What does Modern Warfare 3 carry forward mean? For the first time, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 introduces the carry forward feature, allowing players to bring their best items from Modern Warfare 2 into the new game. While players have been able to transfer items between mainline games and Warzone before, this is the first time it is possible between main campaign games.
A year after the release of Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3 continues the story and is the first game in the Call of Duty series to be released in consecutive years since Finest Hour. Perhaps the introduction of the MW3 carry forward feature is a way to make the last 12 months of playing MW2 worthwhile. If you’re unsure about the availability of your existing operators, guns, and camos in the new game, here is everything we know about Modern Warfare 3 carry forward and what you can expect in your collection when the MW3 release date arrives.
Explanation of MW3 carry forward
Almost all of the items you currently own in Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 will automatically be available in Modern Warfare 3. The only exceptions are Wartracks and skins for items that may not be available in Modern Warfare 3, such as specific vehicle types. The following is a full list of items that can be carried forward:
- Operators
- Operator skins
- Weapons
- Weapon blueprints
- Weapon attachments
- Weapon camos*
- Weapon charms
- Weapon stickers
- Weapon level
- Emblems
- Calling Cards
- Loading Screens
Gear that has been carried forward will be available in MW3 automatically starting from season one. To access your items, simply ensure that you are logged in with the same Call of Duty account that you use for Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2. Only items earned in the second version of Warzone, known as Warzone 2.0 starting from November 2022, will be carried forward from Warzone.
Weapon camos that you have unlocked in Modern Warfare 2 are available in MW3, but only for use on MW2 weapons. For example, if you have the MW2 Orion camo, you can only apply it to MW2 guns.
If you have never played MW2 but plan on picking up MW3, you may be concerned about being at a disadvantage with so many weapons available. The answer is both yes and no. All MW2 guns are available in MW3, but they must be unlocked through in-game challenges, so you may find yourself at a disadvantage during your initial days of gameplay.
How do base operator skins work?
Base operator skins work in the same way when carried forward to Modern Warfare 3. If you have unlocked a base operator, that operator and their skins will be carried forward.
If you have only unlocked a special skin and not the base character, such as a battle pass variant, then only the limited-time skin will be carried forward.
Can you transfer items back to MW2?
The carry forward feature does not work in reverse, meaning you cannot bring items from Modern Warfare 3 back into MW2. However, the good news is that there is a large amount of new gear to collect in MW3, in addition to the items you carry forward.
It’s also worth noting that the items carried forward to MW3 are not taken from Modern Warfare 2 and will appear in both games simultaneously.
That concludes the answers to your questions about MW3 carry forward. Now that you know which items you can bring into Modern Warfare 3, why not take a look at the best Modern Warfare 2 guns, the top MW2 perks and killstreaks, and make sure you have everything you need for the upcoming MW3 beta, which is just around the corner.