MW4 Beta Gets Its First Patch and Infinity Ward Is Actually Listening
The Modern Warfare 4 beta went public this weekend, and Infinity Ward already pushed a patch. That's either a good sign or a sign the beta had problems worth patching fast. Probably both.
The New Map: Cachette
The patch adds Cachette, a brand new 6v6 map set on the outskirts of a French rail terminal. The layout sounds like it has actual character to it -- an armoury built inside an old mechanics garage and an abandoned wine warehouse. That's more interesting set dressing than "military base #47."
It's also a debut map, meaning you won't be getting a recycled Modern Warfare 2 or 3 layout. No nostalgia bait here. Just a new thing to learn.
The practical reason Cachette exists in this patch: map voting required four maps to function. Infinity Ward said so directly. They needed a fourth map before they could even turn map voting on. So they shipped one.
Map Voting Is In
This should have been in from day one of the beta, but it's here now. Map voting is the kind of basic feature that's easy to take for granted until it's gone. Having it means you're not stuck cycling through the same map you hate because of some invisible rotation algorithm.
Inflation Mode
New mode: Inflation. Kill enemies, earn cash. Rack up enough cash and you get marked as a high-value target. So the better you're doing, the more everyone on the other team wants to specifically end you.
It's a simple loop but it creates a natural comeback mechanic. The winning player becomes the target. Whether that actually balances out or just gets annoying in practice is something you'll have to test this weekend.
Footsteps and TTK -- The Two Things Everyone Was Complaining About
Footstep audio got reduced. Players were complaining and Infinity Ward heard it. Good.
More importantly: they admitted the TTK was wrong. Not "we're monitoring feedback" -- actually wrong. They said lethality on some guns was too high and reduced it. That's a meaningful admission in a beta where the whole point is supposed to be finding this stuff. At least they're acting on it.
Whether the TTK adjustments feel right is something you can only judge by playing it, and the beta's still up until August 25.
What's Coming
Early access ends August 25. Open beta kicks off August 28. The open beta includes the latest version of Warzone, which is worth knowing if that's your mode.
If you were on the fence about trying the beta, August 28 is your entry point. No purchase required for the open phase.
The Bottom Line
A patch that cuts footstep noise, admits the TTK was off, adds a new map, and enables map voting is a patch that's responding to real feedback. Whether the game is worth your time is something I'll have more to say about when there's a final version to actually play. But Infinity Ward at least looks like they're paying attention, which is not always a given with this franchise.
Source: Pcgamer