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No. Modern Warfare 4 is not on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Activision confirmed on October 15, 2026 that it launches October 23 as a standalone release you have to buy, and that it will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027. It ends the two-game run of day-one Game Pass launches set by Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7.
The confirmation is in Activision’s COD Intel post of October 15, 2026: “To play the game at launch, players must purchase it separately; it will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027.” That applies on Xbox consoles and on PC.
Why Modern Warfare 4 is not on Game Pass at launch
The change was announced six months ago, not this week. In an Xbox Wire post on April 21, 2026, Microsoft lowered the monthly prices of Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass and said future Call of Duty games would no longer join those tiers at launch. Instead, new Call of Duty games are added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass “during the following holiday season”, while “existing Call of Duty titles already in the library will continue to be available.”
For a game released in October 2026, the following holiday is Holiday 2027, which is the window Activision’s post now names. Xbox also sent Game Pass members a notification in July saying the game “won’t be available in Game Pass at launch”, as Pure Xbox reported on July 1.
So if you want to play on October 23, or in the Campaign Early Access that begins October 16, you need to own a copy.
Modern Warfare 4 is also not coming to PS4 or Xbox One; our MW4 on PS4 guide covers the platform list and what happens to Warzone on last-gen consoles.
MW4 Rank Boost (Level 1–55)Rank boost from Player Level 1 to 55 in Modern Warfare 4.From $14.90View offerWhen is Modern Warfare 4 coming to Game Pass?
Holiday 2027 is the only window Activision gives. There is no exact date, and Activision has not said which Game Pass tiers will get it then. Microsoft’s April policy names Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass for future Call of Duty games, but a tier list for Modern Warfare 4 specifically is Not confirmed.
Which Call of Duty games are still on Game Pass
Activision’s post says Game Pass Ultimate subscribers “will continue to have access to legacy Call of Duty titles”, and names three:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Warzone is free-to-play and does not need Game Pass. Activision has said it gets Modern Warfare 4 content when Season 1 starts on November 6, per the MW4 launch roadmap.
What digital pre-orders get on Xbox
According to the same October 15 post, a digital pre-order of Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox includes:
- Campaign Early Access, starting October 16
- DMZ Early Access, starting October 20
- The Hunter Killer Operator Skin and the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack
- The Inner Circuit M4 Weapon Blueprint, which gets an “OG Green” translucent version on Xbox consoles for Xbox’s 25th anniversary
The other pre-order items are covered in our MW4 pre-order bonus guide, and the edition differences in Standard vs Vault.
Modern Warfare 4 XP tokens and leveling
Since Game Pass is not an option at launch, these are the Modern Warfare 4 products we list for playing from October 23.
MW4 Multiplayer Bot LobbyA hosted MW4 Multiplayer session against managed AFK player accounts.From $4.99View offer
MW4 Double XP + Double Weapon XP Tokens (60 Min Each)Double XP and Double Weapon XP tokens, 60 minutes each, for when Multiplayer opens on October 23.From $7.99View offerFrequently asked questions
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
Not at launch. Activision says it will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027.
Is MW4 on PC Game Pass?
Not at launch. The April 2026 Xbox policy covers both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Can I play the MW4 Campaign Early Access with Game Pass?
No. Campaign Early Access is for digital pre-orders of the game, not for Game Pass.
Is Black Ops 7 still on Game Pass?
Yes. Activision lists Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare III as staying available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
Do I need Game Pass to play Warzone?
No. Warzone is free-to-play.
Sources and update history
- Call of Duty blog: Modern Warfare 4 Launches October 23 as a Standalone Release, October 15, 2026
- Xbox Wire: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Price Update, April 21, 2026 (Call of Duty policy)
- Pure Xbox: Xbox Reminds Game Pass Members To Buy Modern Warfare 4 If They Want To Play It Day One, July 1, 2026 (subscriber notification)
- Call of Duty on X: MW4 launch roadmap, October 14, 2026 (Season 1 date)
- Xbox Wire: Play Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Day One with Xbox Game Pass, May 28, 2024 (Black Ops 6 day one)
- Windows Experience Blog: What to know about Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 before it launches, November 10, 2025 (Black Ops 7 day one)
Update history: Published October 16, 2026. Facts last checked October 16, 2026 against the sources above.
