Modern Warfare 4 vs MW3: What We Know Before Launch

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is being positioned as a return to the series’ roots with some major changes, according to GamingBolt’s 15-point comparison with Modern Warfare 3 (2023). The outlet refers to this shift as “purported,” so we should treat the details as unconfirmed until Activision officially weighs in.

This comparison comes as launch coverage increases. GAMINGbible has already released a guide that covers release time, preload, size, and early access for the game. This guide suggests that rollout details are shaping up, though we haven’t independently verified any of the information.

The business aspect is equally important. The Game Business describes this project as Activision’s “comeback plan” for Call of Duty. This framing indicates that MW4 carries significant commercial and reputational stakes for a franchise whose last mainline entry, Modern Warfare 3 (2023), serves as the baseline for this comparison.

Another report claims the PS5 version of MW4 sets a new record for file size in the series. We don’t have a confirmed figure yet, and the report hasn’t been verified. File size is crucial because Call of Duty installs often face complaints from console and PC players, and a record-setting size could amplify those grievances.

One important note on the data: the source material provided doesn’t include the full list of 15 differences, so we won’t be itemizing them here. None of the information below should be interpreted as performance data for MW4. The player and review figures come from the older Steam listing titled “Call of Duty Modern Warfare,” not from MW4.

By The Numbers

Steam listing referenced	Call of Duty Modern Warfare (not MW4)
Metacritic score	86
Steam reviews	81% positive (16,566 reviews)
Current Steam price	$59.99
Current Steam players	1,284

These figures provide insight into how the earlier Modern Warfare era performs on PC. An 81% positive score across more than 16,000 reviews is quite solid. A current player count of 1,284 shows how quickly the audience for older entries thins out once a new release is on the horizon.

Community Pulse

Sentiment across the 10 community signals we tracked leans mostly negative, even with the strong Steam score mentioned above. One Steam reviewer of the Modern Warfare listing said: “Ngl expected much better otpimization [sic] and performance for a 2019 game.” They shared that they were running max settings at 180Hz and 1440p and managed a “solid” 100fps in the campaign. This complaint centers on optimization rather than content, and it’s an issue MW4 will need to sidestep at launch.

What To Watch

• Official confirmation of the differences: Keep an eye out for whether Activision confirms the root-focused changes GamingBolt describes or if they remain speculative.
• The final install size: We need a verified number for the PS5 record claim, along with figures for PC and Xbox.
• Launch performance and player counts: Complaints about optimization from the earlier Modern Warfare listing set the benchmark. Early Steam concurrent numbers will reveal if MW4 can surpass it compared to MW3.