Leak confirms that Modern Warfare II and III will be available free on Game Pass when Black Ops 6 launches in October.
This October, the entire Call of Duty series will be available on Game Pass. The announcement follows Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a deal valued at $68.7 billion. The acquisition faced significant resistance from Sony, which attempted to block the purchase over concerns that Microsoft would make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox and Game Pass.
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Sony’s objections included clauses in their existing marketing agreement with Activision Blizzard that restricted Call of Duty’s inclusion in Xbox Game Pass. This was part of a broader regulatory battle, with Sony arguing that the deal would harm market competition. Despite these efforts, the acquisition was finalized in October 2023.
Following the acquisition, there was hope among players that their purchases of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II or III on the Xbox Marketplace would transfer to Game Pass, allowing play on PC. Similarly, those who owned the games on BattleNet hoped for access on linked Xbox accounts. Unfortunately, this wasn’t initially the case, leading to disappointment.
However, a recent listing for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass has provided new hope. The listing confirms that all titles from Modern Warfare 2019 to the latest release, Modern Warfare III, will be available through the Call of Duty launcher on both Xbox and PC. This aligns with a statement from Microsoft addressing concerns over the install size of Modern Warfare III, which includes both MWII and MWIII due to shared assets and launcher. This detail was initially overlooked but suggested the inclusion of these games on Game Pass.
Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can already see an option to “pre-install” Call of Duty titles in their library. Notably, achievements for Modern Warfare II and III are listed under the Black Ops 6 achievements, further confirming their availability on Game Pass.
While Modern Warfare 2019, Black Ops: Cold War, and Call of Duty: Vanguard are not currently mentioned, they are expected to join Game Pass soon. Microsoft has a history of expanding its Game Pass library, and adding these titles would be a logical step.
The inclusion of the entire Call of Duty series on Game Pass represents a significant shift in the gaming industry, providing players with extensive access to the franchise. As October approaches, players eagerly await the full integration of these titles into the Game Pass ecosystem.
Stay tuned for official announcements from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard as they finalize the details and get ready to enjoy the full Call of Duty experience on Game Pass this October.
