Call of Duty MW3 now installs into a new application called Call of Duty HQ – but what exactly does this mean for you?
If you’re confused about the new COD HQ application, you’re certainly not alone.
Activision is trying to condense all its Call of Duty experiences into a single source, an all-in-one application that players can open to access every game in the franchise.
But for many players, Call of Duty HQ is more of an obstacle than a convenience.
Call of Duty HQ Explained
Call of Duty HQ is the new COD launcher, which allows players to easily boot up the application and then access all of Activision’s shooters from one location.
Currently, COD HQ contains easy access to MW2, MW3, and Warzone. However, Activision will add further Call of Duty titles to the application as they continue to launch.
The layout of Call of Duty HQ is something that players have complained about often. Some fans make the argument that it’s tough to find exactly what you’re looking for, comparing the UI to that of a streaming service, rather than a straightforward game launcher.
Players had the same criticisms regarding MW2’s UI, but it seems like Activision is only doubling down with the launch of Modern Warfare 3.
How to Install on All Platforms
PS4 & PS5
- Boot up your console
- Head to the PlayStation Store
- Search ‘Call of Duty’
- Either select Warzone for a free option, or select MW3
- Select Download
- Your Call of Duty HQ application will now install
Xbox
- Boot up your console
- Head to the Xbox Store
- Search ‘Call of Duty’
- Either select Warzone for a free option, or select MW3
- Select Download
- Your Call of Duty HQ application will now install
PC
- Either download Steam or Battle.net, depending on which platform you’d prefer your app to be installed on
- Open the relevant application’s Store and search for Call of Duty
- Either select Warzone for a free option, or select MW3
- Hit Install
- Your Call of Duty HQ application will now install
How to Find MW3
If you’re struggling to find MW3 specifically, your confusion is understandable. The entire Modern Warfare 3 game is inside the ‘Call of Duty’ application, so you’ll need to boot that up to get started.
Then, you can select the MW3 tab from COD HQ.
Even if you don’t find the mode you’re looking for in this tab, you can open the relevant panel (i.e. Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign) and more options will appear from there.
You’ll also need to enter Multiplayer to customize things like online loadouts, Operators and more, since those things are specifically tied to that mode.
When switching games, you may find that Call of Duty HQ needs to close and re-open. And there’s another frustrating element to the system – file size.
File Size
Those who already have Call of Duty HQ installed, perhaps with Warzone or MW2 content, will likely reach a file size of over 200 GB following the launch of MW3.
Activision explains the application’s size, stating that Call of Duty HQ is so massive because of how much content it contains, including:
- MW3 Day 1 Content
- Carry Forward Content from MW2
- Warzone Maps
- Open World Zombies
- & More
Decreasing File Size
However, it’s also possible to uninstall specific content you’re not planning on using, once the initial install is complete.
To do this:
- Open the Call of Duty HQ application
- Select the Gear (Settings) icon and select Manage Files
- From there, you can select which game you’d like to manage
- You’ll then have the option to uninstall specific elements, such as Campaigns.
This will help you manage how much storage space your application takes up.