How to Unlock MW3 Ranked Play

When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Season 1 Reloaded drops, some fans will need to unlock MW3 Ranked Play to access the competitive mode.

After launching without Ranked Play in November, MW3 will finally feature the fan-favorite mode in just one week. Call of Duty players of all ages and skill levels will get the chance to play matches in Hardpoint, Search & Destroy, and Control under the CDL ruleset. With eight Skill Divisions and plenty of free rewards along the way, Ranked Play promises to bring a whole new competitive fire to the latest title.

Unfortunately, once Season 1 Reloaded hits the servers, some players will find Ranked Play locked.

Why is MW3 Ranked Play Locked?

Come Warzone Season 1 Reloaded, not all players will automatically get to dive into Ranked Play. In fact, some might log on to see that MW3 Ranked Play is locked. The mode has certain requirements players must fulfill to unlock it before they can participate in Ranked Play. If you are new to MW3 or only played on release day, you will need to take a few extra steps to unlock Ranked Play.

How to Unlock MW3 Ranked Play

To unlock MW3 Ranked Play, players must reach Level 55 in MW3. Those who are below the threshold will not be able to access Ranked Play. If your account is already beyond Level 55, then you will have no issues loading into your first Ranked match come release day.

Reaching Level 55 is easier than it might sound. Take a break from Battle Royale matches and instead focus on dominating multiplayer pubs. Take advantage of Shipment and tally as many kills as possible. If you have any Double XP Tokens stashed away, make sure to use them as well. Before you know it, you will be Level 55.

When Does MW3 Ranked Play Go Live?

MW3 Ranked Play goes live in MW3 Season 1 Reloaded on Jan. 17, 2024. The update will hit the game at 12 p.m. ET. At the time of writing, players have six days to get to Level 55 so they can begin their climb to the Top 250 right away.