How to Play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Campaign Offline in 5 Simple Steps
As a hardcore COD fan excited for MW2, I couldn‘t wait to jump into the campaign. But an internet connection shouldn‘t be mandatory for epic single-player action!
Fortunately, with some preparation you can launch Modern Warfare‘s story mode offline once a one-time authentication check runs. Here is the quick process:
- Install game and latest updates
- Connect online and start game
- Play until you see "Verified" checkmark
- Quit game and disconnect internet
- Relaunch in offline mode
The rest of this guide dives deeper into making offline access reliable, troubleshooting issues, content details, and more tips from a passionate Modern Warfare gamer!
Online Authentication – What Happens and Why
According to gaming site TwistedVoxel‘s technical analysis, Modern Warfare leverages an online DRM check to verify license ownership as part of anti-piracy efforts.
- This check connects to Battle.net or Steam and checks your account
- Typically it occurs right when you first launch the game
- Reports indicate it takes less than 2 minutes
- After "Verified" displays, you can safely disconnect!
Of my total 25 hour first playthrough, this authentication used less than 0.2% of game time. So while inconvenient, it‘s a small one-time price for unlimited offline access after.
Comparison of Offline Policies
Compared to other major FPS titles, Call of Duty has among the most permissive offline policies once the initial verification occurs:
| Game | Offline Campaign | Offline Length |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty | ✅ | Unlimited |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | ✅ | Unlimited |
| Halo Infinite | ❌ | Unsupported |
| Destiny 2 | ❌ | Unsupported |
So COD still comes out looking good for offline-ready single-player!
Detailed Breakdown – Game and Update File Sizes
For gamers struggling with bandwidth caps or hard drive space, here is the breakdown of sizes for Modern Warfare:
| Component | File Size |
|---|---|
| Base Game Install | 125 GB |
| High Resolution Texture Pack (Optional) | 10 GB |
| Season 1 Update | 15 GB |
| Campaign Pack (if installing only campaign) | 70 GB |
| Total (All Content) | ~175 GB |
That‘s a lot of data! And why selective install is so necessary for offline gaming.
What Does It Take to "Complete" the Campaign?
I put complete in quotes, because there is always more to chase in Call of Duty side missions, collectibles, achievements, and weapons. But focusing just on main story, here is how 10+ hours shakes out by difficulty based on speed run tracking site HowLongToBeat:
| Difficulty | Avg. Completion Time |
|---|---|
| Casual Playthrough | 6 Hours |
| Normal Playthrough | 9 Hours |
| Veteran Playthrough | 11 Hours |
| Realism Playthrough | 14 Hours |
| 100% Completion | 20+ Hours |
With so much variety among play styles, there is plenty of offline gameplay before you need to go back online!
Top Errors When Trying to Play Offline and How to Fix
Even after following the authentication steps, some users report problems launching Modern Warfare offline reliably every time.
Based on community knowledge, here are top issues and troubleshooting tips:
| Error Message | Likely Cause | Fixes |
|---|---|---|
| "Must be Online to Access" | Pending update not installed | Close game and install latest update |
| "Status: Offline" Error | Corrupted local files | Power cycle console/PC and check file integrity |
| Missing Campaign | Data Packs not installed | Navigate to Packs and install all Campaign packs |
| Campaign "Locked" | License check failed | Clear cache data and re-launch |
Additionally, PC gamers can leverage Battle.net‘s "Scan and Repair" to check for issues, while console players should check reserved hard drive space meets minimum requirements.
Console-Specific Workarounds
PlayStation
If campaign shows locked, try reopening the mission select from the main menu. Clear cache data under safe mode then restart if issue persists.
Xbox
Enable offline permissions for your Gamertag profile ahead of time under network settings. Or switch console to offline mode after starting game to avoid interruptions.
Final Tips from a Devoted COD Gamer
With the right preparation, playing Call of Duty Modern Warfare‘s epic campaign fully offline is absolutely possible for 10+ hours until you complete the story!
My key tips:
- Knock out authentication ASAP to enable offline
- Only install campaign packs to avoid massive downloads
- Check for pending updates if you get offline errors
- Try tethering to quickly get license check
Sure you‘ll miss out on online-only operator skins, weapon blueprints, XP progression unlocks and competitive multiplayer maps…
But millions of fans for years have loved COD just for the blockbuster-worthy campaigns. So don‘t let spotty internet spoil your fun!
Now get out there, execute the mission, stop the next global crisis, and tell me what you unlocked along the way! Dan out.
