No, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is not on Game Pass at launch. Xbox changed the rules for new Call of Duty games this year, and Activision now says Modern Warfare 4 “will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027,” about a year after its October 23 release.
To play it at launch on Xbox or PC, you have to buy it, starting at $69.99. Below is what Xbox and Activision announced, when the game reaches the service, what Game Pass still does for you at launch and every platform Modern Warfare 4 is on.
Updated October 16, 2026: Activision’s October 15 launch post now states the Game Pass timing directly, so we replaced our reading of Xbox’s April wording with Activision’s own line, and added the older Call of Duty games it names as staying on Game Pass Ultimate.
What Xbox Changed for Call of Duty
The change came with a Game Pass price cut. In its Game Pass Ultimate price update on April 21, 2026, Xbox dropped Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 a month and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99, and in the same post said:
“Beginning this year, future Call of Duty titles won’t join Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass at launch. New Call of Duty games will be added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass during the following holiday season (about a year later), while existing Call of Duty titles already in the library will continue to be available.”
Activision confirmed it for this game specifically when pre-orders opened on May 28. Its pre-order guide says plainly that “Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on Game Pass at launch.”
That is a break from the last two years. Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 both launched straight into Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on day one, which is why many subscribers expected the same this October.
When Modern Warfare 4 Comes to Game Pass
Activision has now said it outright. Its October 15 launch post, “Modern Warfare 4 Launches October 23 as a Standalone Release,” says:
“Modern Warfare 4 will launch as a standalone release. To play the game at launch, players must purchase it separately; it will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027.”
That lines up with Xbox’s April rule of “the following holiday season (about a year later).” Neither company has given an exact date beyond Holiday 2027. When it arrives, it is due on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, the two tiers named in Xbox’s announcement.
What Game Pass Still Does for You at Launch
Being a subscriber is not worthless here:
- A cheaper Vault Edition. Activision’s loyalty discount takes 10% off a Vault Edition pre-order if you have played a qualifying Call of Duty (Modern Warfare 2019 or newer) through an active Game Pass Ultimate, Premium or PC Game Pass subscription. It applies when you pre-order on Xbox Series X and S or Xbox on PC, and only until October 23. Our Modern Warfare 4 edition guide explains whether the Vault Edition is worth it.
- Online play on Xbox. Activision says console players need a Game Pass Essential subscription, or a higher tier, for online modes on Xbox. That covers Multiplayer and DMZ, which need a connection anyway.
- The older games stay. Xbox says existing Call of Duty titles already in the library remain available, and Activision’s October 15 post names them: Game Pass Ultimate subscribers “will continue to have access” to Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare III while they wait.
What it does not do is get you in early. Campaign early access, live since October 16, and DMZ early access from October 20 come only with a digital pre-order, as our campaign early access guide explains.
Every Platform Modern Warfare 4 Is On
Activision lists these platforms for the October 23 launch:
- PlayStation 5. Online multiplayer needs PlayStation Plus.
- Xbox Series X and S.
- PC through the Xbox PC app, Battle.net and Steam. Buying on the Xbox Store makes it an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so one purchase covers both Xbox console and Xbox PC.
- Nintendo Switch 2, on the same day, built natively for the console by Infinity Ward with Digital Legends.
It is not on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Activision has said so since the reveal, and Warzone stops being playable on those two consoles when Modern Warfare 4’s Season 1 starts. PC players should also check the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirement covered in our Modern Warfare 4 PC specs story before buying.
Should You Buy It or Wait for Game Pass
It depends on what you play it for:
- Multiplayer and DMZ players: buy it. A year is most of the game’s life cycle, and seasons, Battle Passes and the launch meta all happen without you. DMZ gives early buyers a head start too, which our Modern Warfare 4 DMZ breakdown explains.
- Campaign-only players: waiting is reasonable if you can avoid spoilers for a year. The campaign is a one-time story, and it will be the same game in late 2027.
- Undecided: play what Game Pass already has. Black Ops 7 is still in the library, and our Black Ops 7 Prestige guide covers its endgame grind.
If you are new to the series and wondering how this one fits, our count of every Call of Duty game lays out the timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass on day one? No. Xbox and Activision both say it will not be on Game Pass at launch. Activision says players “must purchase it separately” to play at launch.
When will Modern Warfare 4 come to Game Pass? Activision’s October 15 launch post says it “will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027.” Neither Activision nor Xbox has given an exact date.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on PC Game Pass? Not at launch. When it arrives, Xbox’s announcement says it will be on both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Do Game Pass members get a discount on Modern Warfare 4? Yes, on the Vault Edition. Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass members who have played a qualifying Call of Duty through the service get 10% off a Vault Edition pre-order on Xbox until October 23.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on PS4 or Xbox One? No. Activision says it will not be available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. It is on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
Is Black Ops 7 still on Game Pass? Yes. Activision says Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will continue to have access to Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare III, and Xbox says existing Call of Duty titles already in the library stay available.