Xbox gamers can play five new games for free including AAA hit

Xbox gamers can play five games for free this weekend, including at least two major AAA hits that are well worth checking out.

Better yet, Xbox players can also take advantage of huge discounts on a range of games, making this a particularly good weekend to pick up something new for less.

While attention in the week has been on the disc'd future of Microsoft's gaming consoles, this weekend's (28 to 30 August) ‘Xbox Free Play Days’ lineup includes a major AAA title that you can play months ahead of its full release, a fantastic supernatural action-adventure, a huge open-world survival game and more. Best of all, there’s something for everyone, and you don’t have to spend a single penny to play these Xbox games this weekend.

Free Xbox games to play before September

As part of the latest ‘Xbox Free Play Days’ promotion, Xbox players can try five games for free this weekend, including the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer beta. The beta is now open to everyone, meaning you don't need to have pre-ordered the game to take part.

The lineup also includes the action brawler Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, the open-world survival game ARK: Survival Ascended, the supernatural third-person action-adventure Control: Ultimate Edition, and the fighting game Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

The biggest highlight of this weekend's free Xbox games is undoubtedly the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer beta. Rather than simply offering access to traditional multiplayer modes, the beta gives players a surprisingly substantial preview of this year's Call of Duty.

Alongside multiplayer, players can also jump into ‘Warzone Resurgence’ and experience the single-player campaign mission “Entrenched”. That makes the beta particularly worthwhile if you're on the fence about buying Modern Warfare 4 when it launches later this year.

Essentially, it's a try-before-you-buy opportunity, allowing Xbox players to experience several different parts of the game before deciding whether to purchase the full release.

Control: Ultimate Edition

The other major highlight of this weekend's free Xbox lineup is Remedy Entertainment's Control: Ultimate Edition. Originally released in 2019, the ‘Ultimate Edition’ arrived on Xbox Series X|S in 2021 as the definitive version of the supernatural action-adventure. It includes the complete base game alongside both major expansions: ‘The Foundation’ and ‘AWE’.

The latter is particularly notable for fans of Remedy's games, as AWE connects Control to the wider Alan Wake universe, expanding on the events of 2010's Alan Wake and laying additional groundwork for Alan Wake 2.

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Who can play the free Xbox Games and when are they available?

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer beta is available from Friday, August 28, until Tuesday, September 1, 2026. The beta is also available on PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2, and you don't need an Xbox Game Pass subscription to participate.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker and ARK: Survival Ascended are available until Sunday, August 30, 2026. You'll need an Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate subscription to play these two games as part of ‘Free Play Days’.

Control: Ultimate Edition and Fatal Fury: City of Wolves are also available until Sunday, August 30, 2026, and don't require an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

CONTROL Ultimate Edition

Will your progress carry over into the full games?

If you're playing the Modern Warfare 4 beta, your normal progression will reset when the full game launches. However, you can unlock exclusive beta rewards and cosmetics, which will carry over into the full game.

For the other four games, your progression will carry over if you decide to purchase them, including any Achievements you unlock during the ‘Free Play Days’ period.

Better yet, all four games are currently discounted, with savings ranging from 50% to 91%, giving you an opportunity to continue playing for considerably less if you enjoy them during the free weekend.