The original 2009 Modern Warfare 2 now has working cross-play between PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. A fan project called Classics runs it, and it doesn’t need mods or jailbroken consoles. Players on all three platforms land in the same custom ranked servers, and each player’s platform appears directly in the game. The open alpha is live now, and each platform joins a different way.
Quick answer: On PS3, set both DNS entries to 136.55.43.79. On Xbox 360, join the gamertag Classicsgg. On PC, launch through classics.gg/steam with a paid Discord subscription. The alpha ends October 21.
Modern Warfare 2 cross-play requirements by platform
| Platform | How you connect | Extra requirement |
|---|---|---|
| PS3 | Custom DNS setting | None |
| Xbox 360 | Join gamertag Classicsgg | None |
| PC | Launch link via Steam | Paid Discord subscription |
| Emulators | Supported | None |
Console players don’t pay anything to get in. PC is different, and the reason is cheating. A paid subscription means a banned PC account can’t simply start over with a free new one. The money also helps cover the servers that ranked play runs on, and $2 from every subscription goes into the prize pool for the ranked season.
How to join on each platform
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Xbox 360 takes the least setup. Search for the gamertag Classicsgg, then choose “Join Session In Progress.” That starts matchmaking on the Classics servers.
PC (Steam)
Once your paid Discord subscription is active, open the Classics launch link. The game starts automatically and drops you straight into the lobby.
Classics also works with emulators, so you can still join without original PS3 or Xbox 360 hardware.
You’ll know it worked when other players’ platforms show up next to them in the match. If you can see PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 players in the same lobby, you’re on the cross-play servers.
What the Classics ranked servers include
This isn’t a revival of the game’s original public playlists. Every match is 4v4 ranked on custom servers, and it uses a small set of objective modes.
- Search & Destroy
- Demolition
- Capture the Flag
- Headquarters
The ladder has six ranks, starting at Bronze and topping out at Master. A win is worth between 15 and 35 points, and a loss takes away about the same. Warm-up matches run while you wait in the queue, so you aren’t stuck staring at a lobby screen.
Anti-cheat and moderation on Modern Warfare 2 cross-play
Hackers made the 2009 game’s official matchmaking notorious. Classics adds built-in anti-cheat and moderation, and the team says the setup is safer than regular matchmaking. The team hasn’t explained how the cross-platform connection works. Developer Shawstin has described how they handle exploits.
“All player data is flowed through a dedicated server, so if an exploit does come to light, then I will be able to look at the data and patch it quickly.”
Shawstin also says the team is actively patching any exploits or security issues it finds. Asked whether the project is legal, they compared it to hosting a Minecraft server. That comparison is less settled than it sounds, because not everyone in the industry agrees that fan-run servers are fine.
Classics open alpha end date
The open alpha runs until October 21. No official date has been announced for what follows it. Console players only need a DNS change or a gamertag search to try it, so the time left in the alpha is enough to see whether 4v4 ranked Modern Warfare 2 is worth sticking with.
