Players eager to jump into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer and DMZ modes on PC may find themselves blocked by hardware requirements, specifically related to TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Several players, including some staff at PC Gamer, have reported needing a BIOS update to meet the game's stringent security protocols. Activision has confirmed that both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory for online play.
The core of the issue lies not just in having these features enabled, but in having sufficiently updated versions of the firmware. Modern online games increasingly use TPM and Secure Boot to combat cheating. Secure Boot verifies the integrity of the operating system's boot process, while TPM hardware helps ensure that no malicious software or firmware interferes with the boot sequence. Intel's Platform Trust Technology (PTT) and AMD's Firmware Trusted Platform Module (fTPM) are specific implementations of this technology.
For Intel systems, specific PTT versions such as INTC 302.12.X.X or 303.12.X.X may require a motherboard firmware update. Similarly, AMD motherboards with fTPM versions of 3.X.0.X are incompatible and necessitate a firmware update. Even systems with relatively modern components, such as an Intel Core i5 12400KF or AMD Ryzen 5 5800X, can be affected if their BIOS has not been updated in a considerable time.
How to Update Your BIOS
Updating your BIOS is a critical step for ensuring compatibility and can also resolve system vulnerabilities and stability issues. The process generally involves downloading the latest stable BIOS version for your specific motherboard from the manufacturer's website. This file should then be placed on a USB drive, which is then plugged directly into the motherboard's rear I/O panel. After rebooting the PC, users must access the BIOS (often by pressing DEL or F2 during startup) and navigate to the BIOS update section. From there, select the local/offline install option and choose the downloaded BIOS file to begin the update.
If direct access to the BIOS via traditional methods is problematic, an alternative is to hold the Shift key while initiating a restart from Windows. This action brings up a startup menu that allows access to advanced options and subsequently, the UEFI BIOS.
Post-Update Configuration
After a BIOS update, it is essential to reconfigure several settings within the BIOS. Most importantly, verify that Secure Boot, TPM, and PTT/fTPM are enabled. These options are typically found in the 'Security' or 'Boot' sections of the BIOS interface. Additionally, users should re-enable their memory profiles, such as XMP for Intel or EXPO for AMD, to ensure their RAM operates at optimal speeds. Checking that the primary boot drive is correctly recognized and set as the first boot priority is also recommended. Finally, enabling Resizable BAR (ReBAR), usually located in the 'Advanced' or 'PCIe' menus, can offer performance benefits.
Once these settings are confirmed, users can boot back into Windows and attempt to launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.