Skip the $750 Xbox: How to Stream Modern Warfare 4 Instead

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, and if you've checked console prices lately, buying your way in just got a lot more painful. There's a workaround, and it doesn't involve a new box under your TV.

First option: Xbox Game Pass. MW4 isn't included with the subscription this year, so you'll need to buy it outright. But once you do, the "stream your own game" feature lets any Game Pass tier, Essential, Premium, or Ultimate, stream it to whatever screen you've got. No $750 Series X required.

Second option: Nvidia's GeForce Now. Nvidia hasn't officially confirmed support yet, but people playing the campaign's early access are already streaming it that way, so it's a safe bet launch-day support follows. GeForce Now runs a free ad-supported tier plus $10 and $20 monthly tiers, along with day passes, all after you've bought the game yourself.

Both options sound great until you remember a twitch shooter needs a connection that doesn't flinch. Plenty of people report smooth sessions, but a shaky router turns headshots into guesswork fast. And starting in November, Microsoft is capping how many hours you can stream through Game Pass before it asks for more money, so don't get too comfortable.

As for why this is even necessary: the Switch 2 now runs $500, up from $450. PS5 jumped from $400 to $600. The Series S went from $300 to $500, and the Series X from $500 to $750. Blame chip and memory demand from the AI boom, oil prices climbing because of the war in Iran, and a pile of tariffs nobody asked for. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are protecting their margins, not eating the hit.

Streaming gets you into the game without the sticker shock. It just asks you to trust your Wi-Fi and a company's billing terms instead. Pick your poison.