How Long is the Campaign in Modern Warfare PS4? A Deep Dive
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The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare campaign on the PlayStation 4 offers an intense and gripping experience, but how long will it keep you engaged? The short answer is: the Modern Warfare (2019) campaign typically takes around 3 to 4 hours to complete. This makes it one of the shortest campaigns in the Call of Duty franchise in recent memory. However, this duration can vary depending on several factors, which we’ll explore in detail. While some players might blitz through it in even less time, a more leisurely playthrough focusing on exploration and enjoying the narrative will fall within the 3-4 hour range.
Factors Affecting Campaign Playtime
While the baseline completion time sits at 3 to 4 hours, several factors can influence how long it takes you to finish the Modern Warfare campaign on your PS4:
Difficulty Setting
The most significant factor is undoubtedly the difficulty setting you choose. Playing on Recruit or Regular difficulty will generally result in a faster playthrough as you’ll encounter less resistance and require fewer attempts to overcome challenging scenarios. Conversely, opting for Hardened or Veteran difficulty will significantly increase the amount of time it takes to complete the campaign. You’ll need to be more tactical, utilize cover effectively, and potentially retry sections multiple times, significantly increasing your playtime.
Playstyle
Your personal playstyle will also impact the duration. If you are a player who likes to rush through the levels, aiming only to complete objectives, you’ll finish faster. Conversely, players who enjoy exploring the environment, searching for hidden intel, and carefully planning each encounter will take more time. Those who appreciate the immersive qualities and appreciate details such as the graphics and storyline will also have longer playtime.
Collectibles
The Modern Warfare campaign features collectible intel hidden throughout each mission. Finding all of these can add a substantial amount of time to your overall playthrough. If you are a completionist who intends to gather every piece of intel, expect to spend additional time exploring each level thoroughly.
Rushing vs. Tactical Play
Players who prefer a more aggressive and direct approach may complete the campaign faster than those who favor a tactical, methodical style of gameplay. Those who carefully analyze enemy positions and execute strategic maneuvers will have a much longer overall playtime.
Experience with COD Games
Your experience with Call of Duty games in general plays a role too. Veteran Call of Duty players might be able to complete the Modern Warfare campaign more quickly, as they’re likely to be familiar with the game mechanics and common combat situations. Newer players may take more time to adjust and progress through the game.
Campaign Overview
The Modern Warfare campaign on PS4 features 14 high-action missions, each with its own distinct setting and challenges. The story follows a CIA officer and British SAS forces as they team up with rebels from the fictional Republic of Urzikstan. Together, they combat Russian Armed Forces who have invaded the country, as well as the Urzik terrorist group Al-Qatala, all while searching for a stolen shipment of chlorine gas. The narrative takes you on a rollercoaster journey that is action-packed and filled with plot twists and shocking moments.
Is the Short Campaign Length a Problem?
Despite its brevity, the Modern Warfare campaign on PS4 is widely praised for its tight pacing, intense moments, and mature storytelling. While some may lament the shorter playtime, the general consensus is that the game is a quality experience. The focus on high-intensity set pieces and a more gritty and realistic tone make up for the fact that the campaign does not have the longest playtime. This approach to narrative and gameplay also helped shape the future of other Call of Duty titles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Does the Modern Warfare campaign on PS4 unlock anything?
Yes, the Modern Warfare campaign rewards players with in-game content upon completion of each mission. These rewards can improve and speed up your online multiplayer progress. Rewards include weapon blueprints, experience tokens, and unique customization items.
2. Is the Modern Warfare campaign pack free?
No, the Modern Warfare campaign is not free. It is part of the paid full game experience. While Call of Duty: Warzone is a free-to-play component, the core campaign is a separate purchase.
3. What is the order of the Modern Warfare campaigns?
The Modern Warfare timeline includes Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2 (2009), and Modern Warfare 3 (2011). Then there is a separate reboot timeline which starts with Modern Warfare (2019), followed by Modern Warfare II (2022) and then Modern Warfare III (2023).
4. Is Modern Warfare worth buying solely for the campaign?
Many fans believe the Modern Warfare (2019) campaign is worth buying for its engaging story, gripping set pieces, and overall quality. It’s considered one of the stronger single-player experiences in the recent Call of Duty releases. It’s usually bundled with other content but the campaign itself is worthy of purchase on its own.
5. What is the hardest Call of Duty campaign?
Call of Duty: World at War is often considered the hardest Call of Duty campaign, known for its intense enemy presence and challenging missions. World at War presents a consistently difficult experience to players on all difficulty levels.
6. What’s the shortest Call of Duty campaign?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is considered one of the shortest campaigns in the series, coming in at around 3-4 hours of average playtime. Though, Modern Warfare III (2023) has been said to be of a similar length and may be shorter for some players.
7. Which COD has the easiest campaign?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) is often considered to have one of the easiest campaigns, especially on veteran difficulty. This is based on the fact that it is very straightforward and easy to play.
8. How many missions are in the Modern Warfare campaign on PS4?
The Modern Warfare campaign on PS4 consists of 14 missions that range in settings and combat encounters. Each mission is designed to immerse you in the world and progress the engaging storyline.
9. Do you have to play Call of Duty campaigns in order?
Generally, while each Call of Duty campaign has a distinct narrative, it’s recommended to play them in release order for a better understanding of the series lore. The Modern Warfare reboot, however, is a separate storyline from the original trilogy and can be played as its own experience.
10. Does every Call of Duty game have a campaign?
No, not every Call of Duty game has a traditional campaign mode. For example, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 did not feature a dedicated campaign and instead focused on multiplayer, zombies, and a battle royale mode. Most other Call of Duty releases contain campaigns but there are some exceptions.
11. Can you download just the campaign for Modern Warfare?
Yes, on platforms like PS4, you have the option to download and install specific components of the game, including the campaign separately from multiplayer or other modes. This is done from the game’s main menu, allowing you to customize the installation.
12. What is free to play in Modern Warfare?
Call of Duty: Warzone is the free-to-play battle royale experience that is tied to the Modern Warfare franchise. It features a large map, various game modes, and cross-platform play. However, you need to purchase the full game in order to play the campaign and other full game modes.
13. Can I play the Modern Warfare campaign without an Activision account?
No, an Activision account is required to play the Modern Warfare campaign. This account tracks your progression, unlocks, and cross-platform play abilities. It is necessary to create an Activision account in order to access any online modes.
14. Why is the Call of Duty campaign locked?
A Call of Duty campaign may be locked for a variety of reasons. These include lack of required storage space, an error during the downloading process, and incorrect configuration settings. Generally, a reinstall of the required game content will solve this issue.
15. What COD is the most realistic?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is often cited as the most realistic Call of Duty title. This is thanks to the game employing enhanced graphical capabilities and techniques, including the use of photogrammetry. This realism is noticeable in both the graphics and the gameplay.