How can I reduce the storage space for CoD: Modern Warfare 2 on Steam?

You might want to check online for a compressed version, but don't get your hopes up! In my case, I ended up buying an external SSD to manage space better. Creating an additional Steam library on that drive has worked wonders for me, and honestly, I can’t notice any speed issues while gaming.

Ah, that’s a tough spot. Honestly, when you first install, you might have to go through the full setup – it’s annoying, but that’s how some games work now. On Xbox, I've run into similar issues where you have to download everything first and then manage what you want to keep. Unfortunately, it seems like you’re stuck with that big initial install unless there’s a specific way to cut content later.

From what I've heard, the game initially shows that it needs a lot more space than it actually does after installation. It’s likely just temporary space for downloading updates and patches. Once it's installed, you might be able to reclaim some of that space. Also, if you haven't already, you can check the DLC section in the game properties to see if there’s anything unnecessary you can uninstall.

If you’re looking for alternatives, the Game Pass version allows you to pick and choose what to download – like just Warzone or the campaign. Still, it starts at around 100 GB, so it’s not a huge space saver.