Gamers can now play Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 3, and Warzone through GeForce Now.
Seattle, WA – NVIDIA recently announced that starting December 2nd, three Call of Duty titles will be available for users to stream through their cloud gaming service, GeForce Now. The arrival of these popular Activision Blizzard games represents a major expansion of GeForce Now’s catalog as well as increased accessibility for players.
GeForce Now is NVIDIA’s innovative cloud streaming platform that utilizes powerful remote servers to allow users to play graphically intensive games on underpowered devices like phones, tablets, and low-end PCs.
The newly available Call of Duty games – Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and the free-to-play hit Warzone – are the first Activision Blizzard titles made accessible on GeForce Now since Microsoft acquired the video game giant for $68.7 billion in an industry-rocking deal that closed in October.
Activision Blizzard games had previously been available during GeForce Now’s beta testing but were pulled by the publisher just as the streaming tech officially rolled out to consumers in early 2020. Their return represents concessions Microsoft made to global regulatory bodies to assuage monopoly concerns over the acquisition.
Opening Up Access
Industry watchers believe allowing competitors access to blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty was key to Microsoft gaining approval for the deal. Along with bringing Call of Duty to GeForce Now, Microsoft also agreed to offer the series for streaming on services like Nvidia’s for at least 10 years.
For gaming enthusiasts, this development crucially opens up the ability to enjoy Call of Duty virtually anywhere thanks to cloud streaming workarounds for incompatible or underpowered hardware. For example, Warzone players can now battle it out on their iPhone’s mobile data during a lunch break or continue leveling up their Modern Warfare 2 operatives on an aging laptop not normally suited for leading titles.
GeForce Now’s free membership tier allows for 1-hour play sessions, providing a major boon in accessibility and convenience for those unable or unwilling to purchase expensive gaming equipment or software. Modern Warfare 3 and Modern Warfare 2 require existing ownership on platforms like Steam, but their integration into GeForce Now means physical software limitations are no longer a barrier.
The fact that these coveted AAA names can now be played on Nvidia’s cloud service demonstrates that increased competition may benefit consumers through more playability options.
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More Activision Games Coming
NVIDIA announced that additional older Call of Duty games will be eventually added to GeForce Now’s streaming catalog as well. Players can look forward to rediscovering past series highlights like the original Modern Warfare and early Black Ops entries.
It’s expected that future franchise releases will also be available on GeForce Now, though likely not immediately at launch. Accessibility to streaming cloud services has been a key stipulation enforced by governments like the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority which conducted an intensive phase 2 investigation into potential monopoly threats from the pending Microsoft-Activision Blizzard agreement.
Microsoft themselves had previously put several Xbox Game Studios titles on GeForce Now earlier in 2023, like Gears 5 and Microsoft Flight Simulator. This indicated a willingness to play ball with competitors. Opening up Official Activision Blizzard properties like Call of Duty and Overwatch for cloud streaming can presumably continue apace now that the acquisition has passed.
Cloud Streaming Future
Many see an uptick in cloud gaming availability for major franchise titles as an inevitable shift as internet speeds increase globally. Though some gamers prefer owning physical media, streaming-based play is expected to expand rapidly in coming years.
Having Activision Blizzard properties not solely locked into a Microsoft ecosystem could forecast a more open, competitive, and consumer-friendly future landscape where players have options instead of being strong-armed into specific hardware bases or subscriptions.
Wider accessibility also bodes well for nascent services like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now as it further burnishes a catalog offering genuine blockbuster names. With advanced games now opened up to underpowered devices, NVIDIA’s innovative play-streaming option becomes more appealing for those who prioritize mobility and flexibility.
For now, Call of Duty fans can celebrate the ability to deploy into Warzone or suit up for Modern Warfare multiplayer through GeForce Now’s cloud servers rather than an expensive in-home gaming computer. The partnership demonstrates that amidst the giant Microsoft/Activision Blizzard deal, there may be sunny days yet for players seeking maximized choice in how and where to play.
