Despite Call of Duty being renowned for releasing new games annually, the back-to-back launch of Modern Warfare 2 and Modern Warfare 3 created some confusion. With reports of MW3 being DLC for the previous game, and with content carrying over between the two games, do you need to own MW2 to play MW3?
Here we’ll iron out the creases, explain what went on with these two games, and tell you exactly how you can play one of the best multiplayer games out there.
Do you need to own Call of Duty MW2 to play MW3?
No, you don’t need to own Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 to access Modern Warfare 3. In our view, MW3 was one of the best FPS games the COD franchise had produced in a while, and despite its connections to MW2, it’s still a standalone game you can purchase separately from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, or whichever storefront or retailer you like to get your games from.
Prior to MW3’s launch, reports and leaks suggested that Activision was considering the radical decision to skip a year of its Call of Duty pipeline and not release a new, premium game in 2023. Instead, it was reported that there would be a massive DLC pack that you could purchase to extend your Modern Warfare 2 experience. However, this turned out to not be the case, with MW3 continuing the trend of yearly Call of Duty titles.
Despite being its own game, Call of Duty MW3 multiplayer allowed you to carry forward guns, operators, and other content from MW2. You can even unlock any MW2 guns you don’t already own within MW3.
When you combine the DLC rumors with the fact that the two games share content, the confusion around MW3 was definitely understandable.
Plus, the release of MW2 in 2022 and MW3 in 2023 marked the first time in Call of Duty history that games in the same subseries were launched in consecutive years, so it really was an unprecedented
So, that should get everything cleared up for you about how MW2 and MW3 are connected, and how they aren’t. Once you’re done with MW3, be sure to jump into our best PS5 games and best Xbox games guides for dozens of recommendations on what to play next.