Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, 2026 at midnight local time. Full platform list, prices by region, and what campaign and DMZ early access dates mean.
Modern Warfare 4 Release Date, Price and Platforms
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 releases on Friday, October 23, 2026 and unlocks at midnight local time. Digital pre-orders get the campaign from October 16 and all of DMZ from October 20, so a large part of the game is already playable before launch day. It ships on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2, and it is not coming to PS4, Xbox One or Game Pass.
- Launch: October 23, 2026, midnight local time, on every announced platform.
- Early access: campaign October 16, DMZ October 20, both for digital pre-orders.
- Season 1 starts November 6, 2026, two weeks after launch.
- Price on the Steam listing we can read directly (Japan) is ¥9,800. Prices are regional, so check your own store page.
Official source: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 - the release date, the platform list and the "war erupts on the Korean Peninsula" premise come from the official product page and the official MW4 blog.
The Full Modern Warfare 4 Timeline
Four dates matter before the game is technically out, and they are all official.
| Date (2026) | What happens | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
| October 15, 9AM PT | PC preload opens | Anyone who pre-purchased digitally on PC |
| October 16 | Campaign Early Access goes live, and stays open until launch | Digital pre-orders on every platform |
| October 20 (Tuesday) | DMZ Early Access opens | Digital pre-orders on every platform |
| October 23 (Friday), midnight local | Multiplayer plus the full game unlock | Everyone |
| November 6 | Season 1 begins | Everyone with the game |
The early access windows are the reason the launch week feels different from a normal Call of Duty release. Campaign players are already past the story when multiplayer opens, and DMZ players get three days to learn Hajin before the population explodes. If you want to see the two dates side by side, the campaign early access guide covers the reward track, and the DMZ early access guide covers what to do with the head start.
The October 23 unlock is local midnight, so New Zealand plays before California. Early access start dates are also subject to time zone differences and possible outages, per Activision's own footnotes. If a countdown on a store page disagrees with another site, trust the platform you bought on.
Every Platform Modern Warfare 4 Ships On
| Platform | Notes |
|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Full game, plus the campaign and DMZ early access with a digital pre-order |
| Xbox Series X | S |
| Xbox on PC | Same Play Anywhere entitlement as the console version |
| PC via Steam | Where our price reading comes from |
| PC via Battle.net | Blizzard's launcher, same game |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Developed natively with Digital Legends |
Two platform facts are worth repeating because they get searched constantly. Modern Warfare 4 does not come to PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, so last-generation owners are out entirely. And it is the first Call of Duty on a Nintendo platform in over 13 years, which Activision called out directly when it confirmed the Switch 2 version.
The PC version is handled by Infinity Ward with Beenox, and it carries a few PC-only features: an Enhanced FOV built on a lens-based model, Advanced Shader Delivery for precompiled shaders, and a TPM 2.0 plus Secure Boot requirement. Those are covered in the PC system requirements guide.
What It Costs, and Why the Number Moves
The Steam store listing we can read directly (the Japanese storefront) shows the Standard Edition at ¥9,800 with no launch discount applied, and you can check your own region on the Steam store page or the official product page. US and European listings have been quoted at $69.99 for the Standard Edition, which is the number most buyers will see, but regional pricing differs and store pages are the only source that cannot be wrong on the day.
- Standard Edition is the game plus the pre-order extras.
- Vault Edition is the premium bundle with operator packs, the Signature Weapon Collection and a season of BlackCell.
- Physical Standard Edition exists on consoles only, and physical pre-orders come with a Beta code from the retailer rather than automatic digital entitlement.
There is also a 10% loyalty discount that only applies to the Vault Edition, and only for accounts that have played a qualifying previous Call of Duty on the same platform. It is not available on Vault upgrades, meaning buying Standard first and upgrading later cancels the discount. The editions and pre-order guide breaks the whole comparison down, including which titles qualify.
Microsoft and Activision confirmed Modern Warfare 4 is not joining Game Pass on release, which breaks a two-year run of day-one Call of Duty launches in the subscription. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers still get the 10% Vault Edition loyalty discount if they have played a qualifying title. See MW4 and Game Pass for the full picture.
What Launches Alongside the Campaign
Multiplayer opens with the whole game on October 23, and the launch package is unusually well documented already: 12 core 6v6 maps, Ground War through Combat Outpost, the modular Kill Block facility hosting Gunfight 3v3 and 10v10, 33 weapons of which 22 have been revealed, and 17 killstreaks. The multiplayer maps list and the weapons list go through the confirmed roster.
DMZ is the third mode and the one with the most moving parts: a Hajin exclusion zone, a Forward Operating Base with stations that unlock as you level, and extraction that runs on a 1-70 progression track. If you are starting there, the DMZ beginner guide is the shortest path to a first successful exfil.
FAQ
When does Modern Warfare 4 come out?
October 23, 2026 at midnight local time. Digital pre-orders can play the campaign from October 16 and DMZ from October 20.
Is Modern Warfare 4 coming to PS4 or Xbox One?
No. Activision has confirmed the game is not available on previous-generation consoles, so PS4 and Xbox One are not supported.
What time does Modern Warfare 4 unlock?
Midnight local time on October 23, not a single global moment. Early access start times are also subject to time zone differences and possible outages.
How much does Modern Warfare 4 cost?
On the Steam listing we can read directly it is ¥9,800 for the Standard Edition, and US listings have been quoted at $69.99. Prices are regional, so check your own platform store page.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
No. It is not available on Game Pass at launch, though Game Pass subscribers who have played a qualifying previous Call of Duty can still get the Vault Edition loyalty discount.
Related Guides
- MW4 editions and pre-order bonuses - which edition to actually buy, and what each one includes.
- MW4 preload times and download size - when you can start downloading, and the 115 GB SSD requirement.
- MW4 and Game Pass explained - subscription, Play Anywhere and crossplay in one place.
- MW4 Season 1 and Battle Pass - what starts on November 6 and what is still unannounced.
- MW4 PC system requirements - minimum, recommended and ray tracing specs.
More Modern Warfare 4 Guides
Every Modern Warfare 4 campaign mission in order, the locations each one covers, and which achievement is tied to which mission.
The Modern Warfare story so far - Urzikstan, Task Force 141, Shepherd's betrayal and Makarov - recapped before you start MW4.
Operators and Killstreaks are now part of every loadout. How to build a Modern Warfare 4 class slot by slot, and what changed.
How DMZ works in Modern Warfare 4: deploying into Hajin, what to loot first, how the threat system escalates and making your first extraction.
Printer resources, ingredients and recipes in MW4 DMZ, the known first recipes with their exact costs, and what each FOB upgrade does.
DMZ early access opens October 20 for digital pre-orders. What you can do in the three days before launch and what carries into the full game.
Every Forward Operating Base station in MW4 DMZ, the level each one unlocks at, and how the Stash, Gunsmith and Vendor actually work.
Every Hajin point of interest in the Modern Warfare 4 DMZ map, with the expected threat level and the loot each type of building holds.