Infinity Ward is back, and this time the stakes are higher than ever. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is officially confirmed for a 2026 release, bringing a brand new setting, a returning legend, and major changes to how the series plays. Here is everything officially confirmed so far, from the release date right through to pre-order details.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Overview

Detail	Information
Release Date	October 23, 2026
Developer	Infinity Ward
Publisher	Activision
Platforms	PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2
Last-Gen Support	Not available on PS4 or Xbox One
Game Pass at Launch	Not available
Standard Edition Price	$69.99
Vault Edition Price	$99.99
Pre-Order Available	Yes, digitally on all platforms except Nintendo Switch 2

When Does Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Release?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on Friday, October 23, 2026. Infinity Ward and Activision confirmed the date alongside the official reveal on May 28, 2026. The game releases simultaneously across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, making it one of the broadest day-one launches in the franchise’s recent history.

It is worth noting that this release falls roughly a month before GTA 6, which launches on November 19, 2026.

Which Platforms Support Modern Warfare 4?

Modern Warfare 4 officially drops last-generation hardware entirely. You can play it on the following platforms:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X/S
• PC (via Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox on PC)
• Nintendo Switch 2

The game will not be available on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. This marks a clean break from previous entries that still supported older hardware. The Nintendo Switch 2 version is particularly significant because it marks Call of Duty’s return to Nintendo platforms for the first time in over a decade, developed natively by Infinity Ward in partnership with Digital Legends.

On PC, Infinity Ward is working alongside Beenox to deliver a version built specifically with the PC community in mind. That includes DLSS 4.5 support, expanded real-time ray tracing, multiple upscaling and frame generation options, and competitive-focused settings for players prioritising high frame rates.

Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?

Modern Warfare 4 will not be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Microsoft confirmed earlier this year that new Call of Duty titles will no longer launch into Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass on day one, though they are expected to arrive on Game Pass after approximately one year. So if you plan to play Modern Warfare 4 at launch, you need to purchase it separately.

How Much Does Modern Warfare 4 Cost?

Two digital editions are currently available for pre-order or pre-purchase:

Edition	Price	Key Inclusions
Standard Edition	$69.99	Full game, Open Beta Early Access, Hunter Killer Operator Skin
Vault Edition	$99.99	Everything above plus Hostile Alliance Operator Pack, Special Forces Operator Pack, Signature Weapon Collection, BlackCell (1 Season), DMZ Deployment Bonus

A physical Standard Edition is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X through participating retailers. The Vault Edition is digital only and is not available as a physical purchase.

Pre-orders and pre-purchases went live on May 28, 2026, across Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox on PC. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will open later in 2026.

The Loyalty Discount: What Previous CoD Players Should Know

If you own and have previously played a qualifying Call of Duty title, you can pre-order the Vault Edition at a 10% discount. The discount applies to the Vault Edition only and must be claimed before October 23, 2026. You need to pre-order on the same platform account used to play the qualifying title for the discount to appear at checkout.

Qualifying titles include Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Modern Warfare II (2022), Modern Warfare III (2023), Black Ops 6, Black Ops 7, Vanguard, Black Ops Cold War, and Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (2020).

Note that this discount does not apply if you pre-order the Standard Edition and upgrade later to the Vault Edition.

What Is the Story of Modern Warfare 4?

The campaign centres on the Korean Peninsula, where North Korea launches a full-scale invasion of South Korea. You play primarily as Private Park, a young South Korean soldier thrust into live combat for the first time alongside his squad. His squad includes fellow conscripted soldiers Park, Jay, Cho, and Moon, alongside embedded American Marines named West and Dunn.

However, the Korean conflict is only part of the story. Captain Price returns, operating outside the system he once served, pursuing a weapon powerful enough to shift the global balance of power. His off-book mission eventually collides with the forces driving the invasion, pulling the war far beyond anyone’s control.

The campaign takes players across multiple locations including trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters combat in New York, high-speed chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and city-wide assaults to reclaim occupied territory.

Narrative Director Jeff Negus and Associate Design Director Alex Norris confirmed the team drew heavily on real-world inspiration for the setting. The development team built an internal Korean culture channel, consulted cast members with Korean backgrounds, and worked with dialect coaches to ensure the representation of the country, its language, and its military felt authentic.

What Is New in Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer?

Modern Warfare 4 brings several confirmed changes to multiplayer that mark a significant departure from recent entries.

Ballistic Authority is the new weapon-first technology system underpinning the entire multiplayer experience. Key changes include:

• No more weapon bloom. Hipfire shots now travel where the weapon points, removing the random bullet spread that affected previous games.
• Recoil and weapon handling have been rebuilt to reflect player input more directly.
• Enemy visibility has improved through refined depth of field and visual effects.
• Weapons respond more naturally to movement, stance changes, and the environment.

Movement has also been expanded. Traversal, combat movement, and gunplay transitions are designed to feel seamless. New options for mantling, climbing, hanging, and jumping create additional ways to reposition and approach engagements.

Maps at launch include 12 core 6v6 maps, each with a distinct visual identity and custom infil sequence. The game also includes dedicated Gunfight maps and Big War maps designed for large-scale vehicle and infantry combat.

Kill Block is a brand-new multiplayer map type set inside the Westbridge Training Facility. It uses modular sections capable of creating over 500 distinct configurations, reshaping sightlines, routes, and cover between rounds. Kill Block also supports expanded Gunfight formats including 3v3 and 10v10.

Progression and Customisation has been streamlined through a redesigned Create-a-Class system that unifies Operators, weapons, Equipment, and Killstreaks into a single loadout. Gunsmith returns with deeper attachment options, and a new feature called Gunny helps players quickly assemble effective builds based on their playstyle.

Apex Attachments are a new unlock earned by fully progressing a weapon, introducing unique modifications that can meaningfully change how that weapon behaves in combat. These can alter handling, firing behaviour, tactical utility, stealth capability, or combat role.

Modern Warfare 4 also introduces two Prestige paths. Classic Prestige resets Create-a-Class progression in exchange for increased XP rates and exclusive rewards. Regular Prestige allows progression to restart from Level 1 without resetting unlocked loadouts, offering a more flexible path forward.

What Is DMZ in Modern Warfare 4?

DMZ returns in Modern Warfare 4 as a fully developed extraction mode, a step up from the beta version that appeared in Modern Warfare II (2022). You deploy solo or with a squad into a volatile conflict zone as an off-the-books asset, tasked with recovering advanced military technology left behind after war.

The zone features changing weather, dynamic military objectives, and hostile forces moving throughout the area. Every deployment plays differently, and the harder you push, the harder the world pushes back. Additional details on DMZ are confirmed for June 7, 2026.

What About the Open Beta?

Activision confirmed an Open Beta for Modern Warfare 4. However, specific dates and details have not yet been announced. Here is what is confirmed so far:

• Digital pre-orders on any edition automatically grant Early Access to the Open Beta. No code is needed.
• Physical edition pre-orders receive a Beta Code at the point of sale from participating retailers.
• Players who do not pre-order are still expected to access the open portion of the Beta once it begins.
• The minimum Beta duration is two days.

Exact timing will be announced at a later date. You can track updates at callofduty.com/beta.

Vault Edition: What Is Included?

The Vault Edition contains the following at launch on October 23, 2026:

• Hostile Alliance Operator Pack featuring four Operators: Price, Valeria, Ghost, and Blix. Price and Valeria include masked and unmasked variant skins.
• Special Forces Operator Pack with four Operators, each representing their country of origin with a skin and a voice pack in their local language: COM SFT (France), KSK Amphibious (Germany), South Korean Special Forces (South Korea), and SAS (United Kingdom).
• Signature Weapon Collection including five weapons with Blueprints and Apex Attachments: Kastov 762 Assault Rifle, ISO Nightshade Submachine Gun, Rezi 12 Shotgun, Oris 8.6 Marksman Rifle, and a Combat Knife.
• BlackCell (One Season) which includes 20 Battle Pass Tier Skips, 1,100 COD Points, a full Battle Pass with 100+ rewards, and BlackCell variants of select Battle Pass content. This becomes available with Season 1.
• DMZ Deployment Bonus with additional DMZ content at launch. Full details to follow.

Who Is Developing Modern Warfare 4?

Infinity Ward leads development. Additional studios contributing include Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, and Treyarch.

Beenox handles the PC version in partnership with Infinity Ward. Digital Legends is developing the Nintendo Switch 2 version natively alongside Infinity Ward.

Warzone and Last-Gen: What Changes at Launch?

Call of Duty: Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One will no longer be playable starting with Season 1 of Modern Warfare 4. From June 4, 2026, the game will no longer be available for new downloads on those platforms. The in-game store for Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One will be removed on June 25, 2026. Beginning with Season 1, Warzone will integrate Modern Warfare 4 content and seasonal progression as part of a connected experience between both titles.

Where to Pre-Order Modern Warfare 4

You can pre-order or pre-purchase Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 through the following channels right now:

• Xbox Series X/S via the Xbox Store (Xbox Play Anywhere)
• PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation Store
• PC via Battle.net, Steam, or Xbox on PC
• Physical editions at participating retailers globally for PS5 and Xbox Series X

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders will open later in 2026. Further details are expected later this summer.