If MW2 shows “Timed out waiting for achievements [Reason: SMITH-CAMP]” or “SERVICE FAILED Reason: SMITH-CAMP” when you open DMZ, first return to the MWII menu and let your profile data finish loading. Wait about one to two minutes, open Stats or another profile-related screen, then try DMZ again. This community-reported workaround is safer than deleting data or reinstalling the entire game.
SMITH-CAMP appears to be an internal timeout or service identifier. The message alone does not prove that you are banned, that your saved data is damaged, or that MW2 must be reinstalled. The exact backend cause has not been publicly documented by Activision.
Try this quick profile-loading fix first
- Launch Call of Duty and enter the MWII/DMZ area.
- Select DMZ once.
- When the SMITH-CAMP error returns you to the MWII menu, do not immediately close the game.
- Wait roughly one to two minutes for your player level, operator, friends list, calling cards, emblems, and other profile information to appear.
- Open Stats, if it is available. Opening a profile-related panel may give the client time to complete its account-data request.
- Back out to the MWII menu and select DMZ again.
The waiting period is anecdotal, not a guaranteed timer. Players have reported this method resolving repeated DMZ launch failures, but success varies by platform and account state. See the community report describing the Stats workaround and a separate report about waiting for profile data and achievements.
If that fails, join another player’s party
Some players report that entering DMZ through another player’s lobby bypasses the failed first launch path or refreshes account information.
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- Ask a friend who can access DMZ to invite you.
- Join their party before selecting DMZ.
- Try entering the mode from the invited lobby.
- If it fails, leave the party, return to the MWII menu, wait for your profile data to populate, and try again.
This is an optional community workaround rather than a confirmed Activision fix. A recent DMZ launcher report describes party joining as successful for one player, but that single report does not establish a universal solution.
Xbox: try the achievements screen
On Xbox, players have reported opening the console guide after selecting DMZ, entering the game’s achievements area, and then returning to MW2. The idea is similar to opening Stats: it may allow the client to finish retrieving account information.
Do not delete achievements, saved data, or local game data. On PlayStation and PC, use the in-game Stats, profile, or account panels instead, since the exact system menus differ.
Check how MW2 and DMZ are installed
DMZ may be accessed through a changing Call of Duty hub, while some players have reported needing to launch MWII as a standalone title. Menu names and packaging vary by platform, so check the following:
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- You are launching the MWII/DMZ application, not only the current Call of Duty hub.
- MWII is available in your console library or through its store product page, even if it no longer appears in the main hub.
- On PC, the correct Steam or Battle.net installation and Activision account are being used.
A DMZ launcher discussion describes MWII disappearing from the hub and being launched separately. Another community report discusses update and installation issues. Do not assume that buying MWII again is required; first verify the current ownership and content arrangement on your platform.
Check whether services are having problems
SMITH-CAMP can appear when the game cannot retrieve online profile or achievement information. That can involve Activision services, platform services, account synchronization, or the local connection. Check:
- Activision Online Services.
- Your platform’s network-status page.
- Recent reports from other MWII or DMZ players.
Do not assume that every SMITH-CAMP incident is a server outage. Service availability changes, and the error may affect only one account or launch route.
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Basic connection steps
Use these after trying the profile and launch-path workarounds:
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- Fully close MW2 or Call of Duty and relaunch it.
- Restart the console or PC.
- Restart the router if other online services are also failing.
- Use a wired connection if available.
- Temporarily test another network or a mobile hotspot to distinguish a local routing issue from an account or service problem.
- Confirm that your platform account and Activision account are online and correctly linked.
A different network can help identify the source, but it is not proof that the original connection caused the error. Community reports describe cases where modem resets, DNS changes, and packet-loss checks did not resolve SMITH-CAMP. Avoid making DNS changes, setting up port forwarding, using a VPN, or factory-resetting hardware as a first response.
PC-only checks
If the problem persists on PC:
- Use Steam’s Verify integrity of game files option or Battle.net’s Scan and Repair option, depending on your launcher.
- Install pending MW2, launcher, Windows, and platform updates.
- Check for pending graphics-driver updates if you are also experiencing crashes, packet loss, or graphical problems.
A report links one incident to a GPU-driver update, but that does not make driver updates a universal SMITH-CAMP fix. Verification is preferable to deleting the whole installation.
When should you reinstall?
Reinstalling is a last resort, not the standard first-line fix. Before doing it:
- Complete the profile-loading and Stats workaround.
- Try joining a friend’s party.
- Confirm the MWII/DMZ launch route and content packs.
- Check service status and restart your platform.
- Verify PC files or check for updates.
If the platform allows it, reinstall only the affected MWII/DMZ content pack first. Reserve a full reinstall for persistent missing-file errors, failed verification, crashes, or other clear installation problems. Available reports include unsuccessful deletion and reinstallation attempts, so a full reinstall is not a proven SMITH-CAMP cure.
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Contact Activision Support if the error continues after restarts, profile-loading attempts, installation checks, and testing another network. Include:
- Your platform and launcher.
- Your Activision ID.
- The exact error wording, including SMITH-CAMP.
- Whether the failure occurs only in DMZ or in every online mode.
- Whether your profile appears at the menu or is stuck at level 1.
- Whether MWII is installed through the Call of Duty hub or as a standalone title.
- The date and time of the failure and the troubleshooting steps already attempted.
What the SMITH-CAMP error means
The visible message says that the game timed out while waiting for achievements or another service response. Public reports do not establish an official expansion of the code or a definitive technical cause. The error is commonly associated with entering DMZ from MWII or the Call of Duty hub and then being returned to the main menu.
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It can reflect an incomplete profile load, an account-data synchronization problem, a service-side issue, a network interruption, or a problematic launch path. The code itself is not publicly documented as a ban message. The available Steam discussion shows the timeout wording, but it does not establish a single cause.
Quick decision tree
| What you see | What to try |
|---|---|
| SMITH-CAMP appears only when opening DMZ | Wait at the MWII menu, open Stats, then retry DMZ. |
| Profile level, operator, or social data is missing | Wait for the profile to populate before launching DMZ again. |
| Stats is unavailable or greyed out | Return to the menu, wait longer, and try again; Xbox users can try the platform achievements screen. |
| A friend can enter DMZ | Join that player’s party and attempt to enter through their lobby. |
| MWII is missing from the Call of Duty hub | Open it from the platform library or store page and verify the installed content packs. |
| Every online mode fails | Check Activision and platform status, restart the game and platform, then test another network. |
| Only PC files appear damaged | Use Verify/Repair before considering a reinstall. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the SMITH-CAMP error a ban?
The error alone does not establish that your account is banned. It is a timeout or service message associated with loading online account information.
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Yes. Start with waiting for profile data to load, opening Stats or achievements, retrying DMZ, and checking the launch path. Do not delete local saved data as a first step.
Why does the error happen only in DMZ?
DMZ may be using a particular MWII or Call of Duty hub launch path that fails while retrieving profile information. That does not prove that DMZ files are corrupted.
Does joining a friend’s party always fix it?
No. Some players report success, but it is an anecdotal workaround and is not guaranteed on every platform or account.
Why is MW2 missing from the Call of Duty hub?
The hub and installed content can change by platform. Check your library or MWII store page and confirm that the required MWII/DMZ content is installed.
The Bottom Line
Start by waiting at the MWII menu for your profile to load, open Stats or achievements, and retry DMZ. If that fails, use a friend’s party, verify the MWII/DMZ installation path, check service status, and verify PC files before considering a reinstall. Do not delete saved data or assume that SMITH-CAMP proves a ban.
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