Activision has officially announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) will leave the Call of Duty HQ app today, July 29, 2025. Both games will now function as standalone downloads, marking a major shift in how the franchise manages its titles.
Changes for Call of Duty Players
Starting 9 AM PT / 5 PM BST, these Modern Warfare games will no longer appear in the HQ launcher. Players can now download and launch them directly as separate applications on console or PC.
The update also comes with an automatic cleanup:
- Legacy content for Modern Warfare II and III inside the HQ app will be removed on August 7.
- Warzone content remains unaffected, and players can continue using MW2 and MW3 operators or weapons in the battle royale mode.
- PlayStation players should note that MW3 becoming standalone does not change the shared trophy list under MW2.
This move should free up storage space and make updates easier to manage. Call of Duty HQ often consumed over 200GB when multiple titles were installed.
See also: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Pre-Order Bonuses – Full List, Operators, Camos & More
Why MW2 and MW3 Are Leaving Call of Duty HQ
The Call of Duty HQ app was introduced in 2022 as a unified launcher for the franchise, combining access to campaigns, multiplayer modes, Zombies, and Warzone. While its goal was convenience, many fans criticized the app for:
- Complicated navigation and overlapping menus.
- Huge disk space usage as multiple games shared the same install base.
- Unclear separation between game versions and trophies/achievements on consoles.
By removing MW2 and MW3, Activision is streamlining HQ before the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 later this year. HQ is not shutting down. Black Ops 6 will remain in the app, and Black Ops 7 will also connect to it.
See also: Call of Duty Warzone July 2025 Update: All Patch Notes, Nerfs, and Weapon Changes
Many players hope this is the beginning of the end for the controversial HQ app, often calling it a “nightmare.”
What You Need to Do After HQ Removal
Here’s what you need to do if you own either game:
- Redownload the standalone versions of Modern Warfare II and III from your platform’s store.
- Check your storage after August 7 to see the space freed by HQ content removal.
- Keep playing Warzone as usual, since the update does not change its content or functionality.
Earlier this month, Activision also required all Call of Duty accounts to add a birthdate for age verification. Underage players without approval risk deletion.
This update may be the first step toward a leaner Call of Duty experience. Separating these major titles is a welcome improvement, and players hope it signals the eventual retirement of the HQ app.
