Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a connected story if you mean the reboot that began in 2019: its main campaigns continue in release order through Modern Warfare II (2022), Modern Warfare III (2023), and Modern Warfare 4 (2026). That reboot is a separate continuity from the original Modern Warfare trilogy of 2007, 2009, and 2011—it resets the story rather than continuing those games.
If you want to follow the reboot’s main plot, play the four campaigns in that order. The 2019 game also has a cooperative Special Ops continuation after its campaign, but that is additional story material, not another numbered main campaign.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Which Modern Warfare story are you asking about?
There are two distinct campaign continuities behind the name Modern Warfare. The original trilogy starts with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), followed by Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and Modern Warfare 3 (2011). A separate reboot begins with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019).
The reboot brings back familiar franchise elements and characters, including Captain Price, but puts them in a newly reset story. Infinity Ward narrative director Taylor Kurosaki said the 2019 game was not a sequel to the earlier games; Activision’s May 31, 2019 interview with Kurosaki makes that distinction explicit. He put it plainly: “Right off the bat, this is not Modern Warfare 4; this is not a sequel to those games.” In other words, a returning name or character does not mean the reboot inherits the original trilogy’s events.
Popular on Amazon
- 【90 Degree Full Function USB C Adapter】Supports the latest USB4 standard for up to 40Gbps of bandwidth, 8K video support, and up to 240W Fast charging; Support USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (EPR) including 140W, 180W and 240W. Your productivity is easily doubled. *Warm Tip: For the best fit, please make sure the USB-C port is fully exposed; thick or bulky cases may affect compatibility.
- 【Reliable Quality】Made from high-quality, scratch-resistant aluminum alloy, delicate metal frame. get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation. Non-Slip Design for easier insertion and removal.
- 【Small and portable】Ultra thin size, ultra compact design, a petite physique that matches the minimalist design of your modern laptops. Coming with a slim figure that won't block the port next to the one it's plugged into.
- 【Compatibility】Widely work with most usb c, thunderbolt 4/3 devices. Compatibilit for ROG Ally, Steam Deck, Switch, MacBook Pro, Quest 3 VR headset, Surface Book 2, iPhone 18/17/16/15, Samsung Galaxy S23/S22/S21, Note 20/10, Google Pixel, ChromeBook, etc.
- 【Excellence Customer Support】If you experience any issues or cable failure, simply reach out to our dedicated customer service team. We provide a prompt response within 18 hours, providing you with the necessary technical support to resolve any concerns.
Kurosaki also described the reboot’s Captain Price as recognizable but independent of the older continuity: “He’s the quintessential Captain Price too; he does things in the game that you’d expect him to, but he’s not beholden to the events of the earlier Modern Warfare games.” That is a useful way to understand the reset. The reboot can preserve the feel of a familiar character without making the earlier campaigns required chapters of the new plot.
So “connected” has two possible answers. The 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2026 reboot campaigns connect to one another. The 2019 story does not continue the 2007–2011 trilogy.
Recommended Free Tools
What order should I play the reboot campaigns in?
Play the reboot’s main campaigns in release order: 2019, 2022, 2023, then 2026. That is the clearest sequence because the publisher describes each later entry as continuing the preceding reboot story. There is no competing official campaign order to follow, and release order avoids confusing the separate old and new continuities.
| Order | Campaign | How it connects |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | Begins the reboot continuity; it resets the story rather than following the original trilogy. |
| 2 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) | An indirect continuation of the 2019 story, with a stated three-year interval from Task Force 141’s original formation. |
| 3 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) | A direct sequel to Modern Warfare II, picking up after its events. |
| 4 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (2026) | The next reboot-line campaign chapter, following the earlier reboot story. |
The 2022 campaign overview calls Modern Warfare II an indirect continuation and places it three years after Task Force 141’s original formation. Its launch recap describes 36 months of classified operations. The publisher describes Modern Warfare III as a direct sequel that follows the prior game’s events, while its 2026 story recap frames Modern Warfare 4 as the next chapter. These descriptions support release order as the practical campaign order; they do not provide a complete dated calendar for every event.
The different descriptions—“indirect continuation” for the move from 2019 to 2022 and “direct sequel” for 2022 to 2023—also explain why the entries need not begin on consecutive days or years in the fiction. The story is connected, but each campaign does not necessarily open at the exact moment the preceding one ends. Only the publisher’s description of Modern Warfare III specifically says it picks up following Modern Warfare II’s events.
If you want the main single-player plot with no detours, use the four entries in the table. If you want extra story content tied to the first reboot game, add its Special Ops Operations after the 2019 campaign. That optional cooperative material is not a fifth numbered campaign and should not be confused with the release sequence.
Also popular on Amazon
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
How does the 2019 reboot relate to the original trilogy?
It is a reset, not a continuation. The reboot uses recognizable characters and franchise elements in new circumstances, but its campaign is not positioned as the next installment after the original trilogy’s ending.
That distinction matters most when deciding whether to play the older games first. You do not need the 2007, 2009, or 2011 campaigns to understand the reboot’s starting point. The 2019 game establishes its own story, and its returning characters should be read as part of that new continuity. As Activision’s interview explains, the reboot’s Captain Price is familiar in character, but is not bound to the events of earlier Modern Warfare games.
Likewise, do not insert the reboot games into the old trilogy’s sequence. They are not chapters four through seven in one continuous narrative. The “4” in the 2026 title belongs to the current reboot-line entry; it does not make the 2019 release a sequel to Call of Duty 4. The similar names are the main source of confusion: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the 2007 original, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is the reboot’s first campaign.
If you are interested in both storylines, treat them as two separate playthroughs. Follow the original release order for the older trilogy—2007, 2009, 2011—and the reboot release order for the newer campaigns—2019, 2022, 2023, 2026. Playing one set first is not a prerequisite for understanding the other.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What does the timeline tell us—and what does it not?
The evidence gives a useful relative timeline, not a precise calendar of dates. In particular, the three-year figure for Modern Warfare II is measured from Task Force 141’s original formation, not stated as exactly three years after the end of the 2019 campaign.
Activision’s 2022 overview describes the period as three years after the task force’s formation, and the launch material calls it 36 months of classified missions. Those are two ways of expressing the same relative interval. They do not establish an exact in-universe year for every campaign or tell you the elapsed time between every event in the 2019 game and the start of Modern Warfare II.
Also popular on Amazon
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
For Modern Warfare III, the publisher’s wording is more direct: it is a sequel that picks up after Modern Warfare II’s events. For the 2026 game, Activision’s recap introduces the campaign as the next story chapter and reviews prior events. The official descriptions therefore support the sequence of campaigns, but not a detailed year-by-year chronology beyond the stated relative interval.
Keep the distinction between release chronology and in-universe chronology in mind. The release years tell you which campaign to play first; the 36-month reference is a relative story detail about Task Force 141. It should not be converted into an exact calendar date or treated as proof that the full gap between the two campaign endings is exactly three years.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteDoes the 2019 story continue after the campaign?
Yes. The 2019 game’s Special Ops Operations provide additional cooperative story material after the single-player campaign. They are worth separating from the main campaign order: play the 2019 campaign first, then try the Operations if you want that continuation.
Activision’s October 24, 2019 launch guide distinguishes Campaign, Multiplayer, and Special Ops, and says the Operations continue the campaign story. A later May 27, 2020 Activision story recap also says the story continues in Special Ops after the campaign credits. This makes Operations an optional extension for players following the 2019 plot, not a replacement for or prerequisite to the numbered campaigns that follow.
Keep the modes distinct when following the narrative: the single-player Campaign is the starting point; Special Ops adds cooperative story content afterward; Multiplayer is listed separately in the launch guide. The publisher identifies Operations as a continuation, not Multiplayer matches, so there is no reason to treat multiplayer as campaign chapters. If you are only asking for the main reboot campaign order, Special Ops is an optional addition rather than a required step before Modern Warfare II.
That distinction also helps if you see guides that mix modes together. The confirmed extra narrative step for the 2019 game is its Special Ops Operations. The campaign order does not need to include Multiplayer, and no separate cooperative continuation is established here for the later numbered entries.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Also popular on Amazon
- Portable and powerful USB-C HUB: BENFEI USB Type-C HUB, with super-soft and knot-free silicone woven design cable, meets most mobile office needs. Compact, lightweight, stylish, and powerful portable USB C Hub equipped with 1 x HDMI port, 1 x 100W charging, and 3 x USB ports. 18-month warranty, 24-hour response, to ensure you feel at ease when using our product.
- Design centered on comfort and reliability: Thanks to BENFEI's end-to-end in-house cable production capability, in-house PCBA and assembly capability, using the industry's most advanced silicone woven design and process, 20cm cable in length, no knots, super-soft, the HUB is easy to use in all scenarios: laptop, tablet, stand etc. Super-soft, 25000+ life cycles, to meet your daily carrying and office needs.
- 100W Charging: Support up to 90W USB C pass-through charging via Type-C port to keep your laptop powered. 10W is reserved for other interface operations. No data and video function on the Type-C port.
- 4K HDMI Display: The HDMI port supports media display at resolutions up to 4K 30Hz, keeping every incredible moment detailed and ultra vivid. Please note that the C port of the Host device needs to support video output.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Transfer files and from your laptop at speeds up to 10 Gbps with USB A 3.2 port. Extra 2 USB A 2.0 ports are perfectly for your keyboards and mouse.
Is release order the best order even with the time jump?
Yes. The time jump in Modern Warfare II does not create a reason to play the games out of release order. The publisher calls that entry an indirect continuation of the 2019 story, then describes Modern Warfare III as a direct sequel to it. The 2026 recap adds the latest game as the next chapter.
“Indirect continuation” leaves room for events and operations between the earlier campaign and the 2022 one; it does not mean the story is unrelated. Release order lets the reboot establish its characters and situation in 2019 before moving into the later campaigns. Playing the original trilogy first is a separate choice for fans interested in the earlier continuity, not a preparation requirement for the reboot.
If you mainly want the central single-player narrative, the compact route is the four numbered reboot campaigns. If you also want the 2019 story’s cooperative follow-on, add Special Ops after the 2019 campaign. The official continuity descriptions do not establish a corresponding extra mode sequence for the later entries, so this guide does not fold other modes into the campaign chronology.
There is also no need to use the 36-month interval to reorder the games. It describes time within the reboot story, while the practical order is based on how the publisher presents the campaigns and their connections. Reversing the order would make the 2022 and 2023 story developments harder to follow, not resolve a continuity problem.
What is the simplest way to choose where to start?
Choose based on which continuity you want, rather than on the shared title or returning character names:
- Want the reboot story? Start with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), then continue through the 2022, 2023, and 2026 campaigns.
- Want the original trilogy? Follow the original releases: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), Modern Warfare 2 (2009), and Modern Warfare 3 (2011). Treat this as its own storyline.
- Want more of the 2019 narrative? Play its Special Ops Operations after finishing the Campaign; they are cooperative additional story content.
- Only want to try the newest campaign? Activision says players can jump into Modern Warfare 4 without having played every earlier title, although the earlier reboot games provide the fuller progression.
For people choosing a copy of the latest game, Activision’s 2026 page points to participating retailers and platform stores and lists Standard/Cross-Gen and Vault editions. That is a route to check current purchase options, not a guarantee of current inventory, price, platform format, or availability in every territory. Confirm the exact platform, edition, region, and format with the store before buying; the campaign-order answer does not depend on choosing a particular edition.
Also popular on Amazon
- 【Read before You Buy】 Note: This adapter is USB 2.0 version and cannot transmit HDM, VGA, or other video signals. Nevertheless, they are fully capable of charging devices,duplicating files, and can be seamlessly integrated with USB-C earphones, wireless network adapters, and SD card adapters.
- 【Easy to Use and Safe】Thanks to modern manufacturing techniques, we've made these adapters sufficiently compact so that they can remain inserted in your device without noticeable protrusion or inconvenience. This means you don't have to constantly plug and unplug them, reducing the likelihood of wear and misalignment, and making them more convenient to carry around.
- 【Reliable Quality】Engineered for enhanced durability, durable aluminum alloy shell material,get excellent wear resistance and heat dissipation,the male USB C and female USB connectors & the male USB and female USB C connectors are designed to be plugged and unplugged up to 20000 times. Provides data transfer, device charging, memory space expansion, and additional computer peripherals.
- 【Think more for you】Do you need to connect a USB-C-enabled device to an odd device that only has USB-A ports? Then these USB-A male to USB-C female adapters are made for you.Simply insert the adapter into the USB-A port on the device, and you can instantly connect your USB-C device to the device that originally didn't have the correct connection port.
- 【Trusted xiwxi Quality and Service】As a responsible brand seller, you will receive xiwxi's 12-month Quality assurance and lifetime friendly customer service, you're not just buying a product,you're investing in peace of mind with all-round quality and exceptional customer service.
Activision’s 2026 recap says players can jump into Modern Warfare 4 without having played every earlier title. That makes the latest entry an option for newcomers, though playing the reboot campaigns in order provides the fuller progression from the 2019 reset onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) a remake of the 2007 game?
Activision describes it as a reset or reimagining, not as a sequel to the original trilogy. It shares the franchise and familiar characters, but its story begins in a different continuity.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Does Modern Warfare II take place exactly three years after the 2019 campaign?
The publisher’s three-year figure is relative to Task Force 141’s original formation, and its recap also calls that span 36 months of classified operations. It does not say that the interval is exactly three years from the 2019 campaign’s ending.
What order should I play the Modern Warfare reboot campaigns in?
Play Modern Warfare (2019), Modern Warfare II (2022), Modern Warfare III (2023), and Modern Warfare 4 (2026). This release order follows the publisher’s descriptions of the connected campaigns.
Do I need to play the original Modern Warfare trilogy before the reboot?
No. The original trilogy and the 2019 reboot are separate continuities. The reboot establishes its own story, so the 2007, 2009, and 2011 campaigns are optional background for fans, not prerequisites.
Does Special Ops continue the 2019 campaign story?
Yes. Activision says the 2019 Special Ops Operations continue the campaign story after the credits. They are cooperative, optional story material, separate from the numbered main campaigns.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: The Modern Warfare story is connected within the reboot, not across both eras. Play the 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2026 campaigns in release order; add the 2019 game’s Special Ops Operations afterward if you want its cooperative story continuation. The original 2007–2011 trilogy is a separate continuity, and you do not need it to start the reboot.
