Modern Warfare III
The first Call Of Duty game is making its way to Xbox Game Pass this week as a free-to-play title for subscribers. This follows Diablo IV as the biggest additions to Microsoft’s service since the $67 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard in late 2023.
The game lands on Game Pass this Wednesday, July 24th, at the start of the launch of Season 5, which releases for Modern Warfare III, Warzone and Warzone Mobile. Seasons typically release around 9 or 10am PT.
Warzone is already free, so players familiar with the Battle Royale will already have a head-start. Modern Warfare III comes with a single-player campaign, Co-operative Zombies mode (similar to Modern Warfare II’s DMZ extraction mode) and multiplayer.
In my review of Modern Warfare III I noted that I found the campaign fairly lackluster, couldn’t really get into Zombies mode (which just isn’t my thing) but that the multiplayer is the best the game has been in years. Since publishing that, multiplayer has only gotten better. For instance:
- The base game launched with all of the 2009 Modern Warfare 2 maps, but since then Sledgehammer Games has released a bunch of new maps that are mostly terrific.
- I’ve come to really love Cutthroat Mode—a 3v3v3 competitive mode—and think it’s probably the best, most tactical and intense mode that’s been introduced to the game since Gunfight. In fact, I find myself enjoying it even more than Gunfight (a 2v2 mode that’s also a ton of fun).
- Movement is the most fluid, fast and responsive Call of Duty has ever been. The game just feels fantastic to play, a huge improvement not just over its predecessor but over any other game in the franchise, hands down.
- The innovative perk system has been expanded enormously since launch with new Vests, Gloves, Boots and Gear that make every loadout unique. On top of that, new weapons include some of my favorite in Call of Duty history, including the excellent Superi 46 SMG and the return of the Kar98k Marksman Rifle.
Despite loud complaints from many in the community that the game was just “overpriced DLC” for Modern Warfare II—something that poor marketing and rumors helped grow into widespread belief—this game is a huge improvement over the last one and the most fun I’ve had in the modern era of Call Of Duty.
One warning: It is quite bulky to install. On PC and console you’ll be installing Call Of Duty HQ which serves as a hub for both Modern Warfare III and Modern Warfare II as well as Warzone. You’ll need close to 150GB of space on your drive.
A second warning: If you’re not familiar with this franchise, get ready for a very competitive playing field.
The game will be available tomorrow on Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. I highly recommend it.