Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (MW2), one of the biggest game releases of 2022, is now available on Steam. For PC gamers, Steam is often the preferred platform to play the latest games. But how well does MW2 actually perform when played through Steam? What steps may be required to get it running smoothly? And how large is the active player base? From install size to multiplayer population and more, here‘s a comprehensive look at the Steam experience for MW2.
Introduction: What to Expect from MW2 on Steam
In short, MW2 runs very well on Steam for most players. Pricing and multiplayer quality are on par with Activision‘s Battle.net platform. The game has a huge community on Steam, ensuring quick matchmaking. And potential crashing issues have clear troubleshooting solutions. The only notable caveat is that enjoying MW2 on a Steam Deck requires installing Windows. But otherwise, Valve‘s platform provides an excellent way for PC gamers to play this blockbuster Call of Duty release. Meeting the recommended system requirements and following optimization tips will ensure a smooth experience.
Steam Deck Compatibility Requires Windows Install
The Steam Deck is Valve‘s exciting new handheld PC gaming device. Unfortunately, MW2 does not natively work on the Steam Deck‘s standard SteamOS operating system, which is based on Linux.
According to various reports, players will need to install Windows 10 or 11 on their Steam Deck in order to run MW2. This means potentially deleting the default SteamOS in favor of Microsoft‘s Windows OS.
"In order to play Modern Warfare 2 on the Steam Deck, players will need to install Windows on their Steam Deck through a USB drive. This may mean you need to delete SteamOS in favor of the Windows operating system, so beware." Source
So while it is possible to play MW2 on the Steam Deck, it involves some extra steps and tradeoffs compared to most Steam games that will run on SteamOS right out of the box. But for determined Call of Duty fans, installing Windows is a worthwhile compromise to enjoy MW2 on the go with Steam Deck.
Identical Pricing and Multiplayer Quality vs. Battle.net
For PC gamers, MW2 is available for purchase on both Steam and Activision‘s own Battle.net platform. The standard edition of the game costs the same $69.99 USD on both digital stores. And since the multiplayer utilizes shared servers, there is no difference in connection quality between the Steam and Battle.net versions when playing online.
"Since Modern Warfare 2 is priced the same on Battle.net and Steam. So, it comes down to personal preference when choosing which service to purchase it. We prefer Steam because it‘s convenient. However, since both platforms use the same servers for MW2 multiplayer, one isn‘t any more reliable than the other." Source
So the choice between Steam and Battle.net comes down purely to individual user preferences around features of each client such as friends lists, achievement systems, overlay interfaces, and other platform integrations. There is no pricing advantage or multiplayer quality difference between the two PC platforms.
Causes and Fixes for MW2 Crashing or Failure to Launch on Steam
While many gamers have had smooth sailing with MW2 through Steam, some users have reported issues like the game crashing or failing to launch properly. Here are some of the most common causes of these problems along with potential fixes to try:
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Outdated graphics drivers – One of the top reasons for game crashes is using outdated video card drivers. Always check AMD or Nvidia‘s websites to download the latest GPU drivers.
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Lack of admin privileges – MW2 may fail to open if the Steam or Battle.net client is running without admin access. Try re-launching the platform as an administrator.
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Corrupted game files – Damaged or missing game installation files can cause crashes. Steam provides a "Verify Integrity of Game Files" option to scan and repair corrupt data.
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Old Windows and motherboard drivers – Updating to the newest Windows OS and motherboard drivers can resolve system instability leading to crashes.
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Conflicts from overlays or GPU features – Disabling overlays like Discord and GPU options like DLSS or ray tracing may fix crashes if they conflict with MW2. Can re-enable one by one to find culprit.
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System file corruption or malware – File errors or malware could destabilize MW2. Use Windows‘ system file checker and a good malware scanner to check for issues and repair files.
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Unstable overclocks – Too high CPU or GPU overclocks are a prime suspect for game crashes. Set components back to default speeds to see if it resolves instability.
In summary, crashing problems arise from system instability, software conflicts, file corruption, or hardware issues like overclocks or drivers. Following standard troubleshooting protocol like updating software, verifying files, and toggling settings can resolve most launch and stability problems for MW2 on Steam.
Healthy MW2 Multiplayer Population on Steam
For online multiplayer games like Call of Duty, having a large active player base is key to quick matchmaking and full lobbies. According to statistics site SteamCharts, MW2 hit a peak of over 262,000 concurrent players on Steam shortly after launch.
As of November 2022, it still maintains over 150,000 simultaneous players daily. This indicates a very healthy and thriving community playing MW2 on Valve‘s platform. Gamers who prioritize popular multiplayer on PC will be well-served by grabbing MW2 on Steam, where they‘ll enjoy fast matchmaking and full lobbies.
MW2 concurrent players on Steam since launch. Source: SteamCharts
PC System Requirements for Optimal MW2 Performance
MW2 is a visually stunning but demanding title, especially at higher resolutions and graphical settings. Activision provides recommended and minimum PC specs to target:
MW2 Minimum System Requirements
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- CPU: Intel Core i3-6100 / Core i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX 470
- HDD: 72GB
MW2 Recommended Specs
- OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
- CPU: Intel Core i5-6600K / Core i7-4770 or AMD Ryzen 5 1400
- RAM: 12GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580
- HDD: Up to 32GB for HD texture streaming
For smooth performance at higher settings, Activision particularly recommends having at least 12GB of RAM and a 6 core/12 thread CPU. Players with systems at or above the recommended specs should have a great experience. Those using older and minimum spec systems can still enjoy MW2 but may need to lower graphical settings for playable framerates.
Upgrading to 16GB RAM or a better video card like an RTX 3060 can provide headroom for maximum settings. Using a solid state drive also helps significantly with loading times. So aim for the recommended specs if possible, but lower end systems can still play MW2 smoothly at reduced visual fidelity.
Expert Tips for Improving MW2 Performance on Steam
Here are some expert tips and tweaks for getting the best possible MW2 performance on Steam:
- Close unnecessary background apps and disable overlays for maximum FPS.
- If FPS is low, try reducing Screen Filtering under Graphics settings.
- Disable ray tracing and use DLSS set to Performance for huge FPS boost.
- Lower volumetric quality and shadow map resolution to reduce visual clutter.
- Experiment with render resolution below native 100% for more FPS at small image quality cost.
- Set texture resolution and texture filtering to High instead of Extra. Minimal visual difference but big performance gain.
- Use Nvidia Reflex and AMD Anti-Lag to reduce input latency.
- Increase memory scale in config file if you have >16GB RAM to uncap VRAM usage.
- Set worker threads in config to match your CPU physical cores for optimal utilization.
- Cap frame rate 3-5 FPS below refresh rate to reduce GPU load and input latency.
Final Verdict: MW2 on Steam Is Excellent for PC
In closing, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 runs superbly through Steam for most PC gamers. The pricing and multiplayer quality are identical to Activision‘s own Battle.net. MW2 boasts a massive community on Steam, ensuring quick and full matches. Potential crashing issues have clear fixes. And users can tweak settings for high FPS. The only caveat is that enjoying MW2 on a Steam Deck requires installing Windows.
But otherwise, Valve‘s platform offers a top-notch way to play this AAA blockbuster. Meeting Activision‘s recommended system specs and following the performance optimization tips above will ensure PC players get an incredible MW2 experience through Steam. Just be prepared for the hefty install size over 100GB. Overall, MW2 on Steam earns top marks and is a must-buy for COD fans on PC.
