Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4: Everything We Know

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The worldwide release of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is set for October 23, 2026 [1], arriving on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2 [2]. Led by developer Infinity Ward [1], Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 will launch with a campaign centred on a North Korean invasion of South Korea [3], alongside full Multiplayer and DMZ modes [4].

Fact	Confirmed information
Release date	2026-10-23 [5]
Platforms	PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2 [2]
Developer	Infinity Ward (lead studio), with Beenox, Digital Legends and support studios [1]
Publisher	Activision [6]
Editions	Standard Edition [7], Vault Edition [7], Vault Edition Upgrade [6], Physical Standard Edition (consoles) [7]

What happened in the Modern Warfare 4 beta?

The Modern Warfare 4 beta took place over two weekends, giving players their first hands-on experience with the game. The first weekend was an early access event, running from August 21 to August 25 and available only to those who had pre-ordered or received a special code [8]. This initial test phase was limited to the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions of the game, with no access for Nintendo Switch 2 players [8].

The following weekend, starting August 28, 2026, the beta opened up to everyone on all launch platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2, and it was the first time a Call of Duty beta included a campaign mission [8]. The beta ran across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 together [6]. The developers also extended the open beta’s final day by twelve hours, from 10:00 to 22:00 PT on September 1 [8]. For a full recap of both weekends, see our Modern Warfare 4 beta guide.

The launch multiplayer is confirmed to include 12 core 6v6 maps and modes like Gunfight and Ground War [4]. PC system requirements are published by Activision Support, but they may not be final: the support page still labels the minimum list as ‘Beta’ requirements, and Steam’s requirements field still shows ‘TBD’ as of September 21, 2026 [12][6]. The published minimum is a Ryzen 5 1600 or Core i5-8400, 12GB of RAM, a Radeon RX 470 or GeForce GTX 970, and 70GB of SSD storage, with TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required [12]. The recommended tier is a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i7-8700, 16GB of RAM, and a Radeon RX 6700 XT or GeForce RTX 3060 Ti [12].

When is the confirmed Modern Warfare 4 release date?

The global launch for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is officially set for Friday, October 23, 2026 [1]. This date applies to all announced platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2 [2]. The game’s Steam page also describes the launch as “Friday, October 23”, although its date field shows October 22, a US-timezone display quirk rather than a delay [6]. The game is not releasing on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One [2]. PC players will have several places to buy the game, including Steam, Battle.net, and the Xbox PC store with Xbox Play Anywhere support [9]. Nintendo’s own eShop also lists the October 23rd date for the native Switch 2 version [10].

One of the biggest pre-order incentives is the ability to play the campaign a full week before the global multiplayer launch. Anyone who pre-purchases a digital edition of the game gets Campaign Early Access starting on October 16, 2026 [7]. This gives players a head start on the campaign, whose story centres on North Korea’s invasion of South Korea [3]. This early access period is a digital-only bonus and is available on every platform that offers pre-orders [7].

Bonuses beyond early access are covered in the editions section below. Our full guide to the Modern Warfare 4 release date has a complete overview of platform availability and launch details. The full game, including its Multiplayer and DMZ modes, will unlock for all players on October 23, 2026 [1][7].

Which Modern Warfare 4 editions and pre-order options are official?

Activision has confirmed two main digital versions of the game: the Standard Edition and the premium, digital-only Vault Edition [7]. Console players can also buy a physical Standard Edition, but there is no physical version of the Vault Edition [7]. No matter which version you pick, pre-ordering any digital edition unlocks Campaign Early Access on October 16, 2026, a week before the global launch [7].

Pre-ordering the Standard Edition also includes several other digital items [7]. You’ll get the Hunter Killer Operator Skin, which can be used right away in Black Ops 7 and Warzone, and the Inner Circuit M4 Weapon Blueprint for use in Modern Warfare 4 [7]. The Xbox Series X|S version of this blueprint has a unique translucent green look, while on other platforms it has a standard mil-spec design [7]. Pre-orders also come with the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack [7].

The Vault Edition includes the base game and all Standard pre-order bonuses, plus a large bundle of exclusive content [7]. It comes with the Hostile Alliance Operator Pack (featuring Price, Valeria, Ghost, and Blix) and the Special Forces Operator Pack, which features French COM SFT, German KSK Amphibious, South Korean Special Forces, and British SAS operators [7]. The package also includes a five-weapon Signature Weapon Collection and one season of BlackCell, which includes the Battle Pass, 20 tier skips, and 1,100 CoD Points [7]. A DMZ Deployment Bonus is also part of the bundle, though details about its contents have not yet been announced [7]. A complete breakdown of the value and items included in the various Modern Warfare 4 editions is available for those weighing their options. For players who buy the Standard Edition and decide they want the extra items later, a separate Vault Edition Upgrade lets you upgrade a digital Standard Edition on the same platform [6]. The 10% loyalty discount for owners of previous Call of Duty titles applies to a Vault Edition pre-order, not to the upgrade [7].

What multiplayer content and crossplay are confirmed?

Modern Warfare 4 will launch with a full multiplayer experience, the Campaign, and the DMZ extraction mode [4]. The traditional multiplayer will have 12 core 6v6 maps at launch, along with playlists and other modes like Gunfight, Kill Block, and Ground War [4]. Named playlists include Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Free-for-All, Counter Attack, Inflation, Hijack, Search & Destroy, Combat Outpost, Gun Game, and Drop Zone, several with Hardcore variants [4]. No Zombies mode has been confirmed for this title; Zombies-related marketing this year is for the separate Black Ops 7 game [4].

Crossplay is listed as “Cross-Platform Multiplayer” on the game’s Steam page, and the open beta ran across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 together [6]. For a complete breakdown of the maps and modes, see our detailed guide to Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer.

Beyond the game’s own modes, content from Modern Warfare 4 will be integrated into the free-to-play Call of Duty: Warzone [1]. This integration is set to start with Season 1, which is expected “shortly after” the main game’s release, with no exact date announced [1]. The game follows a live-service model with a Battle Pass, BlackCell, CoD Points and Tier Skips rather than a separate paid season pass [6].

What do we know about the Modern Warfare 4 campaign and story?

Infinity Ward is crafting a high-stakes, globe-trotting story for the Modern Warfare 4 campaign, one of the three core modes available at launch [4]. The story’s main conflict is a full-scale invasion of South Korea by North Korea, which begins near Hajin City [3]. The story follows two storylines.

One storyline follows Private Park Hyun Jun, a young South Korean soldier on the collapsing front line of the war [3]. The other follows Captain John Price, who is hunted by his former Task Force 141 allies Ghost and Gaz, who have been ordered to capture or kill him [3]. Price is chasing a weapon tied to an antagonist known as “The Archer” [3].

Missions also take place in New York, Paris, and Mumbai [3]. For a complete analysis of the plot and characters, read our full guide to the Modern Warfare 4 campaign.

Find the right platform, edition, and region for you at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 product page on K4G. You can also add optional K4G Purchase Protection to your order during checkout.

FAQ

Who is developing Modern Warfare 4?

Infinity Ward is the lead development studio for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 [1]. Beenox is its PC partner and Digital Legends co-develops the native Nintendo Switch 2 version [1]. The game’s official Steam page lists Beenox, Digital Legends, Activision Shanghai, Raven Software, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and High Moon Studios among its developers [6]. Sledgehammer Games and Treyarch are support studios, not co-leads [1]. Activision is the publisher [6].

Is Modern Warfare 4 coming to Xbox Game Pass?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will not be on Xbox Game Pass at launch. This was officially confirmed on the game’s Xbox Store page, which states that it is “Not on Xbox Game Pass this year” [11]. This means that players on Xbox Series X|S and PC will need to buy the game as a standalone title to play it on October 23, 2026 [11]. The game is available for purchase on the Xbox store, where it supports Xbox Play Anywhere, and on PC through Steam and Battle.net [9].

Does Modern Warfare 4 have a Zombies mode?

No, there is no Zombies mode confirmed for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The game’s launch content includes three core modes: the single-player Campaign, a full Multiplayer suite, and the DMZ extraction mode [4]. Any official marketing or announcements from Activision that show Zombies content are for Black Ops 7, which is a completely separate game in the franchise [4].

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