Call of Duty: Warzone is now a free download on Nintendo Switch 2. Activision’s own install guide tells Switch 2 players to open the Nintendo eShop, search for Call of Duty or Warzone, and choose Free Download. The launch lined up with Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 on November 6 — the same day Warzone shut down on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Last checked on November 8, 2026. Official Activision Support updated its Warzone installation article on November 5 with Switch 2 system-update steps and eShop instructions that end on “Select Free Download and confirm.” Nintendo Life, writing on November 7, quoted official Season 1 copy: “The start of Season 1 marks the launch of Call of Duty: Warzone on Nintendo Switch 2! Drop into Hajin, Zodiac, and all the other maps and playlists as the free-to-play game arrives on the handheld system for the first time.” Insider Gaming reported the eShop listing the same weekend and noted you do not need to buy Modern Warfare 4 to play it.
What launched with it
Season 1 of Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone went live at midnight Eastern Time on November 6, according to official Call of Duty / Steam Season 1 notes. For Warzone that means two new maps, Hajin and Zodiac, plus integration with Modern Warfare 4. Steam’s Season 1 overview also mentions new gear such as a zipline launcher and grabber drone, and Elite Perks. You do not need the paid MW4 campaign or multiplayer to drop into Warzone; they are separate products.
| Platform | Warzone status as of November 8 | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Free download on the eShop since November 6 | Official Activision Support / Nintendo Life |
| PlayStation 5 | Still supported; PS5 players need the Modern Warfare 4 Additional Content Pack | Official Activision Support |
| Xbox Series X|S | Still supported | Official |
| PC (Battle.net and Steam) | Still supported | Official Activision Support |
| PlayStation 4 and Xbox One | Warzone shut down on November 6 | Official see our last-gen guide |
Official Progress and COD Points content tied to a linked Activision account still carry over onto supported hardware, which now includes Switch 2. That is the same rule Activision published when it closed the last-gen versions. Nintendo Life says an Activision account is required to play on Switch 2. We have not seen an official sentence that says Nintendo Switch Online is or is not required, so we are not guessing.
How much storage you need
Reported Nintendo Life measured its own Switch 2 install at 122 GB after updates. That is a staff reading, not an official Nintendo file-size listing, and live-service games change size when new seasons land. If you also keep Modern Warfare 4 on the same console, shared assets can make the combined footprint larger than Warzone alone. Free 130 GB or more before you start if you want a cushion, then check System Settings after the download finishes.
For comparison, GTA 6’s official preload figure is up to 212 GB on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Warzone on Switch 2 is a different game on a different platform, but the number is a reminder that a 256 GB Switch 2 fills up quickly if you also want first-party releases from this month.
How to install it
From Activision’s Switch 2 steps:
- Update the console: System Settings → System → System Update.
- Open the Nintendo eShop, search for Call of Duty or Warzone, then select Free Download and confirm.
- Sign in with, or create, an Activision account when the game asks.
On PlayStation 5 the same Activision article is stricter: the Modern Warfare 4 Additional Content Pack is required to play Warzone there. Switch 2 does not use that extra-pack language in the steps we read.
How this fits the rest of Call of Duty this week
- Last-gen Warzone ended on November 6. If you still have a PS4 or Xbox One copy, that version no longer runs. A linked Activision account is the way to pick progress back up on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series or PC.
- Reported Insider Gaming notes that Modern Warfare 4 itself was the first main Call of Duty release on Nintendo hardware since Ghosts on Wii U. Warzone arriving two weeks later gives Switch 2 a free battle-royale door into the same season.
- A separate Modern Warfare 4 DMZ free trial runs through November 11 at 10:00 a.m. PT. That trial is for MW4’s extraction mode, not for Warzone.
Key takeaways
- Warzone is free on Switch 2 as of November 6. Activision’s install guide says to hit Free Download on the eShop.
- You do not need to buy Modern Warfare 4. You do need an Activision account.
- Season 1 brought Hajin and Zodiac, the same maps other platforms got that day.
- Plan for roughly 122 GB based on Nintendo Life’s install, and remember last-gen Warzone closed the same day this version opened.
FAQ
Is Warzone free on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes. Activision Support tells Switch 2 players to search the Nintendo eShop for Call of Duty or Warzone and select Free Download. Nintendo Life quoted official Season 1 copy confirming the free-to-play launch.
Do I need to own Modern Warfare 4?
No. Insider Gaming and the free eShop listing both treat Warzone as a separate free game. Modern Warfare 4’s campaign, multiplayer and DMZ are not required.
When did it come out?
November 6, 2026, with Modern Warfare 4 Season 1. Official Season 1 notes put that drop at midnight Eastern Time.
How big is the Switch 2 download?
Nintendo Life recorded about 122 GB on its own console after updates. That is a reported measurement, not an official Nintendo size, and it can change.
What happened to Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One?
Those versions shut down on November 6, 2026. Progress tied to an Activision account can move to Switch 2 and other supported platforms.
Keep reading on HUDWire
Sources
- Activision Support: Call of Duty Warzone installation and setup (updated November 5, 2026)
- Nintendo Life: Call of Duty Warzone is now available for Switch 2 (November 7, 2026)
- Insider Gaming: Call of Duty Warzone is out now on Nintendo Switch 2 (November 7, 2026)
- Steam / Call of Duty: Warzone Season 1 overview (Hajin, Zodiac, midnight ET November 6)
- HUDWire: Warzone ends on PS4 and Xbox One