Infinity Ward Says Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Runs Comparably to PlayStation and Xbox on Switch 2 With Cross-Platform Multiplayer

Call of Duty is finally returning to Nintendo hardware after a decade away, and Infinity Ward says the upcoming Modern Warfare 4 does not require the kind of compromises players might expect from a Nintendo version. During Gamescom, developers involved with the game’s Switch 2 release explained how the console has handled the demanding shooter.

Multiplayer technical director Jack Hoppus and Digital Legends associate production director Beatriz Gonzalez discussed the Switch 2 version and the challenges involved in bringing the franchise back to Nintendo. According to Hoppus, the hardware has proven surprisingly comparable to current PlayStation and Xbox consoles during development.

That could make Modern Warfare 4 one of the most technically significant third-party releases for Nintendo’s new system. It also suggests Switch 2 owners may receive an experience much closer to the versions available elsewhere rather than a heavily scaled-down port.

Infinity Ward Says Switch 2 Did Not Require Major Compromises

Speaking with Gamereactor at Gamescom, Hoppus explained that Infinity Ward found the Switch 2 version

“really comparable to consoles, like PlayStation and Xbox.”

He added that the team did not feel it had to design the game around severe hardware limitations, describing the platform as something that created additional possibilities rather than forcing developers to remove features.

Gonzalez similarly said that preserving the core Call of Duty experience was the team’s priority throughout development. Rather than creating a substantially different version, Digital Legends focused on making sure the movement, responsiveness and overall gameplay remained consistent with the experience players expect from the franchise.

The Switch 2’s different form factors did, however, require additional optimisation. Modern Warfare 4 can be played both handheld and docked, giving players the option to experience the shooter away from a television without sacrificing the fundamentals of the game.

The console’s control options are another major focus. Gonzalez highlighted support for gyro controls, Joy-Cons, the Pro Controller and mouse functionality, with the development team performing specific tuning passes to ensure each control method feels precise.

This could make the Switch 2 version particularly flexible compared with previous Nintendo attempts at bringing major shooters to the platform. Players can choose a traditional controller setup or experiment with the system’s motion and mouse-based options depending on how they prefer to play.

Switch 2 Players Will Remain Connected to the Wider Multiplayer Community

Infinity Ward and Digital Legends also addressed how Switch 2 players will fit into Modern Warfare 4’s multiplayer ecosystem. Gonzalez confirmed that Nintendo players will be connected to the broader player base, meaning Switch 2 users can encounter people playing with controllers as well as keyboard and mouse setups.

Players who prefer a more isolated experience will reportedly have the option to restrict matchmaking to their own platform. Otherwise, Switch 2 users will participate in the wider connected ecosystem.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23, marking the series’ return to Nintendo hardware. If Infinity Ward’s comments hold up when the game arrives, Switch 2 players could be getting a version that stays remarkably close to the PlayStation and Xbox experience while taking advantage of Nintendo’s unique control options.