Full Guide: Installing Modern Warfare Campaign on PS5
As a hardcore Call of Duty fan excited for my new PS5, the very first thing I did was install Modern Warfare (MW)‘s stellar campaign mode. This FPS masterpiece revolutionized the genre with its gripping storyline, real-world settings, and thrilling gameplay.
Based on my extensive troubleshooting for PS5 compatibility issues, here is the full guide to successfully installing MW‘s campaign:
At a Glance Instructions
To quickly install the MW campaign on PS5:
- Own a digital or disc copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- On PS5 dashboard, access MW and select manage content
- Check campaign packs and multiplayer packs
- Download packs totaling over 100GB
- Launch MW from dashboard and select Campaign
Now let‘s get into the nitty-gritty details.
Why Play MW Campaign on PS5?
As a content creator focused exclusively on Call of Duty since the early 2000s, the MW reboot remains one of my personal favorites for its phenomenal campaign mode. This gritty, authentic story following British and American forces captured critical acclaim in 2019.
- Over 200 Game of the Year nominations
- Highest-rated PS4 game on Metacritic in 2019
- Campaign showcases power of PS5 with 4K resolution and 60 FPS
- Next-gen lighting, textures & improved loading times
The PS5‘s ultra-fast solid state drive also nearly eliminates unbearably long load times experienced previously on PS4.
PS5 Hardware Capability Analysis
The PlayStation 5‘s cutting-edge hardware unlocks Modern Warfare‘s true graphical potential for superior campaign immersion compared to PS4.
| Hardware | PlayStation 4 | PlayStation 5 |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 8-Core AMD Jaguar | 8-Core AMD Zen 2 |
| GPU | AMD GCN | Custom RDNA 2 |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR5 | 16GB GDDR6 |
| Resolution | 1080p | 4K |
| Framerate (MW) | 60FPS | 60FPS (120FPS MP) |
As shown in the table above, the PS5 significantly outperforms PlayStation 4 with its custom 3.5GHz Zen 2 CPU, powerhouse 10.3 teraflop RDNA 2 GPU, and ultra-fast 16GB GDDR6 memory. This enables buttery smooth 60 FPS gameplay at up to 4K resolution.
Checking MW Version Compatibility
With so many Legacy editions, remasters and reboots, it can get confusing on which Modern Warfare releases work on PS5. Refer to this handy compatibility chart:
| Game | PS5 Compatible? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) | No | PS3 game, not remastered |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) | No | PS3 game |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011) | No | PS3 game |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016) | Yes | Remaster of COD4, available on PS Store |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | Yes | MW reboot, can install campaign |
As shown, only 2019‘s Modern Warfare reboot and the Modern Warfare Remastered edition work on PS5.
Timeline of Modern Warfare Releases
To clear up any confusion between the various Modern Warfare sub-series entries, here is quick visual timeline:
[2007-2011] Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare –> Modern Warfare 2 –> Modern Warfare 3 [2016] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (COD4 remake) [2019] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Series reboot) [2022] Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (Sequel to 2019 reboot)The current 2019 reboot of Modern Warfare is the base game needed to play the campaign mode on PS5 consoles.
Step-by-Step PS5 Installation Guide
Follow this fail-proof series of steps to begin your Modern Warfare campaign experience on PS5:
1. Insert game disc or access MW digital copy
For disc copies, simply pop in the disc. Digital owners can scroll to MW in their PlayStation game library.
2. Manage your game content
Hover over MW, press the Options button, and select Manage Game Content.
3. Select campaign packs
Check the boxes next to packs labeled Campaign Pack 1, Campaign Pack 2, and Multiplayer Pack 2.
4. Confirm selected packs
Double check you have the correct 82GB worth of packs selected. This includes both campaign packs needed to play the story in full.
5. Begin installation
Start the download and wait for the progress bar to reach 100% for all selected items. Grab some popcorn – this could take a while even on speedy 5Ghz Wi-Fi.
6. Launch Modern Warfare from dashboard
Once fully installed, launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare as you would any game from the PS5‘s homescreen.
7. Choose Campaign mode
Use directional buttons to select the Campaign option, then press X to launch.
8. Enjoy!
You can now play the entire, globe-spanning single player story mode and witness the visuals pop on your new PS5.
Installation Troubleshooting
Based on analyzing Reddit threads and PlayStation forums, here are fixes for common installation issues:
- Missing campaign levels – Ensure Campaign Pack 1 and 2 are both installed
- Multiplayer pack errors – Must have Pack 2 to access campaign
- Can‘t select campaign – Restart game and PS5 if menu glitches
- General issues – Delete full MW install and redo steps
Hopefully this guide has given you all the necessary knowledge to successfully install Modern Warfare‘s phenomenal campaign mode on your shiny new PS5 console. It‘s more than worth the effort. Enjoy!
Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy gaming!
