Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is one of the most popular first-person shooter video game franchises of all time. The latest installment, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), offers a gritty and intense multiplayer experience along with a thrilling single-player campaign.
With each new Call of Duty release comes the question – can you play it for free with a PlayStation Plus membership? Let‘s take a deep dive into what parts of Modern Warfare you can access with an active PS Plus subscription.
Can you play Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer for free with PS Plus?
The short answer is no, a PS Plus membership does not grant access to Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer modes.
According to theloadout.com, PlayStation Plus members can only play the single player campaign and local co-op modes without needing to purchase the full Modern Warfare game. However, all online multiplayer modes and Spec Ops online co-op will remain locked without a PS Plus subscription.
This means staple multiplayer modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Hardpoint cannot be played for free – a PS Plus membership only removes the need for a PlayStation Network account to play online. You still need to purchase Modern Warfare to unlock its online multiplayer content.
What parts of Modern Warfare are free with PlayStation Plus?
According to charlieintel.com, PS Plus subscribers can access the following Modern Warfare content for free:
- Single player campaign
- Special Ops (local co-op only)
- Local multiplayer
The campaign offers an action-packed 6-7 hours of gameplay through a variety of covert operations set in realistic modern-day settings. Special Ops can be played locally in split-screen with a friend.
And Local Multiplayer supports up to 4 players battling against each other on the same console and TV. This includes fan favorite modes like Gun Game and Infected, providing hours of competitive fun.
So in summary, PS Plus gives you access to all of Modern Warfare‘s single player and local co-op content. But you‘ll need to purchase the full game to play online multiplayer and Spec Ops.
Will future Call of Duty games be free on PS Plus?
According to videogameschronicle.com, Microsoft has offered Sony the option to include future Call of Duty titles on PlayStation Plus from day one. This is part of Microsoft‘s bid to get its acquisition of Activision Blizzard approved by regulators.
By offering new Call of Duty games via PlayStation Plus immediately upon release, this would make the blockbuster franchise more accessible to PlayStation owners. Players could access new Call of Duty multiplayer and campaigns as part of their subscription.
However, Sony has not confirmed if they will take Microsoft up on this offer. The proposal seems to indicate future Call of Duty games could be playable for free via PlayStation Plus. But concrete details are still scarce at this point.
Has Modern Warfare ever been free on PS Plus in the past?
Modern Warfare has previously been available for free on PlayStation Plus, but only for a limited time.
According to dailystar.co.uk, back in 2020 Activision made Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer modes free-to-play for all PlayStation 4 owners for a weekend. This gave PS4 players access to all of Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer maps and modes even without a PS Plus membership.
However, this was a limited-time event. After the free access weekend ended, players needed to purchase Modern Warfare to continue playing multiplayer.
There was also a special offer in July 2020, reported by joe.co.uk, where PS Plus members could download the full Modern Warfare game for free. This gave subscribers permanent access to the campaign, multiplayer, and co-op modes.
But this was also a limited-time PlayStation Plus promotion. modern Warfare has not been permanently free for PS Plus members before.
What happens if you try to play Modern Warfare online without PS Plus?
If you attempt to access Modern Warfare‘s online multiplayer modes without an active PS Plus membership, you‘ll run into the following restrictions:
You can launch the game and access single player content like the campaign. But you‘ll see locked messages when trying to enter multiplayer.
The game will prompt you to "Join PlayStation Plus" if trying to select online multiplayer or Spec Ops.
You‘ll also see notices that PS Plus is required for online play.
Any online features like connecting to matchmaking servers will fail.
So in summary, Modern Warfare blocks all online components without an active PS Plus subscription. You won‘t be able to access multiplayer matches, rankings, progression, or any other online features. A PSN account alone is not enough.
Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 free or paid?
The recently launched sequel Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is not free to play. According to gamerant.com, Modern Warfare 2 is a paid title with a standard $70 USD price tag.
There was a free access period over the 2022 holiday season, where players could try out MW2‘s multiplayer for a limited time without paying. This gave players a chance to preview the gameplay.
But otherwise, MW2 is a premium title that must be purchased to play the campaign, multiplayer, Spec Ops, and Raids. There is currently no option to play Modern Warfare 2 for free.
Modern Warfare 2 does not offer a permanently free-to-play component like Warzone. All of its content and modes require the paid base game.
What Call of Duty games can you play for free?
The currently available free-to-play Call of Duty titles are:
- Call of Duty: Warzone – Battle royale standalone game
- Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 – Next generation Warzone experience
- Call of Duty: Mobile – iOS/Android version
According to dexerto.com, Warzone 2.0 does not require purchasing Modern Warfare 2 or any other Call of Duty game. As with the original Warzone, the sequel Warzone 2.0 is completely free on all platforms.
Players can squad up and compete in the large-scale Al Mazrah battle royale arena without needing to buy anything. The only requirement is a free Call of Duty account.
So if you‘re looking to play Call of Duty for free, check out Warzone or Warzone 2.0 for exciting battle royale action. The core Modern Warfare games remain paid titles.
What parts of Modern Warfare 2 are free?
While Modern Warfare 2 itself is not free, certain parts of the game could be accessed for free during promotional periods according to apptrigger.com:
Multiplayer maps and modes – During free access periods in 2022, all MW2 multiplayer maps and modes were playable for free temporarily. This allowed players to preview the gameplay before launch.
Special Ops – A co-op mission called the Atomgrad Spec Ops Raid could be played free during a promotional period. This offered a teaser of MW2‘s co-op offering.
Ground War – MW2‘s large player-count mode Ground War was also free to play for a weekend prior to launch.
But outside of these limited promotions, all Modern Warfare 2 content requires purchasing the base game. There is no permanently free version like Warzone. Limited time free access periods simply offer a sneak peek at various game modes.
How do you install Call of Duty: Modern Warfare for free?
If you want to install Modern Warfare for free during a promotional period or via PlayStation Plus, follow these steps according to us.battle.net:
- Launch the Battle.net desktop app
- Log in with your Battle.net account
- Select Call of Duty: Warzone
- Choose which content you want to install – Campaign, Multiplayer, or Special Ops
- Click the Install button
This will download the free content like the campaign or Special Ops without needing to buy the full game. Note that the multiplayer pack will remain locked unless you own Modern Warfare.
You can also choose to only install certain packs if you don‘t want the full 88GB download. This allows you to save storage space.
Overall, the process is quick and hassle-free through the Battle.net app. Just make sure to only select the free content packs you actually own access to.
Why is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 more expensive?
According to gamerevolution.com, there are two key reasons why Modern Warfare 2 costs $70 USD, $10 more than the previous $60 Call of Duty standard:
1. The new $70 price is becoming standard for AAA games – With rising development costs, major publishers like Activision are moving towards $70 as the new normal price for big budget games. PS5 and Xbox Series X games in particular are increasingly pricing at $70 rather than $60.
2. Call of Duty can get away with a higher price – As one of the most popular franchises in gaming, Call of Duty has a huge dedicated player base who are willing to pay the premium cost. Even with a price hike, Activision knows fans will still buy the latest Call of Duty. So they can afford to charge $70 without impacting sales.
The combination of rising industry pricing trends plus Call of Duty‘s premium status as a top franchise allows Activision to sell Modern Warfare 2 at the new $70 standard. It provides them with greater profit margins while still moving units.
What Call of Duty games are free right now?
According to the official listing on store.steampowered.com, the only free Call of Duty title available now is Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0.
As mentioned earlier, Warzone 2.0 is the latest evolution of Call of Duty‘s free-to-play battle royale experience. It features a brand new map and gameplay improvements.
No other major Call of Duty games are permanently free. The core Modern Warfare II and Black Ops Cold War titles remain paid games. Limited time free trials may occasionally be offered, but currently Warzone 2.0 is the only free option.
So if you want to enjoy Call of Duty for free on your platform of choice, Warzone 2.0 is your go-to. Jump into the massive battlefield packed with other players today. Just create a free Call of Duty account and start playing.
Do PlayStation Plus Premium games expire?
According to gamedeveloper.com, games offered through the PlayStation Plus Premium catalog do not currently have publicized expiration dates.
Sony does not announce when Premium catalogue games will be cycled out. Titles simply disappear from the service eventually without notice.
So unlike the monthly Essential PS Plus free games, Premium catalogue titles do not have fixed expiration dates. Subscribers can play Premium games like Returnal or Red Dead Redemption 2 indefinitely, until they are unexpectedly pulled from the service.
It‘s unclear how long Sony aims to keep Premium games available. But subscribers don‘t need to worry about expiry countdowns. As long as a Premium title remains in the library, you can play it as much as you want.
What major games were added to PlayStation Plus recently?
According to gamerant.com, some noteworthy franchises became available via PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium in February 2023, including:
Horizon Forbidden West – The acclaimed sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, offering a massive open world and immersive sci-fi story.
Scarlet Nexus – Stylish action RPG from Bandai Namco set in a futuristic world where psychokinetic powers exist.
Tekken 7 – Latest installment in the legendary fighting game franchise featuring tight combat mechanics and robust multiplayer.
The Legend of Dragoon – A classic JRPG originally released on PlayStation in 1999, now available on PS4/PS5 via Premium.
Borderlands 3 – Frenzied FPS looter shooter that can be played cooperatively with friends.
These high profile additions make February 2023 an exciting month for Extra and Premium subscribers who can now enjoy these titles as part of their membership.
How do you get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PlayStation?
If you want to purchase and play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on PlayStation, you can buy it digitally via the PlayStation Store and install it by following these steps according to support.activision.com:
- On your PS5 home screen, go to the Game Library
- Select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- Choose to install all content packs like the campaign, multiplayer, and spec ops
- The total installation will be around 100GB
For disc versions, simply insert the Modern Warfare disc and install all game data it prompts you to add.
You‘ll then be able to access the full Modern Warfare experience including online multiplayer by purchasing PS Plus membership as well.
Can you play Call of Duty: Warzone for free on PlayStation?
Excitingly, according to the official PlayStation Store listing, Warzone 2.0 is completely free on PlayStation 4 and 5.
You can squad up and compete against players on other platforms in the new Al Mazrah map without paying anything. As a standalone free-to-play game, no PS Plus subscription or other purchases are required.
Just make a free Call of Duty account and you can immediately start playing Warzone 2.0 on your PlayStation. Experience the thrilling large-scale battle royale gameplay with no barriers to entry.
Do you need PlayStation Plus to play Call of Duty online?
As highlighted on the PlayStation Plus membership page, you do need an active PS Plus subscription to play most Call of Duty titles online. This includes premium games like Modern Warfare II.
According to destructoid.com, the exception is free-to-play games like Warzone 2.0. These do not require PS Plus, since they are already free. You can access their online modes simply with a free account.
So in summary:
- Paid Call of Duty games need PS Plus for online play
- Free-to-play Call of Duty titles like Warzone don‘t need PS Plus
For the full online multiplayer experience in premium Call of Duty titles, PS Plus remains a requirement. But Warzone provides plenty of free online action without it.
Conclusion
While a PlayStation Plus subscription does not provide free access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer, subscribers can play a wealth of free content including the thrilling campaign, Special Ops co-op, and local versus modes.
Exciting titles like Warzone 2.0 provide completely free online play as well without needing PS Plus. And PlayStation Plus Premium grants access to various classic Call of Duty games through its catalogue.
So with the right PS Plus tier, you can enjoy substantial Call of Duty gameplay at no added cost. But the latest multiplayer remains accessible only by purchasing the core games.
