Can I Play Call of Duty on PC if I Bought it on Xbox?

No, unfortunately you cannot play Call of Duty on PC if you only purchased it on Xbox. I know this can be disappointing to hear as a gamer who just wants to play COD across all their devices!

But when you buy any game digitally or physically, you are only buying a license to play that title on the specific platform(s) you purchased it for.

So if you bought the latest Call of Duty for Xbox (let‘s say Modern Warfare II), that Xbox license only grants you access to play it on Xbox consoles specifically.

You Need to Buy Call of Duty Separately for Each Platform

To play Modern Warfare II (or any Call of Duty) on a PC, you would have to purchase a separate PC license – even if you already own the Xbox version.

Activision does not allow you to simply download or access the same game you bought on Xbox onto your gaming PC unfortunately.

Here are some key reasons why:

• Licenses are tied to platforms/stores – an Xbox license does not transfer over or entitle you to the PC version
• Activision wants multi-platform sales – making you buy the game again is more revenue for them
• Technical/certification differences – the Xbox and PC editions have to pass certification for those platforms

So essentially, you have to buy Call of Duty twice (or more times) if you want access on both Xbox and PC. This holds true buying in either direction:

• Xbox -> PC
• PC -> Xbox

The same rules apply no matter what combination of platforms you‘re trying to play on.

But Call of Duty Does Support Cross-Play!

Now I do have some good news! While you need separate platform licenses, Call of Duty games do support cross-platform play between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC.

So if you have friends that play COD on other platforms, you can play with them online even after buying the game separately for your preferred system.

For example, if you get Modern Warfare II on PC, you can still squad up and play multiplayer with your buddies who have it on Xbox. Cross-play has you covered.

Here‘s a cross-platform support breakdown for recent Call of Duty titles:

This cross-platform ability makes buying additional copies to play with friends more worthwhile.

Do Your Unlocks and Progression Carry Over Across Platforms?

Another common question around playing Call of Duty on multiple platforms is whether your progression carries over.

The good news is yes – unlockables, XP, battle pass progress, and most other stats do carry over across platforms thanks to Activision accounts!

As long as you use the same Activision ID when launching Call of Duty, it will sync your latest unlockables across linked platforms using their cloud save system.

So you can maintain a unified progress profile even while switching between Xbox, PC, and mobile! Pretty neat right?

A Breakdown of What Transfers Across Platforms:

• XP Level
• Battle Pass Progress
• Weapon Levels
• Camo Unlocks
• Operator Unlocks
• Store Purchases e.g. COD Points

Your Activision account serves as the connective tissue that ties together your COD progress across platforms.

Playing Call of Duty on Multiple Platforms

At the end of the day, playing Call of Duty across Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile is possible – it just requires buying separate copies of the game on each platform.

While that means paying more, it does give you the flexibility to switch between devices, take advantage of cross-play with friends, and maintain unified progression via your Activision account.

And during new console generations like the jump from Xbox One to Series X|S, there are often upgrade offers letting you access both the old- and new-gen editions for reduced pricing.

But transitioning from something like Xbox to PC is considered an entirely separate purchase – so no discounts there.

I know that can still be frustrating as a multiplatform gamer who just wants their library accessible everywhere. But with companies prioritizing more platform licenses sold, it doesn‘t seem like it‘ll change anytime soon.

At least the cross-play and cross-progression capabilities make it a smoother experience overall!

Let me know if you have any other questions! Whether you‘re a solo Xbox player, committed PC gamer, or dabble across multiple systems like me – I‘m happy to chat more COD.