UPDATE: A previous version of this post claimed the Hardhat map was already available. Currently, the map does not appear to be live. The article has been changed to reflect this.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will be receiving a substantial new update that adds a ton of new features to both standard multiplayer and Warzone, but one of the most significant additions coming with the patch is the brand new map, Hardhat. A classic that's sure to be familiar to most Modern Warfare fans, Hardhat maintains so much of what made its original rendition great while giving it a fresh coat of paint for a different game.
This week's Modern Warfare update brings a number of changes to multiplayer, including the typical playlist updates and bug fixes. A new Gunfight makes its debut this week with an exclusive playlist, and the new Warzone update is sure to please longtime fans. Most of the season's new multiplayer content was added when the season kicked off a few weeks ago, but there's still a little bit of juice left in Modern Warfare Season 3, a fact that was made apparent by today's update.
Hardhat, which Activision stated in a blog post is available now but does not appear to be live, is the last new multiplayer map of the season, but calling it new is a bit of a stretch. Hardhat initially debuted in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and the version of Hardhat added to Modern Warfare is largely the same barring a few aesthetic differences. It's also not to be confused with the classic Modern Warfare 2 map, Highrise. Hardhat will be available in its own 24/7 playlist this week to allow players to get their fill of the map before it ends up in the standard quickplay rotation.
Hardhat is designed with close-quarters engagements in mind, forcing players into fast-paced, frenetic combat at the scene of a construction site. It should provide a nice change of pace from Modern Warfare's larger, more open maps. While the majority of the map allows for close-quarters engagements, there are still a few longer sight-lines that allow for sniper rifles and marksman rifles to excel. Hardhat was a fan-favorite during the Modern Warfare 3 era, and it'll likely feel right at home amongst the newer Modern Warfare maps.
Hardhat is one of the more underappreciated maps from the Modern Warfare trilogy, and it's nice to see it get some recognition in Modern Warfare. Other maps from the Modern Warfare games, like Rust, Shipment, and Terminal, tend to get remakes often, while other great maps are left to the wayside. Hopefully, Hardhat will pave the way for more Modern Warfare 3 content. Other maps like Dome and Arkaden remain trapped in Modern Warfare 3, just begging for a remake or reimagining in a modern game. With the pace at which Infinity Ward doles out new maps, however, it wouldn't be surprising to see one of these maps added to Modern Warfare sometime in the coming months.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: Activision