Microsoft Is Reminding Xbox Game Pass Members That They’ll Have to Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 if They Want to Play Day One
Microsoft is notifying Xbox Game Pass subscribers that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on the service at launch, requiring players who want to play day one to purchase the game separately.
The game launches on October 23, 2026 across Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, PC (via Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox on PC), and Nintendo Switch 2. Standard edition pricing remains at $70, while the Vault Edition costs $100.
This represents a significant policy shift from Microsoft. Since acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft had made new Call of Duty releases available on Game Pass from day one. However, in April 2026, Microsoft announced that future Call of Duty releases would arrive on Game Pass approximately one year after launch, during “the following holiday after launch.”
The decision to delay Game Pass inclusion marks a notable change in how Microsoft is approaching its subscription service and premium game availability. Rather than using new Call of Duty titles as day-one Game Pass attractions, Microsoft is leveraging the franchise’s premium appeal to drive direct purchases.