Modern Warfare 3 Season One release time, maps, and everything we know

Modern Warfare 3 is now out in all regions, currently running its pre-season collection of content. What that means for players is that there's no dedicated Battle Pass to work through, though this is all set to change in the coming weeks.

MW3 Season One will add new maps, and modes, as well as some core updates to the ongoing Zombies mode. This is great news, given that the Modern Warfare 3 maps list at launch mostly offers up remastered versions of 2009 maps. Warzone fans have something to look forward to as well, as there's a brand new map called Urzikstan on the way. It's regular updates like these that have kept the game in our best battle royale list all year round.

Here's the MW3 Season One release date, and what'll be included at launch. Here's what to expect, including a look at the three new maps, Zombies update, and more.

Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 release time

Activision has now confirmed that Modern Warfare 3 Season One will launch on December 6, 2023 at 9AM PT / 12 AM ET / 5PM GMT.

Modern Warfare 3 Season One update - new maps, modes, and more

There's a decent chunk of content being added to Modern Warfare 3 as part of the Season One update. Below, you'll find a list of the main talking points, before we go into each in detail later on in this article.

• New Maps - Meat (New, 6v6), Greece (New, 6v6), Rio (new, 6v6), Training Facility (2v2)
• New Modes - Gunfight, All or Nothing, Vortex, CODMAS, Infected, Headquarters, Team Gunfight
• New Vest - Assassin Vest
• New Killstreaks - Swarm, EMP
• Ranked Play - mid-season
• Zombies - Dark Aether Rifts, Friend Zone, New Acquisition Schematics, ~New Story act, Wonder Weapon, Warlord
• Warzone - Urzikstan (New map), Gameplay update, Horizontal Ziplines, Drivable Train, Call of Duty HQ update
• New Operators - Nolan, Dokkaebi, Abolisher

Modern Warfare 3 Season One maps

Three brand new maps are coming to Modern Warfare 3 as part of Season One. Each has a slightly different launch date, and there's also a Training Facility being added later down the line. Check out each of the new maps below, alongside info on when they're being added to the game.

Meat (6v6, Season One launch)

First up we have Meat, a brand new 6v6 map that'll launch alongside Season One. According to the Call of Duty blog, it's a "compact map centered around the East Bay Meats slaughterhouse."

Greece (6v6, Season One launch)

Next up is Greece, which is also a 6v6 affair that'll launch when Season One does. This one is a "medium-sized Mediterranean-inspired Map based on a coastal town."

Rio (6v6, Season One Reloaded)

Rio is a new 6v6 map that'll arrive in Season One Reloaded, sometime after launch. you'll get to "Take in the bright colors, tight quarters, and elegant streets in a fight through an upscale shopping center."

Training Facility (Gunfight, Season One launch)

Finally, there's Training Facility, which will be added when Season One launches. It's a Gunfight map, so 2v2. It has a central shoot house, and plentiful climbing opportunities.

Modern Warfare 3 Season One modes

So far, we know about seven new modes that are set to be added in MW3 Season 1. They are Gunfight, All or Nothing, Vortex, CODMAS, Infected, Headquarters, Team Gunfight.

Modern Warfare 3 Season One Zombies update

MW3's Zombies mode will be getting an update as part of Season One. Here's the main additions being made:

• Enter the Rift: Inside Dark Aether Rifts, Operators will encounter a sinister and chaotic challenge, with limited time on the clock to complete objectives and escape with their lives (and sanity). Dark Aether Rifts are a new end-game experience to master once players have completed the seasonal mission.
• Friend Zone: A modified V-R11 Wonder Weapon packs a punch, transforming enemies, Zombie or Human, into loyal allies.
• Gear-up: A new category of unique acquisition schematics that will test the player's skill to unlock.
• Wonder Weapon - New V-R11 weapon which turns zombies into humans and vice-versa.
• New Warlord - Dokkaebi

The Modern Warfare 3 Zombies story will continue alongside these new features, as players investigate a massive, mysterious gateway that has appeared in the Exclusion Zone.

Modern Warfare 3 Season One Warzone updates

Warzone is also going to be getting new content in Season One. The main event is the release of Urzikstan, a new Battle Royale map. It's an urban landscape with 11 new POIs to visit, from the Popov Power Plant to the Zaravan Suburbs. 

There are going to be big changes to gameplay too, bringing Warzone more in line with the movement of Modern Warfare 3. This means slide-cancelling, Tac-Stance, and more. You can read the full details on Urzikstan, and what's being added over at the COD blog.

So there you have it, that's everything coming in Modern Warfare 3 Season One. For more on MW3, check out our list of the best weapons to use in Modern Warfare 3. Elsewhere there's our Modern Warfare 3 review.