Summary
Players ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3are concerned about a particularly powerful piece of gear that may be affecting the game’s competitive balance. One of the most powerful pieces in its category, the Covert Sneakers gear effectively removes a component of character detection inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, enabling players to move around much more stealthily than they should.
For as long asCall of Dutygames have had competitive online multiplayer modes, players have debated back and forth about the various games' balance. The mix of unique operators, gear choices, gun attachments and perks makes such discussions complex and potentially heated. Changes decried by some players might be favored by others, and even developer Sledgehammer Games can act to tamp down onoverpoweredCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3gearthrough patches and adjustments.
The Problem with Covert Sneakers in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The Covert Sneakers are so concerning toCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3players because of their powerful stealth-enhancing effects. A version ofthe long-running Dead Silence effect inCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Covert Sneakers will silence all the footstep noises and voice call-outs from the player wearing them. That means that a player wearing Covert Sneakers in a match can run and sprint in almost perfect silence, making them much harder to detect in the chaos of an in-game firefight. According to user zombz01 on theModern Warfare 3subreddit, Covert Sneakers are a “crutch” used by too many players. Zombz01 also complained that the footwear lacks “competition,” or similarly powerful choices in the same category that might make picking Covert Sneakers less tempting to most players.
Some members ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3subreddit agreed with zombz01’s assessment, particularly when it came to the issue of Covert Sneakers not having adequate competition in the Boot category. They said that other footwear options like Climbing Boots and Stalker Boots are too specialized or niche in their use cases, making Covert Sneakers a much easier pick over them. Still other players chimed in, saying the true issue with Covert Sneakers is that they lack a proper counter-pick inModern Warfare 3, leaving players lacking in ways to deal with an opponent wearing Covert Sneakers. Some suggested that theCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Bone Conduction Headset gear option be updated to better act as a counter to the Covert Sneakers, like whenthe High Alert perk was updated to counter Dead Silence inCall of Duty: Warzone.
Sound is an increasingly contested space in competitive multiplayer games, particularly shooters likeCall of Duty. As more games have incorporated 3D spatial audio and implemented complex positional soundscapes, being able to hear approaching threats from beyond one’s field of vision adds a competitive advantage. For other games, 3D audio can improve the immersive quality of a game, enhancing the feeling of “being there.” Even platform holders are getting into the mix, withSony promoting accessories like its Pulse 3D headsetas being specially tuned to take advantage of the PlayStation 5’s Tempest 3D audio codec.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
