What is Arcade playlist in MW3?

Nathan Warby
MW3 player in Arcade playlist

The Modern Warfare 3 devs have announced a new Arcade playlist being added to multiplayer, but what exactly is it? Here’s everything you need to know about MW3 Arcade mode.

Modern Warfare 3 has received plenty of additional modes since launch, from old favorites like Capture the Flag to new playlists like Vortex. Now, the devs have revealed a new Arcade playlist coming in Season 3 Reloaded.

They’ve already confirmed what the playlist will involve, so here’s everything we know about MW3 Arcade mode so far.

MW3 Arcade playlist explained

Modern Warfare 3’s Arcade playlist is like regular multiplayer but with “powerups and special weapon pickups” that can be collected. The devs confirmed in the Season 3 Reloaded blog that the playlist supports a mix of different maps and game modes, all with special modifiers to shake up the gameplay.

Powerups are dropped by enemies when they are eliminated and grant one of two bonuses, unlimited ammo or unlimited grenades, meaning you can take the fight to the other team without worrying about wasting valuable resources.

Meanwhile, weapon pickups are unique versions of familiar weapons found around the map, each of which has a deadly effect. Examples released by the devs so far include a MORS Sniper Rifle loaded with explosive rounds and a Minigun that grants unlimited Battle Rage.

These can be spotted by their “glowing effects and floating animation,” and picking one up can quickly turn the ride of a match.

The main aim of the Arcade playlist in MW3 is to give players looking for a more light-hearted experience a fun mode away from the regular multiplayer grind. However, it hasn’t been announced yet if XP or camos can be earned in these modes.

MW3 Arcade playlist release date

The MW3 Arcade playlist will arrive on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the same day that the Season 3 Reloaded update goes live. It remains to be seen if the Arcade modes are a permanent addition to the game or if the playlist will be a limited-time feature.

That was everything we know about the Modern Warfare 3 Arcade playlist so far. We’ll be sure to update this page with a full breakdown of all the maps and modes once they’re confirmed.

For more on MW3, check out our other guides:

How to slide cancel in Modern Warfare 3 | Best guns in MW3 | Best SMGs in Modern Warfare 3 | Best FOV settings for Modern Warfare 3 | Best controller settings for Modern Warfare 3 | How to get Wonder Weapons in MW3 Zombies | How to get Tac-Stance kills in MW3

About The Author

Nathan is a Senior Writer at CharlieIntel. He’s an expert in EA Sports FC, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, as well as superhero games, including Marvel’s Spider-Man. With a master's degree in Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University, he worked as a Trainee Reporter for Derbyshire Live before moving into games media, with bylines at Dexerto, Cultured Vultures, and more. You can contact Nathan by email at [email protected].