Based on the latest gameplay from COD Next 2023, visual recoil appears to be toned down in Modern Warfare 3. Compared to Modern Warfare 2, which has been the main Call of Duty since October 2022, the visual recoil seems to be far less cluttered, and streamers at the event have even had a chance to put the MW2 weapon changes to the test.
For those who haven’t been mixed up in the aiming discourse, visual recoil is the way that recoil and kick are presented on your weapon. General recoil causes your weapon to kick in a certain pattern, which can be tracked while aiming down sights. The visual recoil is how much your sight shakes overall and how much visual clutter there is on the screen, like smoke.
It’s been apparent since the first MW3 reveal trailer that visual recoil would be toned down for all the new weapons, but how MW2 weapons would look is a different story. Every weapon from MW2 2022 will be present in MW3, and based on the footage from COD Next 2023, there are some adjustments.
I watched Nicari use the Cronen Squall in the main Call of Duty stream and I watched Symfuhny run around with the PDSW 528. After going back to MW2 and testing the weapons myself, the weapon kick seems to be tuned downward and there is far less smoke. The PDSW specifically lacks the massive amount of muzzle flash that comes from the barrel and crowds the reticle.
Ultimately this means firing your weapon is going to feel much cleaner. Some MW2 weapons were so cluttered with visuals that smoke would cover the reticle, so it will be interesting to see how each of the old weapons gets updated for Modern Warfare 3.
Another change to your aim in Modern Warfare 3 is aim assist in general, which appears to have been nerfed as well.
