alterware.dev

AlterWare is a set of community-made enhanced clients for five older Call of Duty titles: Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, Ghosts, Advanced Warfare, and Black Ops 3. It restores features the original developers removed, patches exploits present in the Steam versions, adds weapons and maps ported from other games, and supports modding and dedicated servers. If you own one of these games and want a more complete, more secure, and more moddable version of it, AlterWare is aimed at you. If you don't own the base game, note that the site describes these as clients for those titles rather than standalone games.

Supported games and client names

The client names (IW4, IW5, IW6, S1, T7) follow the internal engine codenames for each title, which is why you'll see them used interchangeably with the game names across the site and community.

What AlterWare actually changes

The site lists six core differences from the original releases:

• Restored features — content and functionality removed by the original developers is brought back.
• Additional content — weapons and maps ported from other Call of Duty games.
• Security patches — exploits that exist in the Steam versions are fixed.
• Modding support — tooling that lets the community create and share new content.
• Dedicated servers — host your own or join community-hosted ones, with a full server browser for discovery.
• Community driven — development and support happen through the project's Discord and forum.

The practical upshot: you get a version of the game closer to its original scope, with fewer known exploits and a live multiplayer/server ecosystem, instead of the state the Steam release was left in.

How to get started

There are two download paths, and which one you use depends on the game:

For MW2, MW3, Ghosts, and Advanced Warfare — use the AlterWare Launcher. The launcher automatically downloads and updates the IW4-SP, IW5-Mod, IW6-Mod, and S1-Mod clients, so you don't manage versions manually.

For Black Ops 3 — download the T7x client separately. It's a standalone client: place it in your BO3 game directory and run it.

If you need step-by-step help, the site points to a detailed installation guide on the official forum. The expected result after either path is a working enhanced client for that title, kept current (launcher path) or run directly from your game folder (T7x path).

Community and support

Support, content sharing, events, and news run through the project's Discord server, which the site states has over 16,500 members. There's also a support forum and a GitHub presence linked from the site. If you hit an installation problem or want to find active servers, those are the places to look.

A note on affiliation

AlterWare states plainly that it is not endorsed by or affiliated with the copyright holders of the base games, and that the trademarks used belong to their respective owners. Keep that in mind: these are unofficial community clients, not official releases.

IW6-Mod is the AlterWare client for Call of Duty: Ghosts. It restores features removed from the original release, patches known exploits, adds modding support, and includes a dedicated server browser. You install it by downloading the AlterWare Launcher, which automatically downloads and updates IW6-Mod alongside the other supported clients. This guide is for Ghosts players who want the enhanced client and a working install path.

What IW6-Mod Adds to Ghosts

AlterWare describes its clients around five capabilities, all of which apply to IW6-Mod:

• Restored features — content and functionality removed from the original game are brought back.
• Additional content — extra weapons and maps ported from other Call of Duty titles.
• Security patches — exploits present in the Steam versions are patched.
• Modding support — the community can create and share new content.
• Dedicated servers — host your own or join community-hosted servers, with a full server browser for discovery.

The client is community-driven; AlterWare reports a Discord of over 16,500 members used for support and updates.

Before You Install

• A legitimate copy of Call of Duty: Ghosts. IW6-Mod is a client for the base game, not a standalone replacement.
• The AlterWare Launcher. This is the supported install path for IW6-Mod. AlterWare's download dialog states the launcher "automatically downloads and updates IW4-SP, IW5-Mod, IW6-Mod and S1-Mod clients."
• Note on T7x: The standalone T7x client is for Black Ops 3 only and is placed directly in the BO3 game directory. It is not the install method for IW6-Mod.

How to Install IW6-Mod

1. Go to the AlterWare site and open the Download section.
2. Under "Choose your preferred download method," select AlterWare Launcher and download it.
3. Run the launcher. It will download and update the IW6-Mod client automatically as part of its managed client set.
4. For step-by-step setup and troubleshooting, open the Installation Guide linked from the download dialog, which points to a detailed guide on the AlterWare forum.

Expected result: the launcher manages your IW6-Mod install and keeps it current, so you don't need to manually patch the client after release updates.

Joining or Hosting Servers

Once installed, IW6-Mod includes a full server browser. You can join community-hosted dedicated servers directly, or host your own. Server discovery happens through the in-client browser rather than a separate tool.

Common Sticking Points

• Using the wrong download. T7x is Black Ops 3 only. For Ghosts, use the AlterWare Launcher.
• Skipping the guide. The download dialog explicitly links an installation guide on the forum — use it if the launcher setup doesn't complete cleanly.
• Expecting a standalone game. IW6-Mod enhances an existing Ghosts installation; it does not replace the base game.

Where to Get Help

AlterWare's community channels are the primary support route: the Discord server (16,500+ members) and the support forum, both linked from the site. The forum also hosts the installation guide referenced in the download flow.

IW4-SP is AlterWare's single-player mod client for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. It restores features that were removed from the original release, patches known exploits, and adds modding support, so you can play the MW2 campaign with restored content and community-made modifications. You get it by downloading the AlterWare Launcher, which handles the download and updates for you. This is the single-player client — it is separate from the multiplayer IW4 client, so don't expect it to connect you to online matches.

What the IW4-SP Client Does

AlterWare describes its clients around a few core ideas, and IW4-SP fits into that same framework:

• Restored features — content and functionality that the original developers removed are brought back.
• Additional content — extra weapons and maps ported from other games expand what's available.
• Security patches — exploits present in the Steam versions are patched.
• Modding support — advanced modding capabilities let the community create and share new content.
• Dedicated servers — you can host your own or join community-hosted ones, with a full server browser.

For IW4-SP specifically, the focus is the Modern Warfare 2 single-player experience. The "SP" in the name signals that this is the single-player variant, not the multiplayer client.

How to Install IW4-SP

The supported path is through the AlterWare Launcher, which automatically downloads and updates the client.

1. Download the AlterWare Launcher from the AlterWare site. The launcher is the recommended method because it manages downloads and keeps the client updated automatically.
2. Run the launcher and let it fetch the IW4-SP client. The launcher handles IW4-SP, IW5-Mod, IW6-Mod, and S1-Mod clients.
3. Follow the installation guide if you hit any snags. AlterWare points users to a detailed installation guide on its forum.

If you prefer a manual route for other clients, note that the T7x client for Black Ops 3 is distributed differently — it's a standalone client you place in your BO3 game directory and run. That's a separate product from IW4-SP, so don't mix the two up.

Verifying It Works

Once installed, launch the client and confirm it loads the MW2 single-player content. Because the launcher updates automatically, you generally don't need to re-download manually after the first install.

Common Points of Confusion

• IW4-SP vs. the multiplayer IW4 client — these are different. IW4-SP is for single-player. If you want multiplayer, you need the multiplayer client, not this one.
• Steam version vs. AlterWare client — the AlterWare client patches exploits that exist in the Steam version, so it's not simply a re-launcher for the Steam build.
• Where to get help — AlterWare runs a Discord server with over 16,500 members and a support forum. Both are listed as community and support channels on the site.

Supported Games at a Glance

Bottom Line

If you want to play Modern Warfare 2's single-player campaign with restored features, exploit patches, and mod support, IW4-SP is the client for it, and the AlterWare Launcher is the intended way to install and keep it updated. If you're after multiplayer, look at the separate multiplayer client instead. For installation problems, the AlterWare forum guide and Discord are the places to go.

IW5-Mod is AlterWare's single-player mod client for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It restores features removed from the original release, adds weapons and maps ported from other games, patches exploits found in the Steam version, and opens up modding support. You install it by downloading the AlterWare Launcher, which automatically fetches and updates the IW5-Mod client, then following the official installation guide on the AlterWare forum. This applies if you own Modern Warfare 3 and want the enhanced single-player experience rather than the stock Steam build.

What IW5-Mod Actually Is

AlterWare distributes enhanced clients for several Call of Duty titles. Each client targets one game, and IW5-Mod is the one mapped to Modern Warfare 3 (single player). The naming follows the internal engine identifiers: IW4-SP covers Modern Warfare 2 single player, IW5-Mod covers Modern Warfare 3, IW6-Mod covers Ghosts, S1-Mod covers Advanced Warfare, and T7X covers Black Ops 3.

According to AlterWare's own description, the clients exist to "restore missing features, patch exploits, and expand possibilities." For IW5-Mod specifically, that translates into four practical changes:

• Restored features — content the original developers removed is brought back so the single-player experience is more complete.
• Additional content — weapons and maps ported from other games are added, expanding what you can play.
• Security patches — exploits present in the Steam version are patched, giving you a safer environment.
• Modding support — advanced modding capabilities let the community create and share new content.

AlterWare states plainly that it is not endorsed by or affiliated with the copyright holders of the base games, and that the trademarks belong to their respective owners. In other words, IW5-Mod is a community project layered on top of a game you already own — it is not a replacement purchase.

How to Install IW5-Mod

The installation path is deliberately simple because the launcher handles the client itself.

1. Confirm you have Modern Warfare 3 installed. IW5-Mod is a client for MW3, so the base game needs to be present on your system.
2. Download the AlterWare Launcher. On the AlterWare download page, the launcher is described as automatically downloading and updating the IW4-SP, IW5-Mod, IW6-Mod, and S1-Mod clients. This is the recommended route for IW5-Mod — you do not download the client separately.
3. Run the launcher and let it fetch IW5-Mod. Because the launcher handles downloads and updates automatically, the client is pulled in and kept current without manual patching.
4. Follow the official installation guide. AlterWare points users to a detailed installation guide on its forum for completing setup. Use that guide for the exact steps, since it is the maintained source of truth.
5. Launch and verify. Once installed, start the client and confirm it loads the single-player content you expect.

Note the contrast with Black Ops 3: the T7X client is distributed as a standalone download that you place in your BO3 game directory and run. IW5-Mod does not work that way — it comes through the launcher.

Common Install Issues and How to Approach Them

• Client not appearing or not updating. The launcher is the update mechanism, so if IW5-Mod is missing or stale, re-run the launcher and let it complete its download/update cycle before troubleshooting anything else.
• Game not detected. Verify that Modern Warfare 3 is actually installed and that the launcher is pointed at the correct game directory. A wrong or moved install location is a frequent cause of a client failing to attach to the base game.
• Setup steps unclear. Rather than guessing at menu locations, use the AlterWare forum installation guide — it is the official walkthrough and the right place to check when a step does not match what you see.
• Need direct help. AlterWare maintains a Discord community of over 16,500 members plus a support forum, both listed as support channels on the site.

Is IW5-Mod Worth Setting Up?

Choose IW5-Mod if you want to play Modern Warfare 3's single-player content with restored features, extra ported weapons and maps, exploit patches, and modding capability — and you are comfortable installing a community client through a launcher. Skip it if you only want the unmodified Steam version, or if you are looking for a multiplayer-focused client, since IW5-Mod is explicitly the single-player mod for MW3.

For the broader picture of which games AlterWare covers and how the clients differ, see the related question on what AlterWare is and which Call of Duty games it supports.