Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass expertly highlights why the service is so brilliant

Xbox Game Pass is by far the best video game subscriptions service going at the moment, and if Xbox keeps giving it the attention it deserves its rivals would be hard-pressed to do better.

However, Call of Duty's inclusion has been a bit of a double-edged sword. Originally the deal was to have day-one Call of Duty titles launch on the service, but this perk came with an inflated price and was eventually reverted back earlier this year.

That’s just brand-new titles, though. Pre-existing titles like Call of Duty: Vanguard can come and go as their publishers choose, and recently it’s highlighted why Xbox Game Pass is such a fantastic service. It encourages you to try something new.

One Xbox Game Pass playthrough of Call of Duty Modern Warfare has changed my view of the series

I’ve never outright hated Call of Duty, I just never got into it in the same way others did.

I sunk many, many hours in both Call of Duty Black Ops and Call of Duty Black Ops II back on the Xbox 360 but never had the urge to play the previous games nor the ones that came after. And it's quite disappointing to see the recent PlayStation 5 ports of those games being sold at such extortionate prices.

Looking back, I’d imagine the frequency in which Call of Duty games launched is what put me off. As annual releases made me feel like my purchase didn’t actually matter as there’d be a new one soon anyway.

While perusing Xbox Game Pass late last week, though, I noticed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) was included with my subscription. I’ve heard pretty good things about the single-player offering in these games, and at no additional cost it felt like a decent time to try it out. I’m so glad I did because it’s been the most I’ve enjoyed a first-person shooter in a while.

Activision-Blizzard

Finally getting acquainted with the legendary Captain Price felt like a huge moment, and the varied set of campaign missions meant there was never a dull moment. My favourite has to be a tie between Clean House and Highway of Death. The former was tense, gripping and at times very distressing, whereas the latter was intense, challenging and altogether well-executed.

I loved every minute and while I’m led to believe it’s all downhill from here, I’m already putting time aside for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022).

A week ago I couldn’t have cared less about the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 or the franchise in general, but thanks to Xbox Game Pass I think I’m slowly becoming a fan again.

My skills online unfortunately aren’t what they used to be but I reckon I’ll go a few rounds and see how I feel, and check out what’s become of the infamous Zombies mode over the last decade.

That’s the superpower of Xbox Game Pass. It’s a risk-free way to try a game or series that you might have sworn off too soon, when in reality it’s more your cup of tea than you might have thought.

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