Hey friend! If you‘re wondering whether you can play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare without paying anything, I‘ve got some good news and bad news for you.
The good news is – yes, there are parts of Modern Warfare you can play for free! But other parts of the game still require you to purchase a copy.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll break down exactly what‘s free, what‘s paid, and how to access both so you can enjoy Modern Warfare on a budget. Let‘s dive in!
Free-to-Play Warzone Battle Royale
The most popular free portion of Modern Warfare is the epic battle royale experience called Warzone. This launched in March 2020 as a completely standalone title that you can download and play without owning Modern Warfare.
Warzone supports up to 150 players on a massive map called Verdansk. It plays and feels just like Modern Warfare, using the same gunplay, operators, and progression system.
According to Activision, over 125 million players logged into Warzone in its first year! So it‘s safe to say this free mode has been a huge hit.
Here are the key things to know about playing Warzone for free:
- Completely free – no Modern Warfare purchase required
- Battle royale mode for up to 150 players
- Utilizes Modern Warfare‘s mechanics and gameplay
- Cross-progression with Modern Warfare multiplayer
- Regular content updates including new maps and modes
- In-game store to purchase cosmetic items
- Downloadable standalone on PC, PS4, and Xbox One
So if you‘re just interested in battle royale, Warzone has you covered without spending a penny!
Multiplayer Free Access Weekends
Now, if you want to play Modern Warfare‘s traditional team-based multiplayer, that portion of the game still requires a purchase.
However, the developers do periodically open up multiplayer for free access weekends – usually timed around a big in-game event or new content season.
These free periods typically last 3-5 days, giving you a nice chunk of time to test out multiplayer. And any progression or unlocks carry over if you decide to buy!
During free access, you can play:
- All standard multiplayer maps and modes
- 2v2 Gunfight mode
- Full progression system
- Any special events or updates happening
So keep an eye out for these free weekends if you want to try multiplayer risk-free. They happen a few times per year.
Free Trials for New Players
Here‘s one more way to sample Modern Warfare multiplayer for free:
If you‘ve never played Modern Warfare before, you‘re eligible for a 2 hour free trial by downloading the Call of Duty Companion App and claiming it.
This trial grants new players access to:
- 2 hours of multiplayer
- 1 hour of Special Ops
- Full access to free Warzone
It‘s a great low-risk way for brand new players to test the waters before buying.
According to Activision, over 2 million players tried Modern Warfare for the first time using the companion app trial in 2020. So don‘t miss out on this easy way to play for free!
Paid Campaign & Co-Op Content
Now that we‘ve covered the freebies, let‘s talk about what you need to purchase.
While Warzone, free weekends, and the companion trial give you free access to multiplayer – you still need to buy the game to get:
- The full campaign
- Special Ops cooperative modes
- Survival mode (PS4 timed exclusive)
Here‘s a quick breakdown of what each edition of Modern Warfare includes:
Edition | Price | Includes |
---|---|---|
Standard Edition | $59.99 | Campaign, Multiplayer, Special Ops |
Operator Edition | $79.99 | All Standard + 3 Operator Packs |
Operator Enhanced Edition | $99.99 | All Operator + 3 More Operator Packs |
As you can see, the base Standard Edition at $59.99 gets you full access to the campaign, multiplayer, and co-op.
The Operator editions add cosmetic-only operator skins and don‘t impact gameplay. So the Standard Edition is the best value to unlock everything meaningful.
Plus, the Standard Edition frequently goes on sale for 50% off or more! So keep an eye out for deals.
Is Modern Warfare Worth Buying in 2024?
Modern Warfare originally launched way back in 2019 – so is it still worth buying in 2024?
Here are some pros and cons to help decide:
Pros of Buying Modern Warfare in 2024
- Very active player base – MW has over 30 million monthly players
- Frequent content updates – new maps, modes, etc added
- Events and battle pass to earn new loot
- Progression carries between multiplayer and Warzone
- Standard Edition frequently 50% off (just $30!)
- Campaign praised as one of the best in COD history
- Next COD game still 6+ months away
Cons of Buying Modern Warfare in 2024
- Modern Warfare 2 launched in 2022 which may pull players
- Very large install size (200GB+ with all modes)
- Multiplayer meta and skill gap has increased over time
- New COD released every year so can become outdated
Overall, Modern Warfare still has an active community in 2024 and remains one of the most played Call of Duty games.
Between frequent sales and updates, plus at least 6 months before the next new COD, now is still a great time to jump in if you don‘t mind the storage space requirements.
Free Call of Duty Game Options
If you don‘t want to spend any money, here are a few other free Call of Duty games available:
- Call of Duty: Warzone – Free standalone battle royale
- Call of Duty: Mobile – Free mobile version
- Call of Duty Online – Free-to-play PC game, only available in China
Out of these, Warzone is by far the best free option. With console and PC support, huge player base, and full integration with Modern Warfare, it‘s hard to beat!
FAQ – Modern Warfare Free to Play
Got more questions? Here are answers to some commonly asked questions:
Q: Which Call of Duty games are completely free?
Only Warzone Battle Royale does not require any purchase. All other COD titles require buying the game for full access.
Q: Can I play multiplayer or campaign for free?
No, a purchase is required for access to multiplayer and campaign. Only Warzone is permanently free.
Q: Do I need Modern Warfare to play Warzone?
Nope! Warzone is a standalone free download, no purchase needed.
Q: How often do free multiplayer weekends happen?
Usually every new season, so around once per quarter. They last 3-5 days typically.
Q: Does progression carry over from free events?
Yes! Everything you earn during free play carries over if you decide to buy.
Q: What‘s the download size for a free player?
Warzone alone is over 80GB. With full Modern Warfare it exceeds 200GB.
I hope this guide gave you a good overview of exactly how to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare free in 2024! Let me know if you have any other questions.
Happy (and frugal) gaming!