MW2 free on Steam this weekend

By Robert Purchese Published 7 April, 2010

Try doing it with others.

From tomorrow, Steam's allowing anyone and everyone free access to Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer.

This free weekend ends on Sunday, however, so look lively - game clients can be pre-loaded now.

Modern Warfare 2 has enough multiplayer depth to be classed as an MMO - certainly some of the game's biggest fans have poured-in staggering amounts of time.

We wonder if this free weekend has anything to do with the presence of Battlefield: Bad Company 2. Wouldn't be fair to speculate, we suppose.

Catch-up with Eurogamer's Modern Warfare 2 review if you haven't already.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (45) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • stuarty_2003 #1 2 years ago

    Rename this article.

    It read like the whole game, overpriced as it was at launch, was going to be free.

  • Moonprince #2 2 years ago

    Do not want

  • Stifler #3 2 years ago

    BFBC2>MW2

    That is all you need to know people.

    (I only in part jest)

  • flaming.carrot #4 2 years ago

    Only if MMO stands for Massively Mediocre Online

  • matrim83 #5 2 years ago

    Yep. BC2 is where its at.

  • Salaminizer #6 2 years ago

    Celebrating the addition of dedicated servers... HA! Kotick Fool's!

  • cianchristopher #7 2 years ago

    Great idea though, seeing as there's no demo for the game...

    PC gaming is fucked, fucked I tells ya!

  • ignatiusjreilly #8 2 years ago

    Modern Warfare 2 has enough multiplayer depth to be classed as an MMO

    Er... how can a game with a maximum of 24 people in a server be classed as massively multiplayer?

  • Murton #9 2 years ago

    "Modern Warfare 2 has enough multiplayer depth to be classed as an MMO"

    Firstly, no it doesn't, it's got to be some of the shallowest MP ever seen in a mainstream game.

    Second, it's ironic that such a claim is made on the same day that EG reports that a journalist has been sacked for alleging that Rockstar paid his company to say good things about their game.

  • CheerfulWilf #10 2 years ago

    Hey, would this free weekend include access to the multiplayer Co-Op missions? I have no desire to play the competitive modes (I have BFBC2 for that), but I've heard good things about the Co-Op.

  • dsmx #11 2 years ago

    Won't preload the free weekend for me. Not helping my opinion that mW2 is a pile of shit that is overpriced for what it is.
    Edited by dsmx at 07/04/10 @ 16:52

  • Psiloc #12 2 years ago

    "Rename this article."

    +1
    Edited by Psiloc at 07/04/10 @ 16:55

  • Razzajazz #13 2 years ago

    I think that the article is referring to the amount of time you can spend 'grinding' for new equipment, etc. I don't think they're saying anything about tactical depth, number of players, etc. I know we all hate MW2, but let's calm down just a bit!

  • nuanimal #14 2 years ago

    "This free weekend ends on Sunday"

    Stating the bleeding obvious I know, but would anyone really have a weekend that ended on a Wednesday!?

    /plots getting smashed for 5 days

  • miiiguel #15 2 years ago

    Second, it's ironic that such a claim is made on the same day that EG reports that a journalist has been sacked for alleging that Rockstar paid his company to say good things about their game.

    Such shady alegation isn't good to endorse independent/fair reviews, either one has some factual evidence or not. That journalist had, I hope this community member tell us what he knows. As far as I know anyone is free to enjoy a game even if it made milions of gold coins and had a lot of blasphemic profit, I mean, we're talking about a game played (and I dare to say: enjoyed) by milions of consumers. This Good Guys vs Bad Guys (now EA and Activision, next year we'll see...) while kinda funny needs some grey textures.

  • Findus #16 2 years ago

    The issue with this though is that it's hardly the greatest game online with the PC multiplayer mode, with hackers/connection issues pervailant, no dedicated server etc

    How is this going to endear future players to the game when it's fundamentally broken and with the community manager who has literally refused to address these PC only concerns on their official forums? So if a player has issues and goes to the official forums for help they are going to be extremely disappointed
    Edited by Findus at 07/04/10 @ 17:04

  • aliki #17 2 years ago

    So it is basically a weekend only demo for their multiplayer component...

    Why even bother creating a news entry for it?

    Or did someone decide that the excessive MW2:Stimulus Package coverage wasn't enough?

  • ignatiusjreilly #18 2 years ago

    Such shady alegation isn't good to endorse independent/fair reviews, either one has some factual evidence or not.

    Well this isn't a review, but while facts are hard to come by, the review had suspicions of it's own:

    "The gaming press had a choice: either play Modern Warfare 2 in Santa Barbara, under the watchful eye of Activision and on their dime, or give up early coverage. Many sites wrestled with the ethical implications by posting disclaimers, others simply ignored the issue and didn't discuss it in their review. We explore what happened during the review event, and ask the question: what does Activision get for all those plane tickets and hotel rooms? http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/... "

  • paketep #19 2 years ago

    Still no dedis?. Not interested, thanks. Not even for free.

    Aaaaaand another day with news about MW2 in EG. Shocking.

    Edit: wow, read over the MMO comment and didn't notice. Looks like EG's quality goes down the drain when the news is about Activision and Bobby effing Kotick.
    Edited by paketep at 07/04/10 @ 17:23

  • dsmx #20 2 years ago

    Gaming in general has become an awful thing at the moment everyone is trying to figure out ways of making quick money at the cost of long term sustainability. Games are churned out so fast that you barely have time to finish playing the last one you bought and that's if you don't have a job.

  • ziggy_played_guitar #21 2 years ago

    I have my time, I can play a game for as long as I please.

  • sarcasmoidosis #22 2 years ago

    Wait, wait, wait! The best selling game of all times is free on Steam for 4 days and people are asking why this is news? I understand the hate, I FEEL the hate, damn it, but let's not go too far. And for all you Brits out there: This game made more than Harry Bloody Potter the movie in UK. Of course it's getting coverage.

    Bah!

  • JediMasterMalik #23 2 years ago

    MW2 is ok, but BC2 is excellent

    Actually, an MMO based on BC2 mechanics could work very well indeed. I'd probably buy it.

  • CaptainQuint #24 2 years ago

    If BFBC2 really has got MW2 running scared, then it only proves what I've been saying all along: The MW games are a fad - a fashionable shooter for the masses. There is no real brand loyalty for the franchise; unlike the strong, unwavering and true loyalty of the Halo fanbase.

  • tobsen #25 2 years ago

    I would not play MW2 on the PC if they would *pay me* for it. There is just no reason to waste time on a lame game.

  • miiiguel #26 2 years ago

    what does Activision get for all those plane tickets and hotel rooms?

    Well, I don't think an offer automatically equalls corruption (sorry if that's not the correct term), I can give you my personal example, about 1,5 years ago the company I work for was looking for a million dollar storage system, one of the proponents paid me a trip to Cork, I was treated like a king. I didn't choose them.
    This year we are looking at a backup system (pretty huge as well) same guys invited me again. Anyway, I would be carefull with such alegations, it's not even good to uncover eventual real situations.
    Anyway, internet is made of rumours, and that's a shame such a great media and no one nowdays believes what comes out of it.
    Edited by miiiguel at 07/04/10 @ 18:32

  • sesskie #27 2 years ago

    "Modern Warfare 2 has enough multiplayer depth to be classed as an MMO"

    Eurogamer, sucking on Activision's teat as usual, I see.

  • mowgli #28 2 years ago

    Good news, will definitely be downloading it. I sold my 360 copy because I played it too much and then bought BBC2 as a replacement. But that was shit in comparison to MW2, and so that was quickly sold as well.

  • VibratingDonkey #29 2 years ago

    Thing's not working. Common with games these days....

  • Red-Moose #30 2 years ago

    Rename the article to:

    "Sales of Modern Warfare 2 have dropped since Bad Company 2 was released"

  • hiddenranbir #31 2 years ago

    Free? Still overpriced!

    "Modern Warfare 2 has enough multiplayer depth to be classed as an MMO"

    You have played MMOs, right? Unbelievable. o_o
    Edited by hiddenranbir at 07/04/10 @ 19:30

  • CaptainQuint #32 2 years ago

    @mowgli

    Get killed a lot did you, on BFBC2 I mean? You get more kills and die less on MW2, don't you.

    Thought so.

  • MasterNameless #33 2 years ago

    @mowgli

    I'm not a fan of MW2 myself, but it's sad that your comment which you are perfectly entitled to, get rated down by the mass of seething hatred.

    It's really pathetic that some people are so far up their own arse, that they feel they have to make snide remarks because they prefer game x to game y.
    Edited by MasterNameless at 07/04/10 @ 19:35

  • alcides #34 2 years ago

    A demo for an Activision game? Kotick's gonna bite someone's head clean off.

  • mowgli #35 2 years ago

    "@mowgli

    Get killed a lot did you, on BFBC2 I mean? You get more kills and die less on MW2, don't you.

    Thought so."

    Nah, just MW2 was fun. I like fun in my games. BBC2 wasn't fun. Was pretty easy though, the amount of campers in it was unreal so if you had one of those games where no one on either side were actually bothering with the objectives (you know, like most of the matches) you could go on an easily sniper hunt by just going along the outskirts picking out the campers. Still, no real loss. MW2 is just the better game :D

  • franbatista123 #36 2 years ago

    @mowgly

    i suppose you dont like games with:
    Variety of weapons, epicness, blowing the &%& out of everything, vehicles, teamwork, pretty decent graphics, Giant MAPS (i mean, ARICA HARBOR IS BIGGER THAN ALLL MW2 MAPS TOGHETER I BET) , decent campaign and...etc

    Am i right?

    "...blah blah blah, campers are unreal..."
    Why dont u blow the &%&$ out of them...
    Edited by franbatista123 at 07/04/10 @ 21:20

  • CaptainQuint #37 2 years ago

    He must have played a different version.

    As far as I can tell, I play the 'fun' version.
    Edited by CaptainQuint at 07/04/10 @ 21:43

  • makeamazing #38 2 years ago

    People are allowed to like different games, my own view is that MW2 sucks... so wont be getting the MP free weekend thingybob.

  • sarcasmoidosis #39 2 years ago

    Wow, the BC2 fanbois are strong today... Irony of it all is: I own BC2 and would never buy MW2.

    But this is still news, no matter how much hate you have gathered :p

    /runs away

  • Tangled #40 2 years ago

    EG is turning into advertising machine for Activision, Microsoft and others. Their articles are 10 %news and 90% advertising lately.
    Independent site my ass.

    Well, it's independent from the "it's cool to hate MW2" crowd at least, isn't that something?

  • Cataferal #41 2 years ago

    MW2 is great fun once you've unlocked everything. I'll say they should've allowed newcomers access to the heartbeat sensor much earlier, since they're like walking targets to Lv35+ players. The "endgame" is very nicely balanced though.

    Anyway, is anyone having trouble initiating this Steam pre-load? I've licked the link, but Steam won't list it on my "Games" page.

  • dsmx #42 2 years ago

    Yeah I'm having the same problem but it appears that it does pre load it just doesn't appear on the game list for some reason.

  • TurboBailey #43 2 years ago

    Great comments Eurogamer. But still worth a download on PC. Sold my PS3 copy months ago. Worth a punt



    PS - BFBC2 > MW2 ---- oohhh rar marine

  • metalangel #44 2 years ago

    Why is this news in the 360 section?

  • Notez #45 2 years ago

    Haha, did anyone catch this: (from IGN)

    April 7, 2010 - Activision announced that the Stimulus Package, the first map pack released for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, was downloaded over one million times on Xbox Live in the first 24 hours of its release on March 30. Priced at $14.99, first-week sales reached 2.5 million downloads in total.

    So much for complaining about the price...