The first significant update to the Modern Warfare 4 beta has been rolled out by Infinity Ward, addressing several key areas based on player feedback from the beta’s initial day. Changes include adjustments to footstep audio and weapon balance, as well as the introduction of new maps and gameplay modes.
Audio and Weapon Adjustments
Responding to player concerns, Infinity Ward has lowered the volume and detectable range of enemy footstep and gear audio. Additionally, they’ve adjusted the lethality of certain weapons, notably reducing the damage ranges and headshot effectiveness of the ISO Nightshade SMG and Oris 8.6 marksman rifle. These changes are described as the first step, with further adjustments anticipated as feedback continues to inform development.
New Map and Mode Enhancements
Infinity Ward has also expanded the beta with the addition of a new map, Cachette, and a new gameplay mode, Inflation. In Inflation, players gather cash by defeating enemies and high-value target (HVT) operators, with the top earners becoming targets themselves. With Cachette’s inclusion, map voting has become possible, which requires a minimum of four maps.
Visual and System Improvements
Updates extend to map visuals, including Transit 213, where shadowed areas have been brightened and the colour balance modified for better visibility. A series of bug fixes have been implemented, addressing issues from the Mobility Course to controller errors. On the PC front, Infinity Ward is focusing efforts on enhancing the Secure Attestation Wizard to better diagnose and resolve access issues to the beta.
Ongoing and Future Updates
Despite these updates, some issues have not yet been resolved, such as the “join in progress” feature being temporarily disabled on Kill Block and FPS drops when cooking certain lethal equipment. Infinity Ward has reassured players that they are actively addressing these areas. Meanwhile, Infinity Ward has acknowledged the industry-wide problem of “Compiling Shaders” stutter on PC and is working on a solution.
The beta’s initial phase started after the Call of Duty: Next event, running until 25th August for those who pre-ordered the game, before opening to all players from 28th August to 1st September. For PC players, activation of TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot is necessary to participate in the beta.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.