You might be going through all this trouble for a game from 2013. Is it worth it?
Yes, for specific reasons:
The Bad:
To fully understand the "new download" craze, you need to know about IW6x.
Copy the new iw6mp64_ship.exe into the root game folder. call+of+duty+ghosts+iw6mp64shipexe+new+download
When you run this executable, it initializes the game engine, loads the multiplayer assets (maps, weapons, character models), and connects to the matchmaking services. It handles:
iw6mp64_ship.exe is the executable file for the multiplayer component of Call of Duty: Ghosts on 64-bit systems. It's part of the Infinity Ward game engine, adapted for the game. The iw6mp64 part typically denotes the game's engine and architecture (in this case, 64-bit), while ship usually indicates it's a final, released version of the game rather than a beta or development build. You might be going through all this trouble
Call of Duty: Ghosts was a significant entry in the franchise, marking the transition to next-gen consoles (PS4/Xbox One) at the time. The file iw6mp64_ship.exe is the specific executable file required to launch the Multiplayer mode on Windows PCs (64-bit systems).
The "new download" of the official EXE gets you nothing but the broken, abandoned matchmaking system. The IW6x client is the actual "new download" that the community uses. The Bad:
How to get IW6x legally:
Note: IW6x is a gray area. It does not bypass Steam authentication entirely (it checks for ownership), so it is generally tolerated by Activision, unlike a cracked EXE.