Activision has set the worldwide release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for Friday, October 23, 2026. The schedule includes a staggered early‑access window for players who pre‑order the title digitally, while physical disc copies will receive the game only on the full launch date.
Launch schedule and early‑access windows
Customers who secure a digital Standard or Vault edition before launch will be able to start playing before the official drop. The single‑player campaign becomes available on Friday, October 16, 2026, giving early adopters a full week ahead of the mass release. Four days later, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the multiplayer DMZ mode opens to the same digital pre‑order crowd.
These early‑access benefits are limited to digital purchases; the Physical Standard Edition does not include any pre‑launch entry. Exact launch times for consoles have not been confirmed, but PC players can expect the full game to unlock globally at midnight local time on the launch day.
Preload, storage and system requirements
Preloading for the PC version starts on Thursday, October 15, 2026. The rollout follows a global schedule, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time, 12:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 5:00 p.m. British Summer Time, 6:00 p.m. Central European Summer Time, and 3:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, October 16. This phased approach allows players in major time zones to begin downloading the game ahead of the early‑access window.
Activision’s official system specifications state that the PC build requires a solid‑state drive with a minimum of 115 GB of free space at launch. The publisher warned that future updates after release will need additional storage, though exact figures have not been disclosed.
Console preload dates and file‑size details for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2 remain pending. The title will launch exclusively on current‑generation hardware—PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2—while support for the previous‑generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is being discontinued.
Edition options and upgrade paths
Buyers can select from three editions. The Digital Standard Edition, priced at $69.99 (or £69.99), includes the base game, digital pre‑order bonuses, early campaign access and a pathway to upgrade to the Vault Edition later. The top‑tier Digital Vault Edition, also $69.99 in the UK but $99.99 in the US, bundles the base game with two Operator Packs, the Signature Weapon Collection, a one‑season BlackCell pass and a DMZ Deployment Bonus.
Physical owners receive the Standard Edition for $69.99 (or £69.99) on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but this version does not grant early campaign entry and cannot be upgraded to the Vault tier. Digital owners of the Standard Edition who wish to move to the Vault experience can purchase a stand‑alone upgrade for $30.
At launch, Modern Warfare 4 will not be part of any Xbox Game Pass tier on either console or PC. Activision indicated that inclusion is planned for certain tiers at a future, unannounced date. However, digital purchases on Xbox platforms will support Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing owners to play the game on both Xbox Series X/S and PC without repurchasing.
Players seeking ongoing updates are encouraged to follow the developer’s communication channels on WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube for the latest information.
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