Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Evergreens

Modern Warfare 3 preload guide: release time, file size, and preorder

Load your mags and get ready to go weapons hot because Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is so close you can nearly smell the gunpowder. The Call of Duty franchise has yet to miss a year since the original Modern Warfare, and even though this is the second Modern Warfare 3 we’ve had, this is obviously a completely new battlefield. Not only will the campaign wrap up the globe-trotting plotline set up in the prior two games, but you can expect the usual suite of modes, including multiplayer, zombies, and tie-ins with the hit Warzone 2. With the betas all concluded, fans are left with nothing to look forward to except the full release, but there is still a way to get ready. Here’s all the intel you need on preloading Modern Warfare 3.

Modern Warfare 3 release time

https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/1715005040677568818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1715005040677568818%7Ctwgr%5Ee3166103d9a3ec65e2124b036447326577ab0ccd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dbltap.com%2Fposts%2Fhow-to-pre-load-mw3-campaign-01he0egksgx8

Recommended Videos

If you have preordered Modern Warfare 3, you will get a full week of early access to the campaign starting at 10 a.m. PT on November 2 or your local equivalent. For everyone else, the game will launch on November 10. Preloading will begin starting at 10 a.m. PT on November 1.

Modern Warfare 3 file size

🚨 Call of Duty® Update 01.030.000 (PS5) Added to database.

New Download Size : 89.019 GB (01.029.000 : 84.058 GB)

That's Mean if you don't have Call Of Duty HQ yet and you want to play Campaign Only, you Need To Download 𝟭𝟰𝟬.𝟬𝟬𝟯 𝗚𝗕

🟧 #CallofDuty pic.twitter.com/86XZtycFxr

— PlayStation Game Size (@PlaystationSize) October 30, 2023

The only file size we have so far is for the campaign packs, which are split into two downloads. Pack 1 is listed as being 18.042 GB, while pack 2 is 32.942 GB. This is just shy of 51 GB combined, so make sure you free up a good deal of HD space before preloading starts, especially considering that this doesn’t account for multiplayer.

You will also need the Call of Duty HQ file, which adds another 89.019 GB on top of everything.

Modern Warfare 3 preload options

As long as you have preordered any edition of Modern Warfare 3, you are able to preload the game at the abovementioned time on November 1 through whichever storefront you purchased the game on.

Modern Warfare 3 preorder details

Modern Warfare 3 can still be preordered on the official site, with both a Cross-Gen/Standard edition and Vault Edition currently available.

Jesse Lennox
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jesse Lennox covers all things gaming but has a specific interest in all things PlayStation, JRPGs, and experimental indies…
Your ROG Xbox Ally is about to do the tweaking for you
Auto-profiles make your handheld feel much more like a console.
ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X Main Shots

What’s happened? Delivering on promises made at its launch, the ROG Xbox Ally has gotten yet another feature update. Both ASUS and Microsoft have pushed a new update for the ROG Xbox Ally handheld that introduces Default Game Profiles (Preview), which basically offers ready-made performance settings for supported titles. Instead of manually tweaking TDP, FPS limits, or power modes, the device auto-applies profiles when you launch one of the 40+ supported games. The feature is rolling out now in preview form, with more games promised soon.

At launch, the profiles cover titles including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

Read more
You may play Death Stranding 2 on PC sooner than you think
A surprise ESRB rating suggests Sony’s gearing up for the port.
Death Stranding 2 Gameplay

What’s happened? Death Stranding 2 looks set to follow the same PS5-to-PC path as the first game. The sequel launched on PS5 in June 2025, but a fresh ESRB listing now shows a Windows PC version rated under Sony Interactive Entertainment. It’s the strongest sign yet that a PC launch announcement is getting close.

The ESRB page, which appeared briefly before being taken down, listed Death Stranding 2: On the Beach for PC with the same Mature 17+ rating as its PS5 counterpart.

Read more
Your Xbox ecosystem just levelled up across every device
Mobile AI, PC full-screen mode and sharper cloud gaming all roll out together.
Xbox Full Screen Experience Expands Availability

What’s happened? The latest Xbox update brings a mix of quietly powerful upgrades across mobile, PC, cloud, and handheld gaming. Whether you game on phone, PC, or a handheld Windows device, this patch aims to simplify, smooth out, and supercharge the experience. Here’s a quick look at the headline updates:

Gaming Copilot is now live in the Xbox mobile app (beta), offering real-time AI help for gameplay, achievements, tips, and more.

Read more