Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 update has SP-R nerfs and M16 buffs

The first major Modern Warfare 2 update has arrived alongside Season 01 and Warzone 2, and now the proper Modern Warfare 2 patch notes have dropped with a host of weapon balancing updates for both games.

Assault rifles are all getting a bit of reduction in long-range effectiveness with an increase to long-distance flinch, and the official site goes deep on some more specific changes. The M16 in particular is in line for no fewer than eight separate changes – mostly buffs for everything from rate of fire to movement speed and recoil.

Another particularly notable change comes to the SP-R 208 - there's been a "large increase to flinch when hit". That's not a massive change, but it should help bring the marksman rifle back in line with its fellows.

Also of note: we've got "improved footstep audio". The patch notes aren't specific on what this means, but early player reports suggest that steps have gotten much louder. Campers are getting a big setback of their own, though, with the drill charge now able to kill through riot shields.

Broadly, Modern Warfare 2 appears to have gotten off to a good start, helped along commercially by becoming the biggest Call of Duty launch in history. The $800 million that the game made in its first three days is a nice boon for Activision. Now, the fans are hopping into the new battle royale in droves, though the arrival of Warzone 2 has had players bidding farewell to the original.

Here's our guide to all the Modern Warfare 2 maps, and our breakdown of the Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 roadmap for Season 01.