By You absolutely need to try this!
- by Ben Kerry
The previous year’s Call of Duty title caught many of us off guard, particularly regarding the Black Ops 6 solo campaign. Although it built upon Black Ops Cold War from 2020, its intricate narrative and unexpected twists allowed BO6 to differentiate itself within the Call of Duty series. Just a couple of years back, Infinity Ward achieved something similarly impressive with Modern Warfare 2 – and we wholeheartedly encourage you to explore this installment when it arrives on Xbox Game Pass at the beginning of May.
Consider this: unlike Modern Warfare 3, which already launched on Xbox Game Pass, MW2 provided an extensive Call of Duty campaign that features some of the most remarkable set pieces ever seen in the franchise. Indeed, it’s more straightforward than the previous year’s ’90s spy adventure, yet Captain Price and his team still offer a globetrotting journey filled with stunning level designs, outstanding cutscenes, and impeccably smooth gameplay.
As previously mentioned in that preview, MW2 also included some delightful surprises, despite its more realistic approach to contemporary warfare. One memorable mission felt notably Watch Dogs-inspired in its execution – you are charged with navigating through various security cameras to locate soldiers while guiding a teammate through an enemy-infested area. You might have encountered similar gameplay before, but amidst an action-laden FPS campaign, MW2 effectively balances the pacing.
Modern Warfare 2 is also absolutely stunning on Xbox Series X and S. Infinity Ward was the pioneer in utilizing new technology for Call of Duty with 2019’s Modern Warfare, and MW2 remains one of the finest examples of that technology to date. With the annual release schedule becoming increasingly challenging, some COD entries have slipped below the franchise’s esteemed AAA standards, but this title has not. Modern Warfare 2 has aged remarkably well.
It’s been a while since we’ve thoroughly explored the co-op and multiplayer modes for MW2, so those aspects might require further scrutiny before we praise them in 2025, yet we can confidently assert that this game’s campaign is absolutely worth experiencing on Xbox Game Pass. Modern Warfare 2 will represent Microsoft’s third Call of Duty title to join Game Pass, arriving in the library on May 1st.
Are you eager to immerse yourself in another cinematic Call of Duty campaign on Xbox Game Pass? Share your thoughts about this one below.
Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, enjoying action, racing, and intense shooter games on any Xbox console he can find. When he isn’t gripping an Xbox controller as if his life depended on it, Ben enjoys listening to music that’s likely too old for him, watching football on TV, and possibly dining somewhere.