Thinking about using a Modern Warfare 3 VPN? Virtual private networks (VPNs) can do a lot to enhance players’ experience in this game, just as they did with previous installments. If you have one in place, you can ensure you’re on a level playing field with all the other players using one.
The Call of Duty MW3 release date has now passed, and the Call of Duty MW3 multiplayer lobbies are going to be filled with excited new players looking to build a reputation on the battlefield. With the return of classic game modes like Kill Confirmed and Hardpoint, and a wide selection of Call of Duty MW3 maps (both old and new), the game is sure to offer countless hours of entertainment – and a VPN can put a cherry on top of this tasty gameplay cake.
Use the links below to jump ahead to the different sections on what a VPN can do for your COD career:
What exactly does a VPN do?
A VPN is a piece of software that enables you to connect your device to the internet via servers in different locations around the world. With the click of a virtual switch, you’ll be able to connect to the internet through another region – giving you access to online content that wouldn’t normally be available to you.
Doing this also has the benefit of covering your tracks. For a lot of people, a VPN is worth having for the privacy alone. Your internet services provider tracks everything you do on the internet, but it is unable to do that if you’re connecting through a VPN server.
Depending on which provider you go for, you may also gain access to a range of other features too. For example, some of them also double as ad blockers, while others still help optimize your device and keep it running as smoothly as possible. Really, there are loads of things that they can do, but they primarily focus on privacy and performance.
You may be thinking “That’s all well and good, but what does that have to do with Modern Warfare 3?” and that’s a good question. VPNs can enhance your gameplay experience in a number of ways, and below we have details on which VPN you should choose (as there are loads of them) as well as what it can do for you.
What is the best Modern Warfare 3 VPN?
ExpressVPN is the best Modern Warefare 3 VPN. This provider is already at the top of our best VPN for Xbox guide and is the best PS5 and PS4 VPN. Why? Because it fulfills all of the following criteria:
- Servers: ExpressVPN has an impressive range of servers, spanning almost 100 countries. This gives you the opportunity to connect through any one of those regions, making it easier for you to connect to new (and potentially easier) lobbies.
- Speed: This is one of the fastest VPN services on the market. Its standard download speeds are above average, in part because it uses the superfast Lightway Protocol – designed by the tech geniuses at ExpressVPN and exclusively available through that VPN.
- Router supporter: As long as you have a compatible VPN router, everything in your house (including your consoles) can be connected via the VPN. Find out how to use a VPN on Xbox.
ExpressVPN has a huge range of benefits for anybody who’s interested in protecting their privacy and enhancing their experience of the internet. We know, because we use it ourselves. If you’re wary about shelling out for the service, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that enables you to get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
How a Modern Warfare 3 VPN can improve performance
When you connect to the internet, your ISP sees everything you do. If you do something that uses a lot of bandwidth, it will slow down your connection speeds because it doesn’t want you to use a lot of bandwidth. Playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 online is certainly something that can use a lot of bandwidth and prompt your ISP to slow download speeds and negatively impact your experience of the game.
When you have a VPN on, your ISP can’t see what you’re doing on any of your devices, because you’re connecting through a server that is located somewhere else entirely (possibly on the other side of the world). As the ISP is unable to reduce download speeds across all of your devices, it is then unable to do anything about high bandwidth and you can then enjoy faster connection speeds.
Players have enjoyed the benefits of a VPN in Warzone, Warzone 2.0, Modern Warfare 2, and countless other games. You can do the same with Modern Warfare 3.
How to get easier lobbies in Modern Warfare 3
A problem Call of Duty fans sometimes face is that the matching systems tend to put them in lobbies with players who are beyond their skill level. In theory, the games are supposed to match you with equally skilled players so that you have a consistent level of challenge, but in practice, it was often the case that players ended up being constantly defeated by more experienced opponents.
VPNs have provided a way to get around this problem for years, and continue to do so with Modern Warfare 3. Though Activision has never revealed exactly how its match-making system works, players have found that they get added to easier lobbies when they connect with a VPN. Though there’s an element of speculation here, many believe that because you connect through a different server when the VPN is on, you can end up with a smaller selection of other players, and consequently, a smaller selection of absolute pros. Too many hot shots in your server? Use a VPN and switch to another.
We can’t say for certain that that’s how it works, but we can say that players have spotted patterns with their VPN on. Even if it works in a completely different way, it would still appear that the VPN can help you find easier lobbies. We recommend having one in place for Call of Duty: MW3.
Can you get banned for using a VPN on Call of Duty games?
Nope. Activision’s Terms of Service makes no reference to VPN software and it certainly doesn’t prohibit its use. Other services and games do explicitly ban VPN use, but that’s not the case here and it is unlikely that this will change any time soon.
Will a VPN affect ping?
No, it shouldn’t do. Especially not if you’re using ExpressVPN. Using a free VPN, or a cheaper, less reliable service might have a negative impact, but otherwise, you should be absolutely fine.
How to set up a Modern Warfare 3 VPN
If you’re playing on a PC, it will just be a case of switching on the VPN before you start playing the game. However, if you’re a console gamer, we have a couple of guides that will help you to get set up:
Are VPNs safe and legal?
Yes, in the majority of regions (including both the US and the UK) VPNs are perfectly legal – and regardless of your region, they are safe. Of course, if you are unfortunate enough to live somewhere where they are legally prohibited, they are unsafe in the sense that you could get in trouble for using them, but they are not harmful pieces of software. Although, having said that, we recommend going for a well-known, respected brand, like ExpressVPN, rather than an unknown free solution, which might be storing data on you.
We also have guides on using a Warzone VPN, a Modern Warfare 2 VPN, and a Warzone 2 VPN, but you should have all the information you need here. Our Call of Duty MW3 review will tell you everything you need to know about our thoughts on the game, and our Call of Duty MW 3 guns guide will give you an idea of which weapons to use while you play.