Is MW4 Free? Game Pass, Zombies and Every Other Question
By Luke Setzer · Updated 10/4/2026
Modern Warfare 4 is not free: the Standard Edition is 69.99 USD and the Vault Edition 99.99 USD, while Warzone stays free to play. It is not on Game Pass at launch, which the official Xbox listing states directly. There is no Zombies mode, DMZ takes that slot and requires owning the game. MW4 runs on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2, but not on Xbox One, and Black Ops 7 is not required to play it.
Short answers first, then the detail. Every number here comes from Activision or the official store listing, not from a rumour thread.
Is Modern Warfare 4 free?
No. The Standard Edition is 69.99 USD, the Vault Edition is 99.99 USD, and there is an Ultimate Edition above those. Pre-ordering digitally also gets you Campaign Early Access from October 16, a week before launch.
What is free: Warzone. It has been free to play since 2020 and stays free in the Modern Warfare 4 era. You can play Warzone without ever buying MW4.
Is MW4 on Game Pass?
No. The official Xbox listing says it plainly: Modern Warfare 4 is not available with Game Pass at launch, and the store FAQ states the game is not eligible for Xbox Game Pass.
That surprises people because Microsoft owns Activision now, but owning a studio and putting a 70 dollar annual release into a subscription on day one are different decisions.
Does MW4 have Zombies?
No. Modern Warfare 4 ships with Campaign, Multiplayer, Warzone and DMZ. There is no round-based Zombies and no Zombies-style extraction mode.
DMZ is the mode taking that slot, and Infinity Ward has described it as a full game inside Modern Warfare 4 rather than a third mode bolted on. If you want Zombies right now, that is Black Ops 7, which keeps running alongside. What DMZ actually is: MW4 DMZ explained.
Is DMZ free?
No. DMZ is a paid core mode. You need to own Modern Warfare 4 to play it, unlike Warzone.
Do I need Black Ops 7 to play MW4?
No. Modern Warfare 4 is a standalone game, and nothing about Black Ops 7 is required to install or play it.
Two things do carry across if you have both on the same Activision account: Double XP tokens transfer, and some camo rewards from the pre-order track unlock in MW4 at launch. What else does and does not follow you: MW4 carry forward. The token side is worth money at launch, see MW4 double XP tokens.
What platforms is MW4 on?
PC (through Xbox on PC, Battle.net and Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
Not Xbox One, and not PlayStation 4. The official Xbox listing states that directly, so if you are still on a last-generation console, MW4 is not an option.
Does MW4 run on Steam Deck?
Activision has not listed Steam Deck as a supported platform, and there is a hard technical reason to be sceptical: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory on PC as part of RICOCHET anti-cheat. Those are Windows platform requirements, which is exactly where handhelds running SteamOS run into trouble. Full hardware list: MW4 system requirements.
When does it unlock?
October 23, 2026, at midnight local time, with PC preloading from October 15. Every date, including what local midnight means for your region: MW4 release date and unlock times.
Sources
- Xbox store listing for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (editions, pricing, Game Pass eligibility, platforms): xbox.com
- Call of Duty Blog, Modern Warfare 4 PC trailer and tech update, September 29, 2026: callofduty.com
FAQ
Is Modern Warfare 4 free?
No. The Standard Edition is 69.99 USD and the Vault Edition is 99.99 USD, with an Ultimate Edition above those. Warzone stays free to play and does not require buying MW4.
Is MW4 on Game Pass?
No. The official Xbox listing states Modern Warfare 4 is not available with Game Pass at launch, and the store FAQ says the game is not eligible for Xbox Game Pass.
Does MW4 have Zombies?
No. Modern Warfare 4 ships with Campaign, Multiplayer, Warzone and DMZ. There is no round-based Zombies mode. DMZ takes that slot, and Black Ops 7 remains the game with Zombies.
Is MW4 DMZ free to play?
No. DMZ is a paid core mode and requires owning Modern Warfare 4. Warzone is the free one.
Do you need Black Ops 7 to play MW4?
No, Modern Warfare 4 is standalone. Double XP tokens and some pre-order camo rewards do carry over if both games sit on the same Activision account.
What platforms is MW4 on?
PC through Xbox on PC, Battle.net and Steam, plus PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. It is not available on Xbox One.
Does MW4 work on Steam Deck?
Activision has not listed Steam Deck as supported, and MW4 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC, which is a Windows platform requirement that handhelds running SteamOS do not meet.