Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Large File Size Explained by Activision, Optimization Underway

Activision has explained the substantial file size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and attributed this to the "increased amount of content" available on the game's launch day.

[{"selector":"#anim-b0aa1116-e589-44a8-9d4e-03fce2aaa80e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.166666570590614%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

The file size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3exceeds 200 GB on both console and PC, primarily due to various Warzone-related content install packs.

[{"selector":"#anim-ca5fbec9-534a-40d7-9b39-178725989af0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Early access to the Modern Warfare 3campaign began on November 2, allowing digitally pre-ordered players to complete the campaign and earn rewards for the multiplayer component.

[{"selector":"#anim-bd11e2ab-733e-48d1-a1f1-35e20668475e [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-0.09765537062710453%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Some players encountered issues such as "disk required" errors during early access to the campaign.

[{"selector":"#anim-f76a4c23-ba54-4d65-b40e-165af2b8c9b8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Which prompted PlayStation gamers to put together a PS4copy of Modern Warfare 2 to get the hang of it. Call of Duty developers are investigating and fixing these issues.

[{"selector":"#anim-b1b752bf-0044-4005-b266-984915b3abed [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Players have expressed dissatisfaction over the huge file size of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

[{"selector":"#anim-a843aa8c-1c54-41e9-a97f-b97337089a6f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(34.166666570590614%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Because it consumes a significant portion of the internal storage on a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S console.

[{"selector":"#anim-4ca3c259-7d37-41bd-9a1d-792a92143ed1 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

Activision's official Call of Duty Twitter account addressed the file size issue and acknowledged that it is larger than Modern Warfare 2.

[{"selector":"#anim-bb7469e2-7438-48b8-bff2-cde0432d78e0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(29.589844202719373%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]

He explained that the increase is due to content supported on launch day, including the open-world zombie mode support for carry-forward. System and map files for Warzone.

[{"selector":"#anim-231860dd-5e14-4f43-b667-484b86b8012a [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(14.843749786673241%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}]