Call of Duty HQ Gets a Much-Needed Size Reduction
Activision has finally addressed the long-standing issue of Call of Duty HQ's massive file size. The publisher recently announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III are now available as separate, standalone downloads, effectively splitting them off from the consolidated launcher application. This move is a welcome change for players struggling with storage space and an often-cluttered interface.
For players, this means a significant quality-of-life improvement. Owners of either Modern Warfare II or Modern Warfare III can now launch their games directly, bypassing the need to store tens of gigabytes of unrelated files or navigate the launcher's sometimes confusing menus. The official Call of Duty Updates social media account confirmed this change, stating that on July 29 at 9 AM PT, both titles transitioned to standalone installations. Furthermore, any content from these Modern Warfare games still embedded within the main Call of Duty HQ application is slated to disappear by August 7. This will free up valuable disk space, especially for those who primarily play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Warzone.
The Ongoing Battle with Storage Bloat
The sheer scale of Call of Duty HQ has been a point of contention for years. For instance, on Xbox, the application could demand up to a staggering 381 gigabytes of free space for all 'recommended' files. This figure alone often exceeded the usable storage on consoles like the Xbox Series S. While the PC Steam version was comparatively smaller at 128 gigabytes, it still represented a substantial commitment of disk space.
Activision's initial rationale for unifying games under one launcher was convenience, promising easier file management and smoother transitions between modes. However, many users found the reality to be quite different. Complaints ranged from a convoluted interface and unnecessarily drawn-out actions to persistent prompts to purchase new content, leading to a general feeling of being presented with more than they had originally bought.
What's Next for Call of Duty HQ?
It remains uncertain whether Activision plans to make this 'storage liposuction' a regular practice for future titles. The specific decision to split off Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III first also prompts questions; it's possible these titles were simpler to disentangle from the core system, or perhaps they had seen a decline in active player engagement.
Despite this recent shedding of digital weight, Call of Duty HQ is poised to expand once more. The highly anticipated Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is set to launch later this year, and it will likely contribute to the launcher's overall size. Black Ops 7 is confirmed for PC (via Steam, Microsoft Store, and Battle.net), Xbox, and PlayStation platforms, and notably, it will be available on Game Pass from day one.
Ultimately, the separation of Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III from Call of Duty HQ is a significant positive step for players. It directly addresses long-standing complaints about storage bloat and user experience. While the Call of Duty ecosystem continues to evolve and grow, offering players more control over their game installations is a welcome relief, even as we anticipate future additions to the ever-expanding universe.
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