Modern Warfare 2: How to Turn Off Crossplay for Playstation & Xbox

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Learn how to disable crossplay for a different playing experience

Co-authored by Bryzz Tortello and Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: September 23, 2023 Fact Checked

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Playstation

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Xbox

Crossplay in video games is a great way to play with your friends who don't own the same kind of console as you. However, in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, it can lead to an unfair advantage on both sides. PC players can typically move faster with keyboard and mouse than a console player can with a controller, and console players have access to aim assist that PC doesn't have. In some instances, you may want to play MW2 with crossplay off. In this article we'll teach you how to turn off crossplay for Playstation and Xbox. Unfortunately, PC does not have an option to turn off crossplay at this time, though players who own the game on both Playstation and PC may have a workaround.

Things You Should Know

PS4 and PS5 players can go into their Account & Network settings in-game to turn off crossplay.
Xbox players must turn off crossplay in the console's system settings, as there is no in-game option to turn off crossplay.
PC players cannot turn off crossplay, as there is no in-game setting, but there may be a workaround if you also have the game on Playstation.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Playstation

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This method works on both Playstation 4 and Playstation 5 .
This is the small oval button to the right of the touchpad. On a PS4 controller it will say Options and on a PS5 controller it will have three horizontal lines stacked on top of one another.

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The R1 button is on the right-hand side of the controller, above the right trigger (R2).
There will be a variety of settings available here relating to your account and online access.
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Press X on "Crossplay" and "Crossplay Communication". By default these will be toggled on, so by pressing X on these options they will turn off.
- After turning off crossplay, you'll only match with other Playstation players. Because the player pool will be smaller, you may have to wait longer to get into lobbies.
- Anecdotally, some users state that if you have MW2 on Playstation and PC, crossplay settings will carry over between the console and PC versions of the game. If you have crossplay turned off on Playstation and swap to PC, you may be able to work around PC's lack of a crossplay setting. Note that this is likely a bug that could get fixed in a future update, and you may have trouble finding a match on PC with crossplay turned off. ^{[1]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Xbox

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1
Press the home/jewel button on your controller. Xbox users don't have the ability to turn off crossplay in-game, but there is an Xbox system setting that disables crossplay. This method works for Xbox One , Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series X. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- This will disable crossplay for all games, so if you'll have to repeat these steps to turn crossplay back on for other games.
The Settings option has a cogwheel icon next to it.
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Select Online safety & family under General. The General section is the first and default section for your Xbox Settings, so simply scroll to the right and down to get to this option.
- You may be prompted to enter your PIN if you have one set up.
This is the first option in the Online safety & family menu.
This is the first option in the Privacy & online safety menu.
This is the second to last option in the Xbox privacy menu.
This is the second to last option in this menu.
This dropdown is under the You can join cross-network play option.
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Click on the dropdown and select "Block". This will block all crossplay on your Xbox, for any game.
- After turning off crossplay, you'll only match with other Xbox players. Because the player pool will be smaller, you may have to wait longer to get into lobbies. If you're looking to play Ground War or Warzone, you likely will have to play with crossplay enabled.