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How Big is MW3 Going to Be? A Deep Dive into File Sizes and More

The question on every Call of Duty fan’s mind is: how big is Modern Warfare III going to be? The short answer is: it’s complex. The overall storage footprint for MW3 (2023) varies significantly depending on your platform and whether you already have existing Call of Duty installations. On PlayStation 5, the total install size has been reported to be a whopping 234.9GB, which is significantly larger than previous titles. This doesn’t just include the Modern Warfare 3 game itself, but also required components like the Call of Duty HQ. It’s clear that storage management is a key factor for players diving into the latest iteration of this massive franchise. For those with only the core Call of Duty HQ base file the download size is 100GB. This base file is a hub for the most recent Call of Duty titles, not just MW3. If you’re on PC, the situation is slightly different. The Steam page requires 149 GB of SSD space for MW3 if you’re installing the game fresh. However, if you already have Call of Duty HQ and Warzone installed, that requirement drops to a comparatively smaller 78 GB. This variation stems from the fact that certain assets and resources are shared across these titles to create a more unified experience and enable shared progression between games.

Understanding the File Size Breakdown

The large file sizes of modern Call of Duty games, including MW3, can seem daunting, but they’re not without reason. Several contributing factors account for these enormous storage requirements:

Call of Duty HQ: This central hub is mandatory, and it takes a significant chunk of storage (~50GB). Call of Duty HQ acts as the launching pad for Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, and Warzone.
Shared Assets: Many assets, particularly weapons, skins, and character models, are shared across MWII, MWIII and Warzone. This means that if you already have some of these games installed, you will only have to download what is specific to MW3 rather than the entire game.
High-Quality Textures and Audio: Modern games, and especially first-person shooters, often require high quality textures and lossless audio to create the immersive experience players crave, but this comes at a cost of greater file sizes.
Content Updates: Ongoing updates with new maps, modes, and cosmetics are a constant source of further storage demands. The game evolves with every season, which is good for the life of the game, but also grows the required storage.
Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies: MW3 packs in a lot of gameplay options, the single player campaign, the multiplayer game, and the Zombies mode all contribute to the size. It’s not just a singular mode you’re downloading, so the storage requirements are higher than it used to be in gaming.

The Impact of Legacy Content

One critical element is the integration of past content. A lot of content from Modern Warfare II carries over to Modern Warfare III. This is done to unify the games’ experience and make sure weapons and customization progress across titles, however, this also contributes to the overall size. The downside of this for players is a larger installation size. The benefit is that players can maintain their progression and enjoy all their unlocked content.

Factors to Consider When Planning Storage

Before diving into MW3, you should make sure you have sufficient storage on your system. The size of your drive is going to dictate whether or not you can comfortably install and play. Here are a few critical factors to keep in mind:

Platform: As seen earlier, PlayStation 5, PC, and older console systems all have slightly different storage requirements. Know your platform and the storage it requires.
Existing Installations: If you have Call of Duty HQ, Modern Warfare II, or Warzone installed, expect your download size to be lower. If not, be prepared for the larger end of the size spectrum.
Updates: With the live service model of MW3, expect periodic updates and new content that will further increase the game’s size over time. Ensure you have some breathing room.
SSD vs HDD: SSD (Solid State Drive) is almost mandatory for a modern gaming experience like MW3. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) might work but you will see significant drawbacks, longer load times for example.
Regular Cleaning: You might need to uninstall older games or other files from your system to free up storage for MW3. Maintaining your files ensures you can fit the large games you are going to play.

The Cost of Convenience

While it is convenient to have a single hub for all Call of Duty games, this also results in increased file sizes. While there are benefits to this strategy like shared unlocks and unified menus, you also have to accept the fact that this will contribute to large game sizes. The goal is seamless transitions between games, even though this may mean additional storage requirements. It’s a matter of weighing the trade-offs between features and file size.

The Future of Call of Duty File Sizes

It’s likely that Call of Duty games will remain large, as they are now designed as a unified ecosystem with seamless transitions between titles and shared progress. With every new release and update, we may see file sizes continue to grow, requiring players to invest in storage solutions to make sure they have enough space to install and play. While there have been questions about optimizing the game to reduce the space it requires, this is unlikely in the near term.

FAQs About Modern Warfare III File Sizes

1. How much space does the MW3 beta take up?

The MW3 beta was reported to take up 24 GB, but it’s not a standalone game and requires the Call of Duty HQ.

2. How big is the Call of Duty HQ base file?

The Call of Duty HQ base file is approximately 100 GB.

3. Why is MW3 so big on PlayStation 5?

The PlayStation 5 install size of 234.9 GB includes the main game, the Call of Duty HQ, and potentially some legacy content.

4. Is the size of MW3 different on PC?

Yes, on PC, MW3 requires 149 GB on Steam if you’re installing fresh. If you have Call of Duty HQ and Warzone already installed, it reduces to 78 GB.

5. Why is MW3 so much bigger than previous titles?

The increased size is due to shared content between MWII, MWIII, and Warzone, high-quality assets, and multiple game modes.

6. Does Warzone contribute to the size of MW3?

Yes, the shared engine and assets from Warzone contribute to the overall file size of MW3 through Call of Duty HQ.

7. Will the file size of MW3 increase over time?

Yes, updates and new content releases will likely increase the overall storage required for the game.

8. Do I need an SSD to play MW3?

While technically an HDD might work, an SSD is highly recommended for faster loading times and better overall performance.

9. Does MW3 have a campaign?

Yes, MW3 has a campaign, in addition to multiplayer and zombies modes.

10. How long does it take to complete the MW3 campaign?

The campaign can be completed in 4-7 hours, depending on the difficulty you play on.

11. Is MW3 a standalone title or does it require other COD games?

MW3 is a standalone title, but requires the Call of Duty HQ for access. This hub is needed to play many of the most recent titles.

12. How much does MW3 cost?

MW3 is a full premium release priced at $70.

13. Is MW3 a reboot of the original Modern Warfare 3?

MW3 (2023) is a direct sequel to the 2022 game, Modern Warfare II, and is not the original game.

14. Is ranked play available in MW3?

Yes, Treyarch is bringing the ranked play system to MW3 with skill ratings and rank divisions.

15. How many copies of the original MW3 were sold?

The original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sold over 30.71 million copies.

By understanding these factors and file size implications, you’ll be better prepared to dive into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. It’s a large game with a lot of content, so managing storage will be critical.

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