Modern Combat 5: Blackout, the mobile FPS that took Gameloft's series online

By Nham Vu · Updated July 2026

Modern Combat 5: Blackout is a first-person shooter released by Gameloft Bucharest in July 2014, and it remains one of the most ambitious mobile shooters ever built for touchscreens. I've gone back to it more than once over the years, partly out of nostalgia and partly because it's a genuinely useful reference point for what a phone can do without a controller in your hands.

What set it apart from the Modern Combat games before it was the shift toward a full online meta: persistent classes, a leveling system, and a Battle Royale mode bolted on years after launch. It's not a new release, but it still gets updates, still has people playing it, and still shows up constantly in search because so many players are hunting for classes, controls, or a straight answer on whether it's worth their storage space.

Is Modern Combat 5 a good game?

Modern Combat 5 earns a mixed-but-positive reputation: strong production values for a mobile title, a serviceable campaign, and multiplayer that was genuinely competitive with early console shooters back in 2014. It won't wow anyone judged against modern console FPS games, but for a phone screen it's still respectable.

In practice, the single-player campaign is the weaker half. It's short, linear, and mostly there to unlock gear for multiplayer. The real appeal, and where most of my playtime went, is the class-based online combat. If you go in expecting a tight arena shooter with RPG-style progression rather than a cinematic blockbuster, you won't be disappointed.

What devices support Modern Combat 5?

Modern Combat 5 runs on Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows, with Gameloft Bucharest handling development and Gameloft as publisher. The Android build (the one most people search for) sits around 55MB to download, with additional data pulled in on first launch.

The Switch and Windows versions add proper controller support, which changes the feel considerably. On mobile it's built around virtual thumbsticks and auto-fire assist; on Switch or PC with a gamepad, aiming feels closer to a traditional console shooter. Cross-platform play isn't the focus here, so expect to play against others on the same platform family most of the time.

What classes and modes does Modern Combat 5 offer?

Modern Combat 5 built its multiplayer around distinct classes, each with its own weapon sets, perks, and playstyle, rather than a generic loadout system. This is the part that hooked me originally: switching from a Sniper to a Heavy changes how you approach a map entirely, not just your stat sheet.

The classes and modes have grown over updates, and different storefront listings cite slightly different counts (10 to 11 classes depending on the version), but the core lineup has stayed consistent.

• Assault - balanced all-rounder for mid-range fights
• Heavy - slow, tanky, built for holding chokepoints
• Recon - mobility and scouting over raw firepower
• Sniper - long-range precision, weak up close
• Support - team-oriented perks and utility
• Bounty Hunter - aggressive, high-risk playstyle
• Battle Royale mode alongside traditional team deathmatch and objective modes

How do you play Modern Combat 5 online?

Modern Combat 5's online mode matches players into class-based multiplayer lobbies that require an internet connection and a Gameloft account to save progress across devices. Queueing works much like any modern shooter: pick a class, drop into a match, earn XP and currency toward new gear.

What trips up new players is the progression curve. Early matches pit you against a mix of skill levels, and low-level weapons underperform badly against maxed-out loadouts. The best players I've seen treat the first several hours as a grind phase: level one class fully before spreading resources across others, since half-upgraded weapons across the board leave you underpowered everywhere.

How do you play Modern Combat 5 with a controller?

Modern Combat 5 supports physical controllers on Windows and Nintendo Switch natively, and on some Android devices through Bluetooth gamepad pairing, though support there has always been inconsistent across firmware versions. If you're on PC, the game generally detects an Xbox-style controller automatically once it's connected.

For mobile players without a controller, the touch scheme uses a virtual left stick for movement and a right-side touch zone for aiming, with an auto-aim assist that kicks in near enemies. It's not as precise as a controller, but Gameloft tuned the assist specifically because thumb-only aiming on glass is genuinely hard to do well.

Can you play Modern Combat 5 on PC or is it free?

Modern Combat 5: Blackout is available on Windows through the Microsoft Store as a free-to-play download, matching its pricing model on mobile. There's no separate premium PC version, it's the same free-to-play game with optional in-app purchases for currency and cosmetics.

That free-to-play structure means the core game, campaign, and multiplayer are all accessible without payment. Progression can be slower without spending, which is standard for the genre, but nothing about the core modes sits behind a paywall.