Short answer: no. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 doesn’t run on a Steam Deck. Its RICOCHET anti-cheat only works on Windows, and GamingOnLinux’s anti-cheat tracker lists the game as broken on SteamOS and Linux. You can still play it on your Deck by streaming it, and GeForce NOW is the best way to do that.
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Why Modern Warfare 4 won’t run on Steam Deck
The Steam Deck plays Windows games through Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer. Most games work, but anti-cheat systems that reach deep into Windows usually don’t, unless the developer turns on Linux support. Activision hasn’t done that for RICOCHET.
Modern Warfare 4 adds a second wall. On PC, Activision requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, and its support page says players without them will be restricted from playing any online game mode. Those checks are built for Windows PCs.
Every recent Call of Duty is in the same position. Black Ops 6, Black Ops 7, Warzone, and Modern Warfare II and III all use RICOCHET, and all are listed as broken on the Deck.
Does installing Windows on the Steam Deck fix it?
Not by itself. After a BIOS update the Deck can provide a firmware TPM, but its firmware has no Secure Boot switch, so a stock Deck running Windows still fails the check. An unofficial tool called DeckSecureBoot works around this, and Steam Deck HQ used it to run Black Ops 7 under Windows in November 2025. Valve doesn’t support it, and you’d use it at your own risk. For most owners, streaming is the better answer.
How to play Modern Warfare 4 on your Steam Deck
1. GeForce NOW, the best option
NVIDIA’s cloud service has carried Modern Warfare 4 since launch day. The game runs on NVIDIA’s Windows servers, which pass the anti-cheat checks, and streams to your Deck.
- Buy the game on a PC store that GeForce NOW supports for Call of Duty, such as Steam or Battle.net. GeForce NOW streams games you own; it doesn’t sell them.
- Install the GeForce NOW app for Steam Deck from NVIDIA’s download page.
- Open Call of Duty in GeForce NOW and pick Modern Warfare 4. It lives inside the Call of Duty app rather than as its own entry.
- Use 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and stream at 720p or 800p to match the Deck’s 1280 x 800 screen.
The free tier has session time limits and queues. The paid tiers skip the queue and raise the stream quality.
2. Stream it from your own PC or console
- A Windows gaming PC. If your PC has TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot turned on, play Modern Warfare 4 there and stream it to the Deck. A Steam copy shows up in the Deck’s library with a Stream button while the PC is on. For a Battle.net copy, use Moonlight on the Deck with Sunshine on the PC.
- A PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. Stream your console with chiaki-ng or Greenlight. Our GTA 6 on Steam Deck guide walks through both.
3. Play it on a Windows handheld or a Switch 2
Modern Warfare 4 is also out on Nintendo Switch 2. Windows handhelds such as the ROG Xbox Ally run it natively, as long as TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are on.
Can you play it through Game Pass?
No. Modern Warfare 4 didn’t launch on Game Pass, so a Game Pass plan won’t let you stream it from Xbox Cloud Gaming. You have to buy it.
Which Call of Duty games do work on Steam Deck?
The older ones that don’t use RICOCHET. GamingOnLinux lists these as working:
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Frequently asked questions
Will Modern Warfare 4 ever work on Steam Deck?
Only if Activision turns on Linux support for RICOCHET, and it hasn’t done that for any game that uses it. Don’t buy the game expecting a fix.
Does Warzone work on Steam Deck?
No. Warzone uses the same anti-cheat and the same TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot rules.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Steam?
Yes, you can buy it on Steam, but owning it there doesn’t make it run on the Deck. You can stream that copy through GeForce NOW instead.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
Not at launch. Xbox told Game Pass members to buy it if they want to play from day one.
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