Cold War April 23 patch notes: AK-74u buff, Patrol Grip SMG bonus speed, Zombies, more

The first Cold War Season 3 patch brings several balance changes and a free access week for Cold War multiplayer and the Outbreak mode!

It hasn't even been a full day since the start of Season 3 and Treyarch has already released the first batch of updates for the game.

The 23rd April update for Black Ops Cold War brings small adjustments to the AK-74u, Patrol Grip Underbarrel, and Speedgrip Underbarrel.

According to Treyarch, these changes have a goal "to ensure that SMGs remain faster to sprint with than assault rifles by default".

The AK-74u now has increased base sprint speed, shooting move speed, and reload sprint speed, but Patrol Grip Underbarrel now has a slightly reduced sprint speed bonus for SMGs, and the same goes for Speedgrip Underbarrel and Assault Rifles, Tactical Rifles, and Sniper Rifles.

Double XP weekend is back (Picture: Activision)

Asides from these changes, today's patch brings back 2XP + 2WXP Weekend (23-26 April) and free access to both multiplayer and Zombies Outbreak mode.

• Read more: Best weapons in Warzone Season 3: The strongest and most broken guns

Check out the full patch notes below.

Black Ops Cold War 23rd April full patch notes

GLOBAL

Events

• 2XP + 2WXP Weekend (April 23-26)
  • 2XP + 2WXP Weekend now live through 10AM PT April 23, featuring Double XP and Double Weapon XP in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone.
• Multiplayer & Outbreak Free Access (April 23-28)
  • Multiplayer & Outbreak Free Access available through 10AM PT April 28.
  • Download from your platform store and jump into a selection of Multiplayer maps, modes, and the latest Outbreak content in Zombies.

UI

• Addressed an issue where the player could see UI Error 95650 or 22241 when switching to the Weapons tab in the Multiplayer or Zombies menu while playing offline.
• Addressed an issue where the player could see UI Error 61712 when entering the Campaign menu.
• Addressed "Showcase Weapon" issues when equipping certain weapons.
• Updated map description text for Yamantau and Diesel.

Create-a-Class

• Added “Delete” option for Custom Mods.

Stability

• Fixed a rare crash related to the destruction of vehicles.

MULTIPLAYER

Weapons

• Submachine Guns
  • AK-74u
    • Increased base sprint speed to align with other SMG sprint speeds.
    • Increased shooting move speed and reload sprint speed.
  • Attachments (All SMGs)
    • Patrol Grip Underbarrel
      • Slightly reduced sprint speed bonus for Patrol Grip Underbarrel for SMGs to match Pistol sprint speed.
• Assault Rifles
  • QBZ-83
    • Attachments
      • Patrol Grip Underbarrel
        • Added a sprint to fire bonus for the Patrol Grip Underbarrel.
        • Slightly reduced the Patrol Grip sprint speed bonus.
• Attachments (Assault Rifles, Tactical Rifles, Sniper Rifles)
  • Speedgrip Underbarrel
    • Slightly reduced sprint speed bonus for the Speedgrip Underbarrel on Assault Rifles, Tactical Rifles, and Sniper Rifles to ensure SMGs maintain a faster sprint speed when using the same attachment.

Developer’s note: The overall goal of these changes is to ensure that SMGs are faster to use than assault rifles by default. The AK-74u required some slight speed increases in order to bring it in-line with the rest of its class, and sprint speed bonuses for the Speedgrip Underbarrel on assault rifles, tactical rifles, and sniper rifles required an adjustment to ensure SMGs are faster to sprint with compared to these classes when using this attachment.

Movement

• Reduced the time that it takes to transition out of a slide to a standing position.
• Made adjustments to the delay when transitioning between crouch and stand.

Modes

• Search & Destroy
  • Reduced volume of the audio stingers when a player is eliminated.

ZOMBIES

Outbreak

• Gameplay
  • Ammo Mod and Aether Tool item drops can now be discovered in Outbreak.
  • Launchers can now lock onto Special and Elite enemies.
  • Added a new enemy that can drop a Ray Gun when killed. Keep an eye out for the pink mohawk...

Dead Ops Arcade 3

• Gameplay
  • Addressed an error where split-screen players could get a “Game Over” screen after defeating the Mamaback.
  • Addressed an issue where enemies not dying after a failed Room of Judgment event could cause unwanted player deaths or game-overs.
• Challenges
  • Addressed an issue where the “Full Arsenal” Challenge could not be completed after fully upgrading all seven weapons in a single match.

Stability

• Added a crash fix related to Exfil.