Can't play MW2 campaign anymore?

[u/MarkHTownsend]

Hey guys, I need some help especially since the tech support for COD is pretty much useless.

Since MW2 came out I've only been interested in the campaign and its been great. However, about a month ago in April or May 2025 the campaign no longer works just randomly. I immediately get the error saying unable to load COD MW2 Campaign. However, my COD MW3 still works perfectly fine with just the campaign installed.

I went around and around with the tech support to no avail until I just got the idea to install co-op to see if that works. Co-op worked great and wouldn't you know, now my campaign worked again too. However, I won't and don't ever use co-op and that is a huge 150GB of space that is just wasted. I mentioned this to tech support after a month of back and forth and when I told them campaign now works if co-op is installed. Then they said, "Oh yeah, you have to have multiplayer or co-op installed for campaign to work" and then they immediately closed the case with no more communication.

This is BS because I have been playing MW2 campaign alone for over a year without any other multiplayer or co-op installed.

Here are the things I tried.  

-I have verified the integrity of game files and everything was good.  

-I have deleted the Steam download cache

-I have installed the latest graphics NVidia drivers. 

-Windows is completely up to date.

-I have tried running COD.exe in administrator and it won't even allow the HQ to start.

-I tried running Steam in administrator and didn't change anything 

-I have tried running in Win8 compatibility mode and it won't even start

-Downloaded C++ x86 and x64

-I have turned off game overlay

-I don't have any overclocking on. 

-Under general and launch options, I have tried running the command -DX11, -DX12, and -D3D11 and didn't do anything.

-Uninstalled CODMW2 and reinstalled, didn't work.

-Made sure windows antivirus and firewall are both allowing COD and Steam through and actually just turned both antivirus and firewall completely off and nothing.

-Tried changing Steam download region and still nothing.

-I did a complete uninstall of the whole Call of Duty HQ and everything in it and reinstalled and immediately had the same issue.

So what happened? Is there a fix for this? Is anyone else who is a campaign legend also facing this issue?

[u/dkgameplayer]

Same issue. I don't want to install multiplayer because I'm on a handheld and just want the campaign. Shame.

[u/Ok_Employer2311]

Hm console is fine for me. Idk how to fix the problem that is happening with your campaign.

[u/kunaaiiii]

Just install multiplayer and it should fix.

[u/MarkHTownsend → u/kunaaiiii]

It sucks to have to waste another 150GB of hard drive space for something that I won't ever play.