Is Modern Warfare 3 coming to Steam Deck?

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 has just been released and PC fans may be curious to know if the game will be available on Steam Deck. So, here’s what we know about whether or not the game is coming to the portable device.

The newest installment in the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 3 is finally here, and it marks the culmination of the reboot trilogy that sees a host of familiar characters returning in a brand-new campaign where Captain Price has to take down the evil Makarov.

The game has been released for PC, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series S/X but you might be curious to know if you can enjoy the FPS on Steam Deck as well. Being able to take your favorite titles on the go using the handheld PC is extremely convenient after all!

With that in mind, here’s everything we know so far about whether or not the game is coming to Steam Deck.

Don’t expect a native version of MW3 on Steam Deck

Activision

As with every Call of Duty, since Activision introduced its new anti-cheat methods, Linux will be left out in the cold. As the Steam Deck runs SteamOS, a branch of Linux, it lacks the necessary kernel information at its core to get a pass from the anti-cheat.

The anti-cheat is looking for a sign of Windows, and the emulated area through Proton doesn’t generate the needed files to confirm this. Proton is Valve’s translation layer for Linux, which allows Windows apps and games to run on the OS.

Modern Warfare 3 on Steam Deck will might require Windows 11

Call of Duty

However, all hope isn’t lost. If you’re brave enough or are desperate to play MW3 on the presumed lowest settings to hit that desired 60FPS, you can always install Windows on the Steam Deck.

It’s a fairly simple process, but we’d recommend that you dual-boot the two operating systems. This is so that you don’t lose access to the excellent Linux side of the Steam Deck.

That’s everything we know about Modern Warfare 3 on Steam Deck! For more content on the game, check out our guides below:

Best Modern Warfare 3 AR class loadouts | How to slide cancel in Modern Warfare 3 | Best controller settings in Modern Warfare 3 | All maps & modes | How to play Modern Warfare 3 at 120 FPS on PS5 | Modern Warfare 3 TTK | How long is the Modern Warfare 3 campaign? | Campaign mission list | How to fix packet burst | How to play MW3 Zombies in third person