For the past few hours, an Xbox Game Pass ad has panicked Call of Duty fans. In the background of a visual released to promote the $1 Premium subscription, we can clearly see the cover of the very first Modern Warfare 2released in 2009. A harmless wink? Not so sure. This appearance revives rumors of an imminent arrival of the legendary FPS in the Game Pass catalog, fueling the hopes of a generation of players.
The image was spotted by Reddit user u/TypicalNarr, who was quick to share it on the Xbox Game Pass forum. According to him, this is indeed the original cover of the game developed by Infinity Ward, and not that of the remastered version released in 2020. For the moment, Microsoft has not officially confirmed this potential integration, but it would not be the first time that a promotional visual prematurely reveals a new feature of the service.
A visual spotted in an ad revives rumors
The ad in question highlights the Xbox Game Pass Premium $1 trial offer. On the visual, in the middle of a collage of game illustrations, the cover of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009). A simple design error? Some consider it, but others see it as a more serious indicator. Especially since this cover does not correspond to that of the Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered launched in 2020.
This visual nod is not isolated. Since the acquisition ofActivision Blizzard by Microsoft at the end of 2023, the Xbox community is demanding the return of old Call of Duty installments on Game Pass. Modern Warfare 2, considered one of the best opuses in the saga, often tops the list of requests.
A logical arrival after the acquisition of Activision Blizzard
If it were to join the catalog soon, Modern Warfare 2 (2009) would become the sixth episode not free-to-play of the franchise to integrate Xbox Game Pass. This scenario would take on its full meaning from November 14, the date of the announced arrival of Black Ops 7 on the service.
Microsoft could, however, opt for a cautious approach by only making accessible the single player campaign of the game. This would avoid cannibalizing the multiplayer activity of the most recent episodes, while offering a nostalgic bonus to subscribers. Cult missions like “No Russian” or “Whiskey Hotel” could thus be reborn on current consoles.
An old leak revived by this ad?
The hypothesis of a return of MW2 on Game Pass is not new. At the start of the year, the specialized media XboxEra already reported that the original 2009 title would appear on the service, citing sources close to Microsoft. At the time, the release window mentioned was between March and April 2025, but nothing materialized during this period.
In May, a game labeled Modern Warfare 2 did join the catalog, but it was the 2022 reboot. The recently spotted advertising could therefore confirm that XboxEra’s information was well-founded, but simply ahead of schedule.