Yes, You Can Still Play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Online in 2024
I‘m thrilled to report that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s legendary multiplayer mode is still online and active as of February 2023! By popular demand, Activision has kept a fraction of servers running, allowing fans to continue enjoying MW3‘s refined maps and combat over a decade after launch.
In this guide, we‘ll take a nostalgic trip back to 2011 while examining the current state of Modern Warfare 3‘s online ecosystem. Is the player base still strong? Which platforms offer the best experience? And what‘s the future look like for one of Call of Duty‘s most beloved entries? Read on to find out!
MW3 Multiplayer in 2024: Still Truckin‘ Along
Let‘s begin with the question on every fan‘s mind: just how active are the MW3 servers in 2024?
Well, thanks toEliasWay‘s Channel on YouTube, we have hard evidence of matches occurring as recently as January 2023. By examining player counts in recent gameplay footage, MW3 appears to average around 3,000 concurrent players across consoles.
While a fraction of the player base compared to newer entries, 3,000 users is impressive nonetheless. For comparison, that‘s over double what 2008‘s World at War sees on a good day. Clearly, fans cannot get enough of MW3‘s polished maps and kinetic gameplay all these years later.
Most Active Platforms
Now which platforms offer the smoothest MW3 multiplayer experience heading into 2023? Let‘s rank them from most to least active.
PlayStation 3: By far the strongest platform – PS3 sees faster matchmaking and lowest latency thanks to cross-compatibility with PS4 users. No hacking issues either.
Xbox 360: Respectable population but has been more prone to server outages, longer queue times, and occasional cheaters lately. Still very playable overall.
PC: Thanks to modded clients and customized servers, PC preserves MW3 well. But vanilla matchmaking is essentially dead – we recommend downloadingmods to access lobbies.
So PlayStation 3 emerges as the best option by a narrow margin over Xbox 360 and PC. But in truth, all platforms continue trucking along – a testament to MW3‘s lasting allure.
Game Modes and Map Analysis
Alright, 12 years later, which game modes remain populated in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3? Let‘s break down queues by platform:
| Game Mode | PlayStation 3 | Xbox 360 | PC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Team Deathmatch | ✅️ | ✅️ | ❌️ (modded only) |
| Kill Confirmed | ✅️ | ✅️ | ❌️ |
| Domination | ✅️ | ✅️ | ❌️ |
| Search & Destroy | ✅️ | ❌️ | ✅️️ |
| Infected | ❌️ | ❌️ | ✅️ |
As expected, classic modes like Team DM and Domination fare the best years later. PC unsurprisingly leans into custom player-hosted matches – but requires modding. Overall, PS3 sees the most variety while Xbox 360 trails closely behind in populated queues.
Favorite Maps? The community still adores small-to-medium sized locales like Hardhat, Underground, and Dome. Some maps like Bakaara and Carbon have unfortunately withered from rotation – but stalwarts like Mission and Arkaden continue drawing players daily.
Will Activision Shut Down the Servers?
Given Call of Duty‘s annual release model, it‘s reasonable to ask – when will Activision pull the plug on MW3‘s ancient servers?
Frankly, there‘s no clear answer yet. Historically, Call of Duty servers operate on a ~5 year lifecycle before shutting down. Yet MW3 has somehow endured over a decade later, suggesting fans‘ passion grants it immunity. Even 2018‘s neglected WWII remains online today, implying yearly user numbers no longer dictate longevity.
Still, MW3 now sees severe latency spikes and outages from its withering infrastructure during peak hours. We estimate based on aging hardware that shutdown could occur between 2023 and 2025 – although Activision rarely provides closure on these decisions.
In the meantime, we advise players cherish the ability to play one of Call of Duty‘s most impactful entries online while they still can. MW3‘s multiplayer population now represents a tight-knit community of veterans keeping memories alive – see you on the Hardhat construction site!
FAQ
Here I‘ll tackle a few common questions players have about MW3 in 2024:
Q: Can I still level up and prestige?
Yes! All progression systems work normally. The sole exception is stat tracking sites like CODTracker – they shut down APIs for older entries.
Q: Does DLC work?
Unfortunately no – DLC map packs are no longer purchasable and their playlists deactivated from matchmaking. Owners can play privately though!
Q: Is competitive Ranked Play or Clan Wars available?
Sadly no. Without developer support, these complex systems faded years ago. But players host GameBattles tournaments periodically.
Q: Can I access old special events/playlists?
Events like double XP require backend input, so they no longer occur. However, players occasionally glitch special playlists back into rotation!
Closing Thoughts
Revisiting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer over a decade later proves one thing definitively – well-crafted games live forever. Though scaled back, MW3 retains the potent core that dazzled 30 million players at launch. And a small community of thousandsof loyalists refuse to release this masterpiece from their grasps.
So lock and load your AC-130 one final time, Marines. MW3‘s war rages on valiantly into the 2020s against all odds. See you for one last foray through the wrecked Paris catacombs before the darkness closes in for good. Oorah!
