Key Takeaways
- A new 39GB update has been released for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2, initially appearing exclusive to that platform.
- Despite the large download, the total install size after the update is approximately 91.3GB — up only modestly from the pre-launch eShop listing of 84.9GB, indicating the update primarily replaces existing files rather than adding new ones.
- At 91GB, the game now occupies more than a third of the Switch 2’s 256GB internal storage.
- Activision also released October 24 patch notes across all platforms covering spawn improvements on Hijack, Search and Destroy exploit fixes, DMZ helicopter and AI bugs, and multiple crash fixes.
- Modern Warfare 4 is the first Call of Duty on a Nintendo console in 13 years, since Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013, and fulfils part of Microsoft’s 10-year CoD commitment to Nintendo.
- The Switch 2 version was developed natively with support from Digital Legends, targeting 60fps in docked mode.
Modern Warfare 4’s launch on Switch 2 was already a landmark moment — Call of Duty returning to Nintendo hardware for the first time since 2013 — and the post-launch support is moving quickly. A new 39GB update has arrived on the Switch 2, making it one of the largest single patches the game has seen on any platform. The good news is that it’s not adding 39GB of new content on top of what’s already there. The less comforting news is that the game is now sitting at over 91GB on Nintendo’s hybrid console, eating up a substantial chunk of internal storage.
The Update: Big Download, Modest Size Increase
Multiple user reports have confirmed the Switch 2-specific update weighs in at approximately 39GB. That figure sounds alarming at first, but the actual post-update install size — reported at around 91.3GB — tells a more nuanced story. The Nintendo eShop listed the game at 84.9GB before launch, meaning the update only increased the total footprint by around 6GB, even though the download itself was much larger.
This kind of delta is standard operating procedure for Call of Duty. The series has a long history of releasing large patches that reorganise, repackage, or replace existing game files rather than simply stacking new content on top. The result is a smaller actual storage impact than the download size suggests — but it still demands significant bandwidth and available space to process.
The 39GB update initially appeared specific to Nintendo’s platform, though Activision subsequently published October 24 patch notes covering a smaller update released across all platforms. Whether the Switch 2 download and the broader multi-platform release represent the same underlying patch — just arriving on Nintendo’s hardware first or in a different form — has not been explicitly confirmed, though it appears plausible given how Infinity Ward typically handles update rollouts.
Storage Reality: More Than a Third of Switch 2’s Internal Capacity
At 91GB, Modern Warfare 4 now claims more than a third of the Switch 2’s nominal 256GB of internal storage. And that figure is the optimistic one — a portion of the Switch 2’s total capacity is reserved for operating system data, meaning the share of actually usable game storage that MW4 consumes is even higher.
Switch 2 owners can expand that capacity with microSD Express cards, which Nintendo supports up to 2TB. The catch is that 2TB cards aren’t yet commercially available. As of October 2026, 1TB is the largest microSD Express card you can actually buy — and most options suitable for the Switch 2 retail for well over $300. 2TB cards had been anticipated around mid-2027, but that timeline is increasingly uncertain due to an ongoing NAND flash shortage partly driven by demand from AI-related storage applications. Industry forecasts suggest supply conditions may begin to ease in the second half of 2027 as additional capacity comes online, but 2TB Switch-compatible cards could easily slip to 2028 or later — and will likely carry a premium price at launch regardless. In other words: if you’re planning to play Modern Warfare 4 on Switch 2 as a long-term main game, budget for storage expansion sooner rather than later.
October 24 Patch Notes: What Actually Changed
Alongside the Switch 2-specific update, Activision published patch notes for the October 24 release across all platforms. The update covers quality-of-life and bug fixes rather than new content — no new maps, weapons, or modes are listed. Here’s what was addressed:
Stability and Crash Fixes
Several stability issues and crash cases were resolved across all modes, targeting a more consistent experience broadly.
Multiplayer
Spawn locations and respawn timing in Hijack received targeted improvements — one of the map’s most common community complaints since launch. A Search and Destroy exploit allowing players to defuse the bomb from an unintended distance or position has been closed. An issue with the Deathstalker Killstreak escaping the map on Rooftops was also patched.
DMZ Fixes
Multiple DMZ-specific issues were addressed, including a fix for the Exfil helicopter disappearing while players were still aboard it, a correction to AI reinforcement spawn rates during the Shopping Mission, and a fix allowing party leaders to force-pull teammates out of DMZ without consent — which could leave their Active Duty Operators marked as MIA. Several stuck-player areas on Hajin were also resolved.
UI and Gunsmith
A bug causing DMZ Stash options to appear in the middle of the screen was fixed, along with various unexpected front-end menu closures, weapon attachment visual bugs on the M4, and Gunsmith issues including incorrect resets on Prestige and a cash deduction glitch when applying camos in DMZ.
Context: CoD on Switch 2 Is a Big Deal
The patch activity sits against the backdrop of what is already a significant moment in gaming. Modern Warfare 4 is the first Call of Duty game to launch on a Nintendo platform since Call of Duty: Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013 — a 13-year gap. The Switch 2 version was developed by Infinity Ward alongside partner studio Digital Legends (previously known for Warzone Mobile), with the team targeting 60fps performance in docked mode. At reveal, Infinity Ward described the Switch 2 development process as “pretty smooth,” with no major technical blockers.
The release also marks the first concrete delivery on Microsoft’s landmark 10-year agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms — a commitment made as part of the regulatory approval process around Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Modern Warfare 4 arriving on Switch 2 day-and-date with PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC was the tangible proof of that promise.
For more gaming news this week, check out what’s arriving in WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass Season 6 on October 28 and the latest on the Zelda Switch 2 40th Anniversary console restock situation.
