3, you'll need armor-piercing ammunition for your gun. You can unlock this type of ammo by completing two daily challenges. But first, you need to assign the goal reward in the Armory Unlock menu. Press t?he triangle button (or Y on Xb??ox) on the Party screen.

Next, find the armor-piercing ammo. It's marked by an emblem with three grey fallen ammo pieces. Make sure this reward is selected, showca??sing an 'Active' statue on the top right of the box.

Once you've completed two daily challenges, the item will be available to you. Attach it to an assault rifle or LMG that's level 9 or above. Overall, Gunsmith add-ons with the Bullet P??enetration attribu?te are beneficial, including 9MM Armor Piercing, 9MM Hardened Rounds, 5.56 Nato Round Nose, and 5.56 Nato Mono.

Best MW3 maps for Penetration kills

Since Penetration kills require a wall, use small to medium-sized maps with an abundance of structures. Here is a list of the best MW3 maps for the Penetration kills:

• Farm 18
• Scrapyard
• Highrise
• Shipment

Due to its compact landscape, Shipment is one of the best choices for the MW3 Penetration kills. It's a reas?onably hectic map where the rounds go by rather quickly. Thanks to its helpful structures, you may unlock this specific elimination without even tr?ying. The containers here are valuable for the Penetration kill's wall requirement, often causing Wall Bangs (another form of the kill).

Highrise's fences are another fantastic point of impact, allowing Operators to get a better shot. Plenty of fences are on either side of the map, perfect for these attacks. As long as the location is small in size, it's fair game for the Penetration kill. However, I suggest avoiding areas with more formidable structur?es, like the Quarry, since it will be challenging to shoot through certain walls. Ensure you also equip UAV equipment; otherwise, you may not see the opponent coming.

The post How to get Penetration kills in MW3 appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 3 of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone is on the way. On April 3, the seasonal challenges, battle pass, and more will completely reset. Additionally, the new season comes with plenty of new content including the classic Rebirth Island map for Resurgence and a few new multiplayer maps. However, they've also snuc??k a few new weapons in?to the ever-growing list of options for players.

MW3 and Warzone Season 3 offers 4 new weapons

Nearly every season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone gains a few new toys to play with. Season 3, which begins April 3, is no different. This time, we're getting a new Assault Rifle, Sniper, SMG, and melee weapon, one of which will b??e added during the season??. All four new weapon options are obtainable through the brand-new battle pass when Season 3 starts.

FJX Horus (SMG) - Unlocked from completing Sector 8 of the battle pass, the FJX Horus is a brand new lightweight SMG. It's 'ultra-compact' and provides excellent close-quarters damage and maneuverability?. It's likely to play similar to the Swarm players have used for a while. It is said to have 'class-leading mobility' which means the movement kings will love getting their hands on it.

MORS (Sniper) - Unlocked from completing ??Sector 4 of the battle pass, the MORS is a new sniper rifle for Season 3. It's a single-load railgun capable of delivering bullets to its target quickly thanks to incredible velocity and penetration. MORS is an acronym for Military Operated Rail Sniper, and excels in damage and handling. The down??????????????????????????side will undoubtedly be the reload time, which is required after each shot is fired.

BAL-27 (Assault Rifle) - Although the roadmap says the BAL-27 is unlocked through the battle pass, Call of Duty's blog says the method of unlocking it?? is redacted for ??now. We do know it will be unavailable at the start of Season 3, entering the fray likely sometime during mid-season. The bullpup AR gains increased fire rate over time, with the first four shots being slower but more accurate th??an the subsequent ones. It will be available with a 60-round magazine and is excellent for close-range combat.

Gladiator (Melee) - A new knife, unlockable through Sector 15 of the battle pass. It's meant to rival the Karambit and other small knives for pure mobility. The Gladiator provides extremely fast movement speed and melee speed, which?? will come in handy. As you might expect, you'll have to get as close as possible for the Gladiator to be effective.

MW3 and Warzone Season 3 new aftermarket parts

In addition to the new weapons coming in Modern Warfare 3's Sea??son 3, there are more aftermarket parts on the way too. As with Season 2, everything is earnable through weekly challenges. Each week, you'll have to complete five of the provided challenges to get the corresponding aftermarket part.

JAK Revenger Kit (BP50) - Conversion kit turns the BP50 into a close-quarters weapon using 9mm ammo, a shortened? receiver, and a high-capacity magazine.

JAK Cutthroat (MCW, MTZ, M4, AMR9) - 3D-printed ?stock offers speed and stability while aiming down the sights of all compatible weapons.

JAK Jawbreaker (KV Broadside) - Conve??rter to turn the shotgun into an even harder-hitting and fully-automatic Battle Rifle.

JAK Shadow Titan Kit (Bruen MK9) - The c?onversion kit turns the Bruen MK9 into a smaller and suppressed weapon with? 300 blackout ammo.

JAK Patriot (M16) - The JAK Patriot converte??r turns the M16 into a full-auto rifle with better recoil control and aim stability than the standard version.

Wardens (Lockwood MK2) - Turns the Lockwood MK2 Marksman Rifle into akimbo shotguns, replicating the comically overpowered Model 1887 shotguns from the original Modern Warfare 2.

JAK Atlas Kit (AMR9) - Using the ??Atlas Kit for the AMR9 will make it into a highly accurate ??5-round burst weapon that uses more lethal 556 ammunition.

Photonic Charge Barrel (MORS) - The final aftermarket part is for the new sniper coming with Season 3, the MORS. It turns it into what is essentially a Spartan Laser from Halo 3. Hold down the trigger to charge it and release it to let out a single, high-powered ene??rgy projectile. The method to unlock this attachmen??t has not been revealed, though it likely ties into the weekly challenges.

Three of the four new weapons for Season 3 of Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone will be earnable at launch through the battle ?pass. For everything else, you'll have to wait until m?id-season or work hard on those weekly challenges. It looks like Season 3 is going to be filled with some crazy gun metas, based on what's coming.

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ASUS' ROG Ally was the first big brand Windows portable console following on the heels of Valve's Steam Deck launch. All of a su?dden, handheld gaming saw a massive resurgence with devices that look like portable consoles but wield the full power of PC gaming.

So, what games make the most of what the ROG Ally has to offer? To start, the Ally is more powerful than the Steam Deck, but that isn't the gadget's real strength. Running ??Windows means the ROG Ally has access to a whole host of services that the Steam Deck doesn't. So, here's our list of games capitalizing on both the Ally's beefy hardware an??d software.

Starfield

Starfield is among the most demanding games of 2023; it doesn't even run at 60 ?FPS on M??icrosoft's most powerful Xbox Series X. That came as qu??ite a surprise since 60 FPS had become an unspoken standard on the Series X up to now.

You'd be forgiven then for thinking that Starfield is out of reach of handheld devices, but that'??s not the case. The ROG Ally runs the spacefaring RPG just fine at 30 FPS with the graphics turned down, equivalent to what the latest Xbox consoles are limited to.

It doesn't look as good as on the Xbox, but on the Ally's much smaller screen, that's less noticeable than you'd think. Another big reason why Starfield t??ops our list is that the game is available with Xbox Game Pass, which the ROG Ally can access through Windows.

Assassin's Creed Mirage

Assassin's Creed Mirage is, for some fans, a long-awaited return to the roots of the Assassin's Creed franchise. It's a traditional Assassin's Creed game based?? on stealth, parkour, and taki??ng down templars.

It's disappointing then that the game isn't available on Steam. It's currently exclusive to Ubisoft's store, Ubisoft Connect. However, that's not the end of the world for ?ROG Ally owners. Not only can you install Ubisoft Connect on the Ally, but it runs magnificently to boot. I've played at a steady 60 FPS while plugged in on low settings, using 1080p with FSR �mighty impressive for a AAA game on a handheld device.

Mirage is also available as? part of Ubisoft's PC subscription service, Ubisoft+, giving gamers access to every new Ubisoft?? game on day one, as well as a library of 100+ games. If you have the subscription on your desktop PC, you can also use it on your Ally.

Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5

Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5 share a spot on this list because the one you choose depends on your driving?? style. Ar??e you a wannabe Lewis Hamilton who needs to hit every apex perfectly, or do you enjoy cruising around in your favorite car? Whichever one you prefer, you can't really go wrong.

I tested Forza Motorsport on the ROG Ally and got up to 60 FPS, depending on the track and conditions on medium settings, at 900p with FSR balanced. In dozens of hours of playtime, the game performed as smoothly as you'd hope a racing game would. Forza Horizon 5 is the same story, sporting smooth gam??eplay as you trav??erse around Mexico.

Both games are available on Xbox Game Pass, so you can try them both out to decide which you prefer if you're subscribed. The only downside to the two Forza games is the hefty download sizes that are bigger than you may think. Motorsport comes in at around 124GB, and Horizon 5 at a whopping 140 GB.

EA Sports FC 24

If you're a futbol fan, EA Sports FC 24 is probably already on your radar. As the first "FIFA" game not to bear the name, FC 24 is still the same game th??at dominates sales and playtime around the world?.

It's also a must-have play for the cross-section of soccer fans and Ally owners. In fact, the only way to play FC 24 on ??a portable PC is to do so on a Windows one. The game won't run on the Steam Deck due to EA's anti-cheat software being Windows only.

That's not a problem on the Ally, and once you're up and running, it's easy to forget you're not playing on a PS5 or desktop. FC 24 holds a steady 60 FPS on the Ally and feels just as good to play as on beef??ier hardware.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

If you're downloading the EA app, you might as well check out the best EA game of 2023, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. It's an??other game that really pushes hardware on PC, so it's not the most obvious ROG Ally-friendly.

Wh?ile you'll have the best time if you're plugged in and using the Ally's 30w Turbo mode, it's perfectly fine unplugged and on the go. In my testing, I was able to get between 30-40 FPS at 720p, on low settings, and with FSR set to Quality.

You can lock Jedi Survivor to 30 FPS for a consistent framerate, but it is able to hover around 37-40 FPS most of the time. If you do want to play in a truly portable (i.e, unpl??ugged) manner, then lock the game at 30 FPS?? on both 25w and 15w modes for a decent enough experience.

Once you're set up and running, you'll find that playing Jedi: Survivor on the Ally is an absolute blast. The game is available through EA's subscription service, EA Play Pro, and like with Assassin's Creed Mirage, that's plenty of time to finish.

Call of Duty

Call of Duty is a?? game that isn't easily available on the Steam Deck due to the Battle.n??et service being incompatible due to the anti-cheat software it has. You can't play any of the newer titles on anything but Windows on PC.

We should note right off the bat that, at the time of writing, there have been reports of ROG Ally players getting erroneously banned for playing the latest game, Modern Warfare 3. The problem is supposedly being looked into by Asus, but it's not the case for the other recent titles. Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War, Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone can all be? played on the Ally without falling?? afoul of the anti-cheat system.

In fact, those games don't just play well on the Ally. They play exceptionally well. I tested Black Ops Cold War on the handheld and? was able to get an incredible 75-90 FPS at 1080p, low settings on the 15w performance mode. That's a truly impressive feat for such a big game on a handheld device.

If you have an ROG Ally and want to get your Call of Duty fix on the go, you're in for a treat. You may have to cough up for a bigger SSD, though. Black Ops Cold War is a whopping 175GB on PC, but if you're happy ??to only install multiplayer?, that's a more reasonable 50GB.

Update by Elliott Gatica: Since you've had plenty of time to chew through your picks from our original list of seven, how about three more games to play on the ROG ?Ally? This rounds our best-of list to a nice, even 10, adding to the Steam Deck's growing competition with more RPGs and multiplayer challenges below.

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 needs no introduction as to why it should be played on more capable devices. Larian's entry to the series easily steals over 100 hours of your time, and if you don't want ??to be at your desk all day, why not bring that world with you on the go? A little pocket Astarion, portable sass.

Sure, you'll sacrifice some visual fidelity to land a more stable framerate during and out of combat or run it at a stable 30 FPS at 1080p. It's not a game wher??e your best experiences re??lies heavily on a higher framerate. It's up to you whether you want to choose performance over graphics and vice versa.

Palworld

Palworld is another Xbox Game Pass game worth at least a look. With its rise ??in popularity, seemingly out of nowhere, it took PC gamers by surprise as its concurrent users on Steam skyrocketed for weeks.

Personally, since this is an action game, the higher the framerate, the better. Even if you have to sacrifice texture and asset quality a bit to get a stable 45 FPS and up, it'll be worth it. It seems that getting the game around 900p is the sweet spot to get just that. It's certainly got some performance woes, ??so ??you'll have to play around with it, but thankfully developer Pocketpair has slowly fixed some of those since launch.

Helldivers 2

Democracy jokes aside, Helldivers 2 is another game that took the world by storm this year and it's a must-play if you like shooter games in general. Even then, it's worth giving it a go just for some of the wild community stories coming out of the online play.

There's a lot that goes on in this game that can easily tank your performance. Despite saying that action games should be at a higher framerate, you should probably sacrifice some performance for better graphical quality. You can get Helldivers 2 running at 45 FPS at best. Setting your Render Scale at Balanced and putting most other s??ettings like textures and lighting at medium or low will make this a blast in ha?ndheld mode.

The post Best 10 games to play on the ROG Ally appeared first on Destructoid.

In the brief history of Call of Duty: Warzone, there have been a few differe?nt maps and variations of the game.

Throughout its lifecycle, players have enjoyed certain eras of the battle royale much more than others. While everyone has their own opinion, most agree that one specific Resurgence mode map, and one particular sniper rifle meta, were the best time to play the game. Now, an emoji-eye tweet from the official Call of Duty account might be hinting at a return in Modern Warfare 3's Warzone Season 3.

Rebirth Island could return in Season 3

On Sunday, March 24, 2024, the official Call of Duty Twitter account randomly replied to two very old videos from popular streamers and players. One was from Call of Duty League caster Maven, to which the CoD Twitter simply replied with the eyes emoji. Warzone fans who saw it?? immediately started breaking down the clip, which was posted on May 25, 2022, to figu??re out what the tweet was hinting toward.

As we approach the end of Season 2 in Modern Warfare 3, the developers obviously want to start revealing new content. What better time than now? That's why they've replied to Maven's tweet while he's playing on Rebirth Island, a fan-favorite map modeled after the real-life Alcatraz prison. It originally came out in Blackout, the battle royale in Black Ops 4, but gained immense popularity during the early days of Warzone. Many players exclusively played it over the big map modes, but other Resurgence maps have just not been as fun ??to play.

But that's not all that was similar about both clips to which Call of Duty replied.

Is the KAR98K returning to Warzone?

We'll admit, that this part of the theory is a little more of a stretch than Rebirth Island's return. After all, the map is now live in Warzone Mobile, and there have been rumors swirling of its return for quite some time. But is the popular bolt-action sniper coming back to the game? The KAR98K has been in many iterations of Call of Duty over the years, but it was also one of the best weapons to use in the early Warzone days.

It had incredibly fast aim-down-sight speed, didn't affect movement speed much, and could one-shot down with a headshot from just about any distance. Although we doubt that kind of power will return since snipers have been nerfed so much, fans are still excited to see the KAR98K make its debut in Modern Warfare 3. B??oth clips the Twitter account replied to were using the sniper rifle, so it's certainly a possibility.

Lastly, both tweets Call of Duty responded to contained the phrase 'rebirth reaper'. Could this be hinting toward something too? Or was it just an easy way to search for tweets of clips from Rebirth Island? Time will tell, as Season 3 is set to begin in early April.

The post Rebirth Island could return to?? Warzone along with fan-favorite sniper, Tweets ??suggest appeared first on Destructoid.

In the most recent version of the Call of Duty battle royale mode, Warzone, players can earn a nuke. Just like in multiplayer, which requires 30 kills without dying, a nuke ends the match and results in an instant win. However, 30 kills without dying in Warzone is too tall an order, so there are other ways to get a nuke in MW3 Warzone.

How to unlock a Warzone nuclear bomb Champion's Quest

The Champion's Quest in Warzone is the mission you unlock when a nuke is available. In the previous iteration of Call of Duty, it was more c??ommonly known as 'the nuke contract'. ?Additionally, the previous method of earning a shot at the Champion's Quest is still available, but another (easier) method is possible too.

Unlock the Champion's Quest by doing one of the foll??owing:

• Win 5 Warzone games in a row
• Win 30 Warzone games total

Once either of these objectives is completed, you'll unlock the Champion's Quest nuke contract. You can start the contract as soon as you enter your next game of Warzone, though you aren't forced to do it right away.

How to complete the nuke contract

Once you've earned the Warzone nuke contract, the quest location is marked by a gold crown on your map. Head there and start the contract if you're ready, and it'll immediately ask you to locate and pick up a Geiger counter. Like the contract, it's marked in gold on your map, only it'll appear as a telephone with wings on the sides. Once you have it, check your map for the green zone now marked. You'll have to make your way there and find a special cache to loo??t, which gives you the Beryllium element.

You'll repeat this process until you've got Beryllium, Tritium, and Plutonium, the three elements required to build a Warzone nuke. Tritium is inside a safe you'll have to drill into, and Plutonium is earned by shooting down a helicopter carrying it. With all three elements in-hand, you'll now have to make your way to the marked bomb sit?e location on your map. Then, someone in your squad will have to approach the bombsite and arm the nuke, and everyone else needs to?? be ready to fight.

You'll have to defend the bombsite for two minutes before ??detonation. During this time, other teams can disarm the bomb or wipe your squad. Killing your entire team allows another team to take the contract for themselves. However, if you're still standing when two minutes is up, everyone on the map will die and your team will earn a Champion's Victory.

Best Warzone loadout for getting a nuke

While playing Call of Duty: Warzone, there are loads of different ways to play. Some players like to be aggressive and ear??n as many kills as possible. Others like to hide in a corner ?or a rooftop and wait for others to pass before destroying their prey. Earning a nuke contract is all about getting the win.

If the Champion's Quest is your primary goal, forget about kills and everything else in the game. Moreover, winning is much easier when you're not playing aggressive. Pushing after enemy players in buildings, hot-dropping, and doing other kill-earning tasks are sure to get you killed faster most of the time. For winning games, all that matters is being the last man standing, and this loadout will give you the best chance at doing so.

RAM- 7

• Casus Break Muzzle
• Cronen Headwind Long Barrel
• Bruen Heavy Support Underbarrel
• 60 Round Drum
• HVS 3.4 Pad Stock

HRM-9

• Zehmn35 Compensator Muzzle
• Thorn-90 Barrel
• DR-6 Handstop
• 50 Round Drum
• Folding Stock

Equipment

• Throwing Knives - A one-hit kill and instant finisher on downed players. The best lethal option right now.
• Smoke Grenades - Stocking up on smokes in your inventory throughout a match is essential. You'll want to smoke the armed bomb almost constantly to stay safe while defending it.

Perks

• Double Time - Longer tactical sprint duration and recharge it more quickly. Getting to each Champion's Quest objective fast is vital.
• Sleight of Hand - Reload faster. You don't want to get caught in the open while reloading, especially with only seconds remaining on the nuke countdown or in the final circle of your fifth straight win.
• Tempered - Reduce the required number of armor plates to be at full armor from three to two. Like Sleight of Hand, this perk helps keep you ready to shoot and defend yourself, rather than sliding more armor plates into your vest.

Using this loadout will undoubtedly help in winning some gun fights and getting where you need to go quickly in Warzone. However, it's still up to your gun skill, positioning, and a little bit of luck to? sq??ueak out five straight wins or a total of 30. After that, good luck with the Champion's Quest nuke contract, you're going to need it.

The post How to get a nuke in MW3 Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.

The second season of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone is underway. As we make our way through the weekly updates and new content drops, the end of the season is quickly approaching. Many look forward to the new content that'll come wi??th season 3. Additionally, you'll need to finish the Season 2 battle pass before it's over.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 2 end date

According to the in-game timer shown while playing Modern Warfare 3, Season 2 will officially end on April 2, 2024. As a result, there are a few weeks remaining for you to comp??lete the battle pass. Depending on the amount of time you have to play the game, it's definitely possible to move through the many seasonal rewards by then. Additionally, there are a number of weekly challenges available from the start of the Season, and a few more to unlock as we enter new weeks.

It's worth completing the weekly challenges if you're interested in the end-of-season rewards. For example, finishing five weekly challenges for every week of Season 2 gets you the Rotten Inferno weapon camo. As you likely already know, progressing through the battle pass (if you purchased it) gets? you all the rewards you see contained in it. A number of which are decent character skins and cool weapon blueprints, if you're into that sort of thing.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone developers have not made an?y official announcements about season 3 content yet. More information about the seasonal patch and new content will be revealed in the upcoming weeks.

The post When does Modern Warfare 3 Season 2 end? appeared first on Destructoid.

Capture the Flag, one of the most beloved game types in Call of Duty multiplayer history, may make a comeback. The latest installation of the franchise, Modern Warfare 3, doesn't have a CTF game mode. However, a recent Reddit thread that seemed innocent enough among community members, revealed more information than anyone expected. And it all ha???ppened because a single emoji from the official account.

Sledgehammer Games hints at Capture the Flag return

A recent thread on the Modern Warfare 3 game subreddit asked the community a simple question, "If ?you guys could bring back anything from past call of duty's to MWIII what would it be?" The post, as one might expect, received plenty of varying feedback. However, one common recommendation that started with the OP was to bring back the ?Capture the Flag game mode. Most users in the thread agreed with the sentiment, while also recommending Demolition, Sabotage, and Prop Hunt, among others.

The most important comment of the bunch, though, was from the official Sledgehammer Games Reddit account, which simply responded, 'đź‘€'. While the eyeballs emoji certainly isn't an official announcement, it's pretty easy to figure out what it means. Seeing as the comment wasn't in response to anyone in particular in the thread, it's safe to assume it was directed toward the OP. As a result, it looks like Capture the Flag could soon make its way back into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

When did Capture the Flag leave Call of Duty?

The most recent iteration of Call of Duty to have a Capture the Flag game mode was Modern Warfare 2. However, it wasn't added until Season Five, and was only playable as Big Capture the F?lag. In other words, there was no ?standard multiplayer version of CTF, and it didn't come out until deep into the game's lifecycle.

Before that, Black Ops Cold War had CTF as of July 2021. It was part of the Season Four update, but was removed just a week after its release. The last game with a true CTF game mode in standard multiplayer through most of its lifecycle was WWII, which released in November of 2017.

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With Season 2 Reloaded just around the corner for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, new cosmetics and other content are on the horizon. One significant collaboration coming to MW3 and Warzone is Warhammer 40K. You're probably familiar with the ultra-popular franchise; it's made its way from books and tabletop games to video games and more. Soon, WH40K will be appearing in Call of Duty.

Space Marines, Sisters of Battle, and Astra Militarum skins come to Call of Duty

According to a tweet from the official Call of Duty account, skins inspired by the Warhammer 40,000 universe are coming to the game. Over the last few weeks since Season 2 launched, there have been leaks and hints a?bout the collaboration coming soon. But this is the first official statement directly from the developers themselves. The tweet doesn't show details about what the characters look like in-game, just a small teaser image.

Most likely, the Warhammer 40,000 collaboration will come as an in-store purchase. This means it'll be something like $20 or more, as most items in the CoD store are. Hopefully, it comes with all three character skins in one and maybe a few other small cosmetics or a gun camo to really beef up your Warhammer loadout.

Hints of what's to come

Nothing official was announced about the contents of the upcoming collaboration, but a few leaks have surfaced. The data miner who first leaked the collaboration tweeted this video of the character select screen, among others.

The Warhammer 40,000 x Call of Duty collaboration content should be coming soon as we're almost to the start of season two reloaded. March 6 looks like the official launch, w??hich should bring other new content and these new s??kins to the store.

The post A Warhammer 40K crossover is? coming to? Call of Duty MW3 and Warzone appeared first on Destructoid.

Skilled-based matchmaking has been an ongoing topic of conversation in the Call of Duty community for a while.

For obvious reasons, it's a necessity that prevents lower-skilled players from quitting or just having an awful experience. However, it also makes playing any style of Call of Duty, other than "sweaty," do??wnright impossible for more skilled players. The game's servers recently had some serious?? issues for a day, and part of those problems stopped skilled-based matchmaking (SBMM) from working properly.

When the servers were down, so was skilled-based matchmaking

On February 23, millions of players logged into their Modern Warfare 3 accounts and found a few surprises. Their player level was reset to 1, the Zombies mode wouldn't work, and loadouts were disabled. It was a mess that seemingly happened overnight. Thankfully, the developers worked tirelessly to get everything back in order throughout the day. Part of the process involved disabling ranked play, as progressing th??rough the ranks wasn't working either.

However, one result of the server issues that received positive feedback on social media was skilled-based matchmaking going offline. Many popular streamers and other players took to Twitter to voice their joy about the lack of SBMM. It seemed like high-level players could get into lobbies with inexperienced Call of Duty players who didn't know what they were doing. Clips like this one took off, displaying just how easy it was for the streamer to toy with another player in Warzone.

But why would everyone love a lack of SBMM? It's the system that keeps players playing aga??inst opponents of a similar skill level. Yo?u'd think it would be beneficial for everyone, right?

Unranked Call of Duty is better without skilled-based matchmaking

The argument against removing SBMM is usually that streamers and other skilled players just want to dominate. While that plays a part, that is a very low percentage of the?? player base. The above-average casual player suffers, getting thrown into lobbies against the best of the best when they're probably not.

Being better than really bad players puts you in the same bracket as people playing the game for a living. There aren't enough streamers with a 4.0+ kill/death ratio to fill a lobby every time they search, so instead, they're playing above-average players with a 0.9+ K/D, who have no ch??ance.

Additionally, Call of Duty games are much different than the average online shooter. While games like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, or Rainbow Six Siege were built for competition, Call of Duty was not. Part of the reason a vast majority of players will play the franchise's new entries is the fun you can have while using less-than-ideal weapons or completing challenges.

Thanks to skilled-based matchmaking, an above-average player cannot go int?o a match to complete challenges with a specific weapon to get the weekly challenge finished. They cannot complete the difficult challenges required to get all the camos on their pistols, launchers, or any non-meta weapon, really.

As someone who has played every game since Call of Duty 2, I'm often thrust into high-s??????????????????????????kill player lobbies. In these scenarios, I h??ave two choices:

1. Use the 'meta' weapons and try my hardest to win and get as many kills as possible.
2. Try to complete challenges, or have fun with shotguns and rocket launchers, and die 75 times.

In other words, Call of Duty, the game where you can jump, slide, dive, and 360 around corners and get a kill for fun, loses its luster. The only reason to play the game in high-tier SBMM lobbies is to play competitively. While competing can be fun, Call of Duty, at its core, is a casual first-person shooter. Sometimes all I want to do is use an RPG and throwing k??nives, but with skilled-bas??ed matchmaking online, I'm playing against Atlanta FaZe every match.

Why have a ranked mode if SBMM exists in other modes?

Thankfully, the most recent Call of Duty games have all added ranked modes. This is a we??lcome change, as players who wish to play competitively can do so, and have something to show for it. The problem is with the other unranked game modes. Since SBMM is still active in every game mode, you're basically?? playing ranked all the time. You'd go up against the same players, who are of the same skill level as you in ranked or unranked. Only in unranked, you get nothing after fighting for your life and sweating in your chair.

Removing SBMM doesn't mean you'll go against players far worse than you every match. It means searching for a lobby should prioritize connection first, above all else. Throw us all in with low ping, regardless of skill level. In s??ome matches, sure, you'll dominate and come out feeling great. Others, you'll be the one getting dominated. It's all part of the experience. But at least if I get a few matches against inexperienced players, I'll finally be able to unlock Interstellar camo.

Though it was only for a day, many members of the Call of Duty community will?? remember it as a day of fun, like times of old.

The post Call of Duty server issues br??oke skill-based matchmaking fo?r a day, and players loved it appeared first on Destructoid.

Over the last few years, the Call of Duty franchise has seen plenty of peaks and valleys when it comes to cheating. It's a bad time for everyone, and that's why Activision developed Ricochet Anti-Cheat, which was supposed to be the ?answer to the CoD community's problems.

After years of holding off on using an anti-cheat to create their own, Ricochet has been better, but not great. Now, cheating seems to be on the uptick again across Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer and Warzone.

New Call of Duty cheats are getting out of hand

Cheating in Call of Duty is bad right now. Especially if you're a highly-ranked player, it feels like the killjoys are in nearly every multiplayer or Warzone match. And it isn't just aim botters and wallhackers anymore, either. Cheaters have created new and outrageous ways to win, ones that even a backpack full of stun grenades can't prevent. For example, this person is literally flying around Fort??une's Keep in Resurgence.

It doesn't stop there though. Another popular Warzone streamer posted a clip of getting killed by a cheater using a fully automatic rocket launcher. Dealing with cheaters was never easy in the past, but this is getting out of control. Thes?e new and seemingly improved versions of cheating have made it downright impossible for a regular player to win. When streamers and professionals who play all day for a living are struggling, ?how is an average person supposed to have any fun?

Cheat creators say Ricochet Anti-Cheat is disabled

According to some cheat creators for Call of Duty, Activision's Ricochet Anti-Cheat is currently disabled. That would explain the massive uptick in cheaters recently, and the new and creative ways they're doing so. Take this information with a grain of salt, as the cheat creators making a claim over Discord are those reporting its tweak, but given th??e timing, it sure feels plausible.

It ?would explain a lot, how??ever. Since Ricochet Anti-Cheat was implemented a while back, cheaters have been far less of a problem. They've never disappeared entirely, and they have their moments of making their rounds into matches in between ban waves, but they've been far less of an issue nonetheless. However, many players have reported constant cheating in their lobbies recently. So much so that many are recommended not even playing the game right now.

When some of the best Call of Duty players in the world don't want to play ranked multiplayer, we've got a big problem. As a member of the professional Call of Duty League team Atlanta FaZe, you'd think aBeZy would dominate ranked multiplayer. Instead, he's avoiding it because there are cheaters in ev??ery match. And he's certainly not alone.

The post Call of Duty cheating is getting worse… again appeared first on Destructoid.

Since the launch of season two and ranked Resurgence in Call of Duty Warzone, the community has had a few complaints. None were more common than the way SR is distributed when players earn kills. Developer Treyarch announced via X (Twitter) on Wednesday that a f?uture update will fix the many is??sues it received complaints about.

Ranked Warzone kill and assist SR awards are changing

Treyarch announced it will "adjust how Kill and Assist SR is awarded when engaging with downed enemies to mitigate 'tap' gameplay and increase competitive integrity of the SR system." in an upcoming patch. More specifically, this will prevent players from doing little to no work in earning a kill but getting SR for it. Additionally, it will preven?t players who do most of the damage to an enemy player from going unrewarded or under-rewarded.

After the update is in place, only the following players will receiv??e kill and assist SR when an enemy player is eliminated:

• The player who downed the enemy player.
• Players who damaged the eliminated player shortly before they were downed.

Fortunately, Squadmate Kill SR is still in place. This means every time your teammates get kills, you'll still earn a little SR, though it will be much less. Damaging a player who escapes without being downed, and then is killed by your ??teammate a while later will no longer award assist SR. To receive assist SR for any elimination, players m?ust deal their damage to the enemy player just before they are downed.

Additionally, if you're dead and your teammate is getting kills, you don't currently get any credit. The same update will make it so Squ??admate SR is awarded regardless of whether you're dead or alive.

What's wrong with kill and assist SR in Warzone?

The short answer to why this change is necessary is because of tapping. Currently, players can see a downed enemy and finish th?em off, getting tons of SR as their reward. It goes without saying that these player??s didn't do anything to earn the points they're getting toward their ranking. Whoever downed the enemy player should get the majority of the SR, as they're the ones who won the gunfight and earned the points.

Moreover, the developer says this update will make gameplay "feel just as rewarding and much smoother." This is a welcomed update with a quick turnaround after receiving player feedback since the first season two update. These changes should be positive for all ranked Warzone players, es??pecially those playing with random squadmates.

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Good news PlayStation Plus members and Call of Duty fans! The latest Combat Pack for Modern Warfare 3 is now available for free if you're a PS+ subscriber. Comb??at Packs are a nice way to get some extra cosmetic content for your profile, so might as well nab thi??s one for free if you're a member.

What is in Call of Duty MW3 Combat Pack 2?

Understandably, seeing a free downloadable content pack for Call of Duty might immediately make you thi??nk the content you receive is bad. However, Combat Pack 2 is undoubtedly worth it.

The following items come in the new package:

• Lockpick operator skin
• 2 weapon blueprints
• Charm
• Sticker
• Calling card
• Emblem

Modern Warfare 3 is discounted on all platforms

In addition to the free content pack, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is also discounted on PS5 and PS4 right now. It's currently available for $48.99, down from $69.99. This discount isn't exclusive to PlayStation Plus members or t?he PlayStation platform. PC and Xbox players can also buy the franchise's latest installment at a 30% discount for a limited time.

The Vault Edition of the game is also disco?unted, currently to $79.99, down from $99.99. At a 20% discount, this one adds an operator pack, a tracer weapon blueprint, two weapon vaults, and one season of Blackcell with 30 tier skips for the battle pass. If you're particularly interested in the cosmetics that come with the Vault Edition of the game, it can be quite worth it.

Buying a Blackcell battle pass with 25 tier skips right now costs $29.99. Doing some quick math shows that with the standard edition of the game at 30% off would be $78.98. So basically you'd get the extra cosmetic packs and five more tier skips for?? an extra dollar. If fancy cosmetics don't interest you, there's no reason to buy anything but the standard edition.

The post Newest Co?mbat Pack for Call?? of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is free for PlayStation Plus members appeared first on Destructoid.

Another week, another game-changing Call of Duty update. This week's patch notes include plenty of welcomed fixes, changes, and content shifts. However, the big change to ranked Modern Warfare 3 game modes is the removal of all snipers.

This is one of only two ranked-specific changes from the patch notes, the other bei?ng Sub Base Hardpoint has been temporarily removed from the ranked map pool.

Why are snipers banned in Modern Warfare 3 ranked play?

When it comes to Call of Duty, and it doesn't matter which version we're talking about, the developers can't seem to please everyone. Snipers were banned from the Call of Duty League and ranked multiplayer playlists, and everyone complained. Then snipers were allowed in both, and players still complai??ned. Some want snipers in ranked and pro play and some don't, but why does it make such a difference?

One significant reason to ban snipers is spawn killing. On some maps, like Highrise, players are notorious for firing a sniper bullet into the other team's spawn point as soon as the game starts, getting one or more kills instantly. While it looks cool and it's great to get a few kills that way sometimes, it isn't exactly a balanced, competitive experience. Highrise has been around since the original Modern Warfare 2, and?? if you don't know the sniper spots by now, you haven't p??layed very much.

This strategy is particularly overpowered and frustrating in Search and Destroy. Having only one life and losing it the second you step out of your spawn isn't very fu??n.

Not to mention, many players don't use snipers for, well, sniping. Developers often think of sniping as a long-range option, where the player stands still and finds tar?gets in the distance. As we all know, quick scoping means running around the map and getting free one-shot-kills. Additionally, players can add a small scope—like a 1x—to their sniper, making it even easier to use at close range.

The Call of Duty community is divided

Some players, including notable Modern Warfare 3 streamers hate the sniper bans in ranked play. Some claim it's skill-based, so players who don't like getting killed by the weapon type should simply get better at the game. The opposition believes it to be a good thing because snipers are ??an overpowered weapon type giving an unfair advantage.

Snipers aren't allowed in the CDL anymore, and that says it all. The CDL has done well over?? the years to remove all weapons, equipment, perks, and other items that ruin competitive integrity. There's a reason professionals are only allowed to use a single assault rifle (the MCW) right now.

The post Call of Duty Modern Warf?are 3 update? bans all snipers in ranked modes appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've played Call of Duty Warzone since its release, you've seen plenty of oddities, from glitches to overpowered weapons. One t?hat seems to ke??ep coming back, though, is players' ability to survive for extended periods in the gas.

Players could survive in the gas endlessly in the past using a Stim tactical item. The same bug has returned, with different steps to make it work, what seems like every six months since Warzone came out. For the start of season two, a Warzone perk added in season one??, combined with an old one, makes it nearly impossible to die in the gas. Don't worry, the developers have a solution.

How are Warzone players surviving so long in the gas?

With most new Warzone updates, players are familiar with interesting new problems. At the start of season one, a new perk, Irradiated, entered the lineup. However, it seems like no one noticed that combined with the Quick Fix perk, players become nearly invincible in the gas. Don't worry, gunfire still kills them, just not ?the gas damage itself.

To a certain extent, the effe?ct is intentional. Irradiated's description reads, "While under the effects of the gas circle you move faster and? take reduced gas damage." Quick Fix, on the other hand, is meant to begin health regeneration upon earning a kill or inserting an armor plate.

What's happening is the two perks combine to make it very easy to survive in the gas. Whether taking damage from the gas (which is minimal because of Irradiated) or from other players, you can just insert an armor plate an?d? health regeneration is almost instant. Basically, two perks and a good amount of armor plates, and you can live a long time.

Raven Software has a solution, but it's the wrong one

Fortunately, the problem has already been solved by Raven Software, but it chose the wrong method for its solution. According to the official Call of Duty Updates X(Twitter) account, the Quic??k Fix perk is "temporarily updated to remove the health regen that starts after replacing an armor plate."

Why is it the wrong solution? Because people actually use Quick Fix for health regeneration while out of the gas. It's almost useless now. There is no purpose for Irradiated other than surviving in the gas. Why not discourage hiding in the gas completely by temporarily removing or changing Irradiated, which is also far less popular Raven has historically refused to remove/alter broken things temporarily until a fix is found, so this? change is welcome.?

Although we can't be certain, it seems that there's one logical permane?nt solution. If a player is inside the gas, using an armor plate does not activate health regeneration. Still, the community appreciates the quick turnaround time for such a game-breaking problem.

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Activision and the Call of Duty team dropped a sneak peek of an upcoming collaboration for COD:MW3 and Warzone Season 2. In a recreation of the signature The Walking Dead opening title scene, the teaser shows scenes from around COD's Verdansk map while playing The Walking Dead theme music. The collab will drop alongside Season 2 on February 7 and feature Rick and Mic??honne, assumingly as new Operators.

Quite the lineup

The Call of Duty Operator lineup is getting pretty insane, right? Rick and Michonne are joining the ranks of Homelander, Kevin Durant, TimTheTatman, Snoop Dogg, Lara Croft, Spawn, 21 Savag??e, Skeletor, and even Lilith from Diablo 4. Oh, there's more, that just seemed like some of the crazie?r ones. When I first heard about these additions I thought it was insane. I mean let's be real it's still weird getting teamkilled by Nicki Minaj and then watching her go on to shoot pink tracer rounds on Terminal.

However, Rick and Michonne will probably fit in a bit more, at least in Call of Duty: MW3's new Warzone-like Zombie mode. Rick better have a "CAAAAAARRRLLLL!" voice line? or I am going to be disappointed.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty: Warzone bo??th enter Season 2 on February 7 on all platforms.

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As we see out the last few days of 2023, Steam gives us the skinny on which games were the t??op sellers of the last 12 months. W??hile the majority will be ones that most of you will be expecting, there are a couple of surprises in there. Or at least that's what I think.

You can see the full list of top grossing games of 2023 on the Steam website, which splits it into categories going from platinum to bronze, depending on overall sales. There are also different?? lists for best Steam De??ck games, most played, best VR releases, and more.

As for the overall top sellers on the platform, the likes of Hogwarts Legacy and Baldur's Gate 3 were surefire winners. It's also nice to see Sons of the Forest in the platinum category. Hype for the indie horror game may have died down, but it selling two million copies in just one day evidently gave it a boost.

It was also quite surprising to see the likes of Starfield and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 as top sellers. Okay, the former maybe seeing as it's been one of the most anticipated releases of this generation, but MW3 seemed rather unexpected.

As we move further down

Getting into gold, Resident Evil 4 (plus its Separate Ways DLC) was no doubt a big hit, and Elden Ring has still been pulling i?n some impressive numbers, despite being nearly two years old now.

Fans of Lethal Company have no doubt been aware of the success of this small co-op title from relative newcomers Zeekers, evidenced by its place under the gold section. The fact that it's only just been knocked off the top spot on Steam gives some indication on just how huge the horror game has ??been in such a s??hort span of time.

Of course Skyrim makes it into the list. Admittedly under the bronze category, but that still m??eans the 12-year-old Bethesda RPG is swimming? smoothly through the harsh waters of the video game industry.

Check out the link above to see ?the full list o??f which Steam games were the crème de la crème of 2023. If I don't see you after this, have good New Year everyone!

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