I know what you‘re wondering as a savvy PC gamer – can you score the classic Medal of Honor first-person shooters for free on Steam?
It‘s a fair question. Nowadays we‘re spoiled by free-to-play gems like CS:GO and Apex Legends. But sadly, the answer is nope – the Medal of Honor franchise is not free on Steam currently.
However, as a long-time superfan of the series, let me walk you through the past, present and future of Medal of Honor on Steam. I‘ve got tips on how to grab these awesome WW2 shooters at discounted prices or even legit free giveaways.
Let‘s also dive into why certain Medal of Honor games disappeared from Steam, the messy state of its multiplayer, and how it stacks up to other major FPS franchises. Consider me your trusty gaming guide!
A quick intro to Medal of Honor for newbies
First, a quick primer on Medal of Honor for anyone unfamiliar with this storied franchise. Debuting way back in 1999 on the original PlayStation, Medal of Honor pioneered the World War 2 shooter genre long before Call of Duty and Battlefield.
The early Medal of Honor games focused heavily on solo campaigns putting players in the boots of Allied soldiers across war theatres like the Battle of Normandy and Pearl Harbor. Signature elements included authentic weaponry, locations recreated from photo reference, and Hollywood-style music by Michael Giacchino.
Over its decade-plus run, the Medal of Honor franchise sold tens of millions of copies and inspired countless WW2 games. But after misguided attempts to modernize the series, it petered out around 2012.
Only 2020‘s Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond for VR headsets marked a brief return. Sadly no signs of a full-fledged new Medal of Honor yet.
Now let‘s jump into what the situation is for Medal of Honor on PC gaming‘s largest marketplace, Steam.
Here‘s the full list of Medal of Honor games on Steam
If you head to Steam and search for Medal of Honor, here are the exact titles currently for sale along with their standard pricing:
- Medal of Honor: Allied Assault War Chest – $19.99
- Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault – $19.99
- Medal of Honor: Airborne – $19.99
- Medal of Honor (2010 reboot) – $19.99
- Medal of Honor: Warfighter – $19.99
As you can see, the asking price for these Medal of Honor games ranges from $19.99 to $39.99. Not cheap!
Now notably missing from Steam are Medal of Honor: European Assault and Heroes which Activision published back in the mid 2000s. Only EA-era Medal of Honor titles are available.
I‘ll also note that Medal of Honor (2010) and Medal of Honor: Warfighter were previously removed from Steam but got added back. More details on that later!
First, let‘s clear up any confusion on whether Medal of Honor is free…
Medal of Honor ain‘t free on Steam (here‘s why)
I hate to burst your bubble, but Medal of Honor is definitely not free-to-play on Steam. In fact, none of the Medal of Honor games are free.
"But whyyy?" I hear you ask. After all, didn‘t Valve make CS:GO and TF2 free? What gives?
Well, as much as I‘d love for EA to flip the magic "free" switch on these legendary WW2 shooters, the reasons it hasn‘t happened are:
Medal of Honor is premium IP – Unlike Valve‘s games which are service-based, Medal of Honor relies on traditional retail model of upfront purchases. EA wants to drive sales, not give away assets.
Online multiplayer costs – Running servers for the online modes requires infrastructure and operational expenses. These have to be covered by game sales. Can‘t just let people play free.
Licensing limitations – This is part of why some Medal of Honor games are missing from Steam in the first place. Legal issues with licensing rights, publishers, platforms, etc.
Brand value concerns – Flooding the market with free Medal of Honor games could dilute EA‘s ability to sell new titles at full price down the road.
I don‘t necessarily agree with all of EA‘s logic, but as a business Medal of Honor is still treated as a premium IP rather than a free-to-play service.
That brings us to the next best thing though…
Legit ways to get Medal of Honor free or cheap
Don‘t abandon all hope just yet! While Medal of Honor isn‘t free forever on Steam, there are still a few legit ways to grab these classic shooters either completely free or at big discounts:
Giveaways – Occasionally free Steam keys get handed out by videogame deal sites or even publishers. Gotta be lucky and fast!
Bundles – Sites like Humble Bundle have packaged Medal of Honor with other games for cheap. Less than $5 for multiple titles.
Free Weekends – Steam has hosted some limited-time free events for Medal of Honor before. Fingers crossed for more!
EA Play subscription – For $4.99/month, EA Play gives you access to download some Medal of Honor titles. Best recurring value.
Disc resale – You can buy used discs and redeem one-time Steam keys, though very old ones may not work. Luck of the draw.
Key resellers – Key sites offer steep discounts but do your homework as scams exist. I‘ve had good luck with CDKeys.
Regional pricing – Using a VPN, you can view Steam prices in other currencies converted cheaper than USD.
As a bargain-hunting Medal of Honor fan, I suggest keeping an eye out for giveaways and bundles. Or just subscribe to EA Play monthly when you want to replay favorites like Frontline or Rising Sun!
The mysterious case of disappearing Medal of Honor games on Steam
Now, you may have noticed I called out some weirdness earlier around certain Medal of Honor games vanishing from Steam temporarily. What exactly happened there?
Well in 2020, both Medal of Honor (2010) and Medal of Honor: Warfighter were removed from purchase on Steam. But why?
In Medal of Honor (2010)‘s case, it was taken down right before the new VR game Above and Beyond launched, likely to avoid cannibalizing sales. Sneaky move EA!
Medal of Honor: Warfighter on the other hand got delisted when EA‘s publishing rights for the game expired in early 2021. It was caught up in a wave of older EA games removed from Steam at that time.
Most puzzling was Medal of Honor: Airborne disappearing from Steam in early 2022. The speculation is old compatibility issues on new hardware/Windows caused the takedown.
Thankfully, EA eventually put Medal of Honor (2010) and Warfighter back up for sale on Steam. But Airborne remains unavailable to purchase there.
For anyone who already bought these vanished Medal of Honor games on Steam previously, rest assured they will still remain in your library to download. Phew! No one can take away your sweet Medal of Honor memories.
The tragic death of Medal of Honor multiplayer
Of course a huge part of Medal of Honor‘s legacy is its pioneering multiplayer modes starting all the way back in 2002. Who remembers clanning up in Allied Assault, sniping foes in Airborne, or the hectic online combat of the 2010 reboot?
Sadly, I have some heartbreaking news to share. In October 2022, EA announced plans to shut down the multiplayer servers for:
- Medal of Honor (2010)
- Medal of Honor: Warfighter
- Medal of Honor: Airborne
By the end of 2022, the online modes for these games will cease functioning. No more late night Medal of Honor LAN parties or returning to your favorite servers 🙁
EA cited shrinking player populations that made the costs of maintenance and operations unsustainable. Can‘t argue with the cold hard economics, but it still stings.
For me personally, Medal of Honor 2010 was a landmark in online military FPS action with its modern loadouts and large scale battles. I have many fond memories that will live on digitally forever!
Of course this multiplayer shutdown only affects the online components. You can still enjoy single-player and local co-op to your heart‘s content.
How Medal of Honor stacks up to other shooter franchises on Steam
To put Medal of Honor‘s availability in context, let‘s see how it compares to some other major FPS franchises on Steam:
Call of Duty – Nearly the full catalog is on Steam. Majority paid titles but frequent discounts.
Battlefield – EA‘s other big shooter series. Good Steam presence, though some gaps exist.
Counter-Strike – Main games and GO now free-to-play. Older ones cheap in bundles.
Rainbow Six – Good selection on Steam. Siege still popular as paid multiplayer.
DOOM – Iconic franchise. Original DOOM free and frequent giveaways.
If we‘re being honest, Medal of Honor falls a bit behind most of its shooter competition on Steam nowadays in terms of game selection, discounts, and free-to-play conversions.
A big reason seems to be EA‘s complicated relationship with Steam amidst promoting their own Origin service. That tug of war has really impacted Medal of Honor‘s availability for fans.
Should you add Medal of Honor games to your Steam library?
Given all the above info, is Medal of Honor still worth adding to your Steam library in 2024? As a huge superfan, I say yes, absolutely!
The earlier World War 2 titles especially have aged wonderfully. For under $20 during sales, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault and Pacific Assault are amazing solo shooter experiences brimming with WW2 authenticity.
I‘d recommend being more selective with the modern titles. Medal of Honor (2010) still holds up decently as an evolution for the era. But Warfighter felt rushed and unpolished even when new.
Considering the premium pricing compared to Steam sales on other shooters, snag any Must-Honor Must-Plays using giveaways, bundles, or EA Play when possible.
And while the multiplayer shutdown is a downer, escaping into the epic WW2 single-player campaigns is still worth it alone for history buff FPS fans. Storming Omaha Beach or defending Pearl Harbor never loses its magic.
So that wraps up my deep dive on Medal of Honor‘s past, present, and future availability on Steam. Hopefully this intel from a dedicated fan helps you on your mission to grab these classic shooters! Now get out there and enjoy some World War 2 heroics. Thumbs up and subscribe if you found this guide helpful.
Your fellow bargain hunter,
Cade 🙂
