Yes, you can play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PS5
As a passionate Call of Duty player and content creator, I can definitively say that Modern Warfare is fully playable on PS5 consoles via backwards compatibility.
How Backwards Compatibility Works for Modern Warfare
For disc owners, simply insert your PS4 Modern Warfare disc into the PS5 disc drive to install and play.
Those with a digital copy can navigate to their PS4 game library on PS5 and download the Modern Warfare PS4 version to access the game. No repurchasing required!
Saves, progression and purchased items like the battle pass carry forwards seamlessly thanks to the shared account system between PlayStation 4 and 5.
Here‘s a quick table outlining the process:
| PS4 Version Ownership | How to Access on PS5 |
|---|---|
| Physical Disc | Insert disc into PS5 drive |
| Digital Version | Download from PS4 game library |
It‘s that simple!
Enhanced Visuals, Frame Rates and Load Times
Thanks to the more powerful hardware in the PS5 such as the high speed SSD and updated GPU/CPU, Modern Warfare runs and loads significantly faster.
Digital Foundry analysis shows the PS5 version maintains 120FPS in multiplayer with full ray tracing enabled. That leads to incredibly fluid, responsive gameplay.
As you can see in the comparison video, details like shadows, reflections, lighting and textures also shine on PS5:
In addition, load times when booting up or transitioning between matches/modes have improved by 50-60% per Digital Foundry‘s testing:
| Transition | PS4 Load Time | PS5 Load Time | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boot to Main Menu | 55 seconds | 28 seconds | 49% faster |
| Multiplayer Map Load | 40 seconds | 15 seconds | 63% faster |
This dramatically improves pacing and cuts down on frustrating mid-match loading screens.
In summary – all aspects of Modern Warfare benefit noticeably from the PS5 enhancements. It feels like a true next-gen experience.
Robust Cross-Gen and Crossplay Support
An added benefit of playing Modern Warfare on PS5 is that you can play seamlessly with friends who own the game on PS4. Cross-gen support ensures PS4 and PS5 gamers are matchmade together.
Sony has reported over 30 million PS4s were sold in 2022 despite the PS5 being out. So that huge PS4 install base ensures no issues finding populated matches if your friends haven‘t upgraded yet.
And there‘s the hugely popular crossplay support allowing you to play with Xbox and PC friends. Per Activision over 50 million players logged into Warzone alone in 2022.
Let‘s break down those cross-platform player counts across 2022:
| Platform | Est. Modern Warfare Players |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | 19 million |
| PlayStation 4 | 17 million |
| Xbox Series X|S | 15 million |
| Xbox One | 10 million |
| PC (Battle.net) | 8 million |
That totals up to a staggering 69 million players across platforms that you can matchmake with! No issues finding matches.
So if all your buddies aren‘t console agnostics, crossplay ensures you can squad up together even if they are still on PS4 or playing over on Xbox/PC.
Fixing Common PS5 Install Issues
Some PS5 players report hitting snags installing Modern Warfare or accessing multiplayer like:
- Installation suspended
- Asked to purchase Modern Warfare when they own it
- Missing required multiplayer packs
Luckily these are common bugs with known solutions.
For installation suspended errors, you likely just need to update your game licenses. Head into Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Restore Licenses. Easy!
If faced with a prompt to purchase Modern Warfare despite owning it, restart your PS5 console and launch the game again. That typically resolves the issue.
And missing multiplayer packs can be identified and installed from the main menu. Just scroll down to the Multiplayer section, press R3, and install any packs marked "Missing".
For more detailed troubleshooting, I‘ve created a [full guide here] that goes through all steps resolving these installation headaches step-by-step.
The Verdict? An Absolute Must Play on PS5
Given the visual enhancements, cooperative crossplay support and simple backwards compatibility – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is an absolute must play on PlayStation 5 consoles.
The fluid 120FPS multiplayer and faster load times let you experience both Modern Warfare (2019) and the free-to-play Warzone mode in their best form yet.
combined with rock-solid backwards compatibility and crossplay support, I can whole-heartedly recommend picking up a copy to play on your shiny new PS5.
You‘ll immediately notice the generational leap firsthand thanks to the power provided by the PlayStation 5!
Let me know if you have any other questions about playing Modern Warfare on PS5 via my social channels below!
[links to website/YouTube/Twitch]