MW2 Season 1 Reloaded patch notes: Shipment map, Kastov-74u nerf, Vel-47 buff & more

Complete guide to MW2 Season 1 Reloaded featuring Atomgrad Raid, Shipment map, weapon balancing, and social features

Season 1 Reloaded Release Overview

Activision and Infinity Ward have released comprehensive patch notes for MW2 Season 1 Reloaded, introducing groundbreaking content including the inaugural Special Ops Raid and substantial multiplayer enhancements.

The Modern Warfare 2 Season 1 Reloaded update delivers transformative changes across multiplayer, introducing new tactical opportunities and refining core gameplay mechanics.

Following the initial Season 1 deployment in mid-November that brought fresh weapons, additional Operators, and an overhauled Battle Pass system, this midseason refresh injects substantial new content.

Based on Battle Pass timers, players can anticipate Season 2 arriving in early February, making this midseason update crucial for maintaining engagement.

The midseason injection provides abundant fresh content and significant gameplay refinements for players to explore before the next major season transition.

Modern Warfare Season 1’s midseason update arrives promptly on Wednesday, December 14 at 10:00 AM PT, requiring a downloadable patch before accessing the new content.

Atomgrad: The First Special Ops Raid

Atomgrad represents Modern Warfare 2’s premiere Special Ops Raid experience, enabling three-player squads to assist iconic characters Price, Farah, and Gaz in uncovering secrets within a heavily fortified enemy installation.

Chronologically set after MW2’s campaign events, the raid narrative follows Price, Farah, and Gaz as they pursue their missing team, ultimately discovering an extensive underground complex. Players completing this intense mission will find the rewards well worth the effort.

Successful raid completion grants access to an exclusive Operator usable across Multiplayer, Special Ops, and Warzone 2 modes, plus unlocks an advanced difficulty playlist for experienced teams seeking greater challenges.

Strategic Tip: Coordinate loadouts with your squad before attempting Atomgrad – having balanced weapon types and complementary equipment significantly increases survival chances in the raid’s challenging environments.

Common Mistake: Many teams underestimate the importance of communication in puzzle sections. Designate a shot-caller for complex sequences to avoid coordination failures that can wipe the squad.

Shipment Map Returns with Holiday Twist

Developers have creatively reimagined the legendary Shipment map for Modern Warfare 2’s multiplayer, placing combatants aboard a cargo vessel taking on water during a violent Atlantic Ocean storm.

This revitalized map will remain featured in Playlists throughout Season 1’s remainder, as confirmed by official Call of Duty communications.

From December 21, 2022 through January 4, 2023, the cargo ship’s primary deck transforms with festive decorations, delivering seasonal cheer to intense Shipment map engagements.

Advanced Strategy: The holiday version features slightly different sightlines due to decorations. Practice controlling key angles where festive elements provide partial cover or visual obstruction.

Optimization Tip: Use shotguns and SMGs to maximize effectiveness in Shipment’s close-quarters combat. The map’s compact design favors rapid-fire weapons over long-range options.

New Social Features: Groups System

Finding compatible teammates for DMZ and Special Ops missions becomes significantly easier with the innovative Groups feature, streamlining community connections.

Players access Groups through MW2 and Warzone 2’s Social menu to discover or establish Call of Duty communities accommodating up to 5,000 members per Group, organized around shared interests across multiple categories:

  • Call of Duty–based: Preferences covering Call of Duty modes like Battle Royale, DMZ, and Multiplayer, or player experience levels including “Veterans Only” or “New Player Friendly.”
  • Vibe-based: External interests including Entertainment, Gaming, or Sports.
  • Community-based: Defining group atmosphere—such as competitive playstyles or casual enjoyment—and activity timing like weekend warriors or daily active players.
  • Other categories: Groups existing beyond game boundaries, including streamer-affiliated communities or Call of Duty League team associations.
  • Practical Tip: When creating groups, be specific about playstyle expectations. Clearly defining whether your group focuses on competitive ranking or casual play prevents member mismatch and improves community satisfaction.

    Common Mistake: Large groups often become inactive without proper moderation. Assign active administrators to organize events and maintain engagement to keep your community vibrant.

    Weapon Balancing and Gameplay Changes

    Significant weapon balancing adjustments target multiple firearm categories to improve gameplay equilibrium and address community feedback.

  • Akimbo P890, X12, Basilisk, and .50 GS configurations receive damage reduction against armored opponents
  • Resolved inconsistency causing shotguns to intermittently display broken armor hitmarkers
  • Enhanced movement speed, ADS speed, and sprint-to-fire speed for the 32-round magazine
  • Restricted underbarrel launcher and shotgun attachments on 7” Bruen B-M20 barrel
  • Moderate close damage reduction; achieving three-hit kills now requires minimum one chest hit
  • Muzzle velocity improvements
  • Minor hip spread reduction
  • Close damage enhancement
  • Chest damage multiplier increase
  • Movement speed acceleration
  • Extended range damage improvement
  • Blocked Basilisk compensators and flash hiders on FTAC ARROW barrel
  • Added muzzle attachment compatibility for FTAC ARROW barrel: LOCKSHOT KT85, SA LEVELER 55, CRONEN DARK KX30
  • Extended one-hit headshot range
  • Damage range expansion
  • Enhanced neck and upper shoulder location damage multipliers
  • Bullet velocity improvement
  • Extended damage range for SA LONGSHOT – 50 and SA TYRANT FIFTY barrels
  • Shotguns can no longer eliminate fully armored players with single shots
  • Added guard category:
    • TV CF40 Guard
    • AZ-40 Shotguard
    • AZAROV T15
  • Weapon Strategy: The akimbo nerf against armored targets makes these setups less effective in Warzone but still viable in multiplayer. Consider switching to single pistol configurations for better armor penetration.

    Optimization Tip: The movement speed buffs to certain attachments create new meta possibilities. Test different combinations to find optimal setups that balance mobility with damage output.

    Complete Patch Notes Breakdown

    Comprehensive Season 1 Reloaded patch notes for the December 14 update, detailed per official Call of Duty blog documentation.

    Following Modern Warfare FC Support a Team Feature and three limited-time Operator Bundles, Season 01 Reloaded completes the football festivities trilogy with Warzone Cup. Continue reading for Mini Royale details, a new event-exclusive mode, and additional content!

  • 12/14 – 12/15 (10am PT)
  • All Platform Player 2XP:

  • 12/15 – 12/19 (10am PT)
  • All Platform Weapon 2XP:

  • 12/15 – 12/19 (10am PT)
  • Refreshed version of beloved 6v6 map Shipment debuts with Season 01 Reloaded launch.
  • December 21-January 4 celebrates seasonal cheer via The Naughty List playlist on specially decorated holiday Shipment!
  • XP tokens interface updated to display remaining token time in lobby screen.
  • XP Tokens now equipable via pause menu during active gameplay.
  • XP Tokens prevented from accidental activation during Double XP events.
  • Players joining matches in-progress no longer receive losses when their team loses.
  • Attachments now display tuning icons during preview, indicating tunable versus non-tunable components.
  • Finishing Moves now contribute to 30 third-person kill Daily Challenge in Special Ops.
  • “Stickerbook Challenges” terminology in After Action Report screen updated to “Calling Card Challenge.”
  • Operator biographies no longer truncate mid-text.
  • New blueprint acquisition now triggers pulsing indicator near associated weapon in Gunsmith.
  • Resolved black screen issue affecting CP purchases on certain platforms.
  • Multiple weapon and attachment unlock/progression issues addressed, including statistics display.
  • Consolidated Hub & Friends tabs.
  • Transitioned to compact Player Card widgets for Friends list.
  • Implemented batch/bulk friend request transmission support.
  • Resolved multiple bugs affecting party join/invite functionality.
  • Automatic transition to Grid view during Friends list scrolling.
  • Operator camera positions recalibrated for improved UI alignment
  • Filter/Sort adjustments
  • Corrected Player Browser scrolling behavior when not at capacity.
  • Fixed Calling Cards display issue preventing proper Showcase presentation after player assignment.
  • Resolved progression sorting malfunction in Player Browser.
  • Eliminated empty attachment nodes during Weapon Inspection when no attachments equipped.
  • Refined member list states (muted, talking, connected, etc.) for improved clarity
  • Enhanced text message state visibility within game channels for sender identification
  • Member list now segregates players by team in lobbies
  • Fixed audio persistence issue where lobby players remained audible while connected to custom channels
  • Implemented text chat capability with “Group” members
  • Discover or establish communities using this innovative social feature.
  • UI Improvement Tip: The updated XP token management system allows strategic activation during intense gameplay sessions. Save tokens for extended play periods rather than activating them randomly.

    Common Mistake: Players often forget they can now equip XP tokens mid-match. Set reminders to activate tokens at the start of promising sessions rather than waiting until lobby screens.

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