Infinity Ward has released the first major patch for the Modern Warfare 4 early access beta, introducing fresh gameplay content alongside requested balance tweaks to footstep audio, weapon lethality, and map voting.
The update adds a new multiplayer map called Cachette, bringing the map rotation pool to four. Reaching this total enabled the studio to turn on the map voting feature in pre-match lobbies. Alongside Cachette, a new game mode named Inflation has been introduced. In Inflation, players earn cash by taking down enemies and High-Value Targets (HVTs), though accumulating the most money marks players on the map for all rivals to hunt down during matches that feature overtime cash multipliers.
Addressing feedback from the opening day of testing, the development team made significant changes to movement sound mechanics. Enemy footstep and gear audio have been reduced in both maximum hearable distance and general volume level. Infinity Ward noted that movement audio is intended to signal approaching threats rather than expose exact positions from long range. Additionally, visual balance on the Transit 213 map was updated by brightening shadowed areas and tweaking overall color contrast.
Weapon balancing efforts focused on slowing down the overall time-to-kill. Lethality was toned down for popular firearms, including the ISO Nightshade SMG and the Oris 8.6 marksman rifle, which both received nerfs to their headshot multipliers and damage ranges. The Frangible Rounds attachment also saw its slowing magnitude reduced by 21.4 percent and slow duration cut by 26.8 percent. Elsewhere, players gained the functionality to reroll Daily Challenges.
The patch resolves multiple technical glitches, ranging from controller reconnection failures and menu navigation errors to a bug playing wet footstep sounds on dry surfaces. However, a few unresolved issues persist. The ability to join matches in progress has been turned off for the Kill Block map due to a round transition glitch, and frame rate drops when cooking specific lethal grenades remain under investigation.
For PC players, developers are refining the Secure Attestation Wizard to troubleshoot launch errors, reminding participants that TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required. This early access beta phase runs through August 25 for pre-order customers, preceding an open beta weekend available to all players from August 28 through September 1.
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