Summary
Call of Dutyis receiving a large update today that implements some highly requested changes to how Call of Duty HQ handles game installations.Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3and previous titles in the series have been known to take up quite a lot of space, with the current title taking up 213 GB of space on PC and 240 GB on PS5 and Xbox at launch.
The reasons whyCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3had a massive file sizeat launch were mentioned by the officialCall of DutyTwitter account on July 09, 2025.Warzonewas primarily to blame, as the battle royale mode was mandatory to download alongside theModern Warfaretitle. The vast open world of theZombiesmode and certain maps also contributed to the large download necessary on day one.
At 9am PT on August 21, Activision released an update for Call of Duty HQ in an ongoing effort to reorganize the app andreduce the file size ofCall of Duty.Warzoneis no longer a mandatory download when installingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, reducing the amount of space needed to install the game significantly. An easier-to-navigate UI for the app is set to be released in October, andBlack Ops 6is expected to have a smaller file size than MW3.
Call of Duty HQ Update Attempts To Reorganize the App
The update also marks the beginning of Season 5 Reloaded, which adds new weapons, maps, gameplay features, operators, and more. The season also marks the return of the fan-favoriteCyber Attack game mode, in which two teams fight over control of an EMP device that spawns in the center of the map. This game mode hasn’t been seen since the release of 2019’sModern Warfareand is a welcome addition for fans. Other game modes included in the Season 5 update are Fishfection, Paintball, and Defuse and Destroy. A new map variant of Stash House called Ink House has also been added, giving it a cel-shaded, inked look.
Fans havecriticized the Call of Duty HQ appfor its mandatory use to launch into aCall of Dutygame. Players on PC already need to launch something like Steam or Battle.net to even enter the Call of Duty HQ app, adding another launcher into the mix. The update size for Call of Duty HQ is 21GB on PS5, and players will need to install three more downloads to fully implement the patch. Xbox has an update with a size of around 91GB, with PC players are looking at an estimated 70GB download.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
WHERE TO PLAY
The war has changed. Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet
