CoD Modern Warfare 3: Lots of praise, but also complaints – what first beta reactions reveal

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The new Call of Duty was already playable on the PlayStation. The conclusion of experts and fans is mostly positive, but there are concerns, for example with TTK.

The beta phase of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 has begun, the first part is already over: Playstation players were already able to try out the new shooter until 10 October. Before the next phase, there is now a two-day break in which the developers will study the feedback closely – and we also take a look at the reviews from experts and fans.

The picture that is emerging is one of cautious optimism: Vmany changes are well received, in general most people seem to have fun with MW3. But there are also already the first problems that could disrupt the upcoming release, if they are not fixed.

What do experts and fans say about the first beta?

Youtuber XclusiveAce uploaded several conclusion videos about the beta on his channel, in which he takes a close look at the new time-to-kill and other changes. First, his overall conclusion was positive, he praises the faster movement (slide cancelling is returning), the perks, map voting, the mini-map and the improved visibility when firing the weapons. The latter was a major criticism of the predecessor MW2.

However, he also complained that enemies are often difficult to distinguish from teammates because there are once again no red names above the characters, but a symbol that is difficult to see at long distances. 

Streamer JGOD also comes to similar conclusions, he basically has fun with the beta, but feels the poor visibility is the biggest problem at the moment.

For XclusiveAce, the beta went progressively worse later on, as he shares on X (formerly Twitter):

I’m not sure what happened, but the MWIII beta became almost unplayable for me today. I feel like I die in 2 shots more often than not. It was significantly easier to play against pros and streamers on CoD NEXT than it is today.

After he switched back to his test account, the game was completely different again and much more fun, he said. He does not yet have a solid explanation for this, but wants to publish more video analyses soon.

Some players suspect the SBMM (Skillbased Matchmaking) as the cause of the problem. The system has been criticised time and again in recent years because it usually pits players against stronger opponents, which many find frustrating.

What about the time-to-kill? Another point is causing question marks among some: Basically, the TTK in MW3 is slightly higher than in the predecessor, which means it takes longer for you to fall down. About four shots instead of two or three – a noticeable difference that gives you more time to react. However, the perceived TTK probably varies greatly, so the developers may still be tweaking a few things here.

What about cheaters? The first cheaters were already out and about in the Playstation beta. Not a good omen for the final release, CoD has long struggled with cheaters. Even the strict anti-cheat tool Ricochet can’t keep them out completely. But according to CoD experts CharlieIntel, the numbers were manageable for now, with only those with a PS4 devkit able to hack.

Most situations can be explained differently, for example, there are perks that make it easier to see the position of opponents. Also, lag can make it look like you’re hitting an enemy but they don’t take any damage. There may also be bugs in the game – we’ll be keeping a close eye on this in the upcoming PC beta starting on 12 October.

Have you already played the Playstation Beta yourself or followed it in streams? What is your first impression, which changes do you hope for and which features do you already like? Or are you waiting until you can get started on the PC? Feel free to write us in the comments what you think about the new Call of Duty.