Last updated: October 21, 2026. Prices, release times and bonuses can change, so confirm details on your console’s store, Steam, Battle.net or the official Call of Duty pages before you buy. This guide is not affiliated with Activision, Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo. Modern Warfare 4 is a mature-rated shooter, so check the age rating for your region.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on Friday, October 23, 2026, and the early-access windows for pre-order buyers are already open. It is developed by Infinity Ward and arrives on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. It does not launch on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, and it is not on Xbox Game Pass at launch. This guide pulls the main buying questions into one place: when it unlocks, what it costs, what the editions include, whether your PC can run it and how much storage to clear.
Key Takeaways
- Full release is Friday, October 23, 2026. On PC it is expected to unlock at midnight local time; console unlock times have not been clearly confirmed, so check your store page.
- Reported digital prices are $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the Vault Edition, with a $30 upgrade path for digital Standard owners.
- Digital Standard and Vault pre-orders get campaign early access from October 16. Physical Standard copies do not.
- Plan for about 115GB on PC (SSD required) and roughly 163GB on Xbox Series X|S, according to launch coverage.
- It is not included with Game Pass at launch, and no later Game Pass date has been announced.
Release Date and Early Access Schedule
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 15 | PC preload opened (9am PT / 12pm ET) |
| October 16 | Campaign early access for digital Standard and Vault pre-orders |
| October 20 | DMZ early access for digital pre-orders |
| October 23 | Full launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2 |
| October 27 | Shipment returns as a multiplayer map |
| November 6 | Season 1 begins |
Launch coverage reports that the PC version unlocks at midnight local time on October 23. Console unlock times were not clearly confirmed in the sources we checked, and the exact time of the early-access unlocks has varied by report. The safest approach is to preload now and check the store page for your platform on launch day. Season 1 content had not been fully detailed at the time of writing, apart from the October 27 return of Shipment.
Platforms: Where You Can Play
Modern Warfare 4 is available on PC (through Steam, Battle.net and Xbox on PC), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. It skips last-generation consoles, so there is no native PS4 or Xbox One version. Xbox’s own listing notes that Xbox One owners can only reach it through cloud gaming, and cloud play requires buying the game. Purchases made on the Xbox Store are covered by Xbox Play Anywhere, which lets you play on both Xbox console and Windows PC with one purchase.
Price and Editions
Digital pricing reported on the Xbox Store is $69.99 (£69.99) for the Standard Edition and $99.99 (£99.99) for the Vault Edition. Digital Standard owners can upgrade to Vault for $30, but physical copies cannot be upgraded. Prices may differ by platform and region, so treat these as the US baseline and verify on your own store.
| Edition | Reported price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | The full game: campaign, multiplayer and DMZ |
| Vault | $99.99 | Standard plus Hostile Alliance and Special Forces Operator Packs, a Signature Weapon Collection, one season of BlackCell and a DMZ deployment bonus |
The Xbox listing also shows pre-order extras such as a 25th Anniversary Inner Circuit weapon blueprint, a $5 Xbox gift card and a Hunter Killer operator skin for Black Ops 7 and Warzone, plus a 10% Vault discount for players who own and have played a qualifying recent Call of Duty title on the same account (offer ends October 23). Bonuses differ by store and platform, so compare listings before you decide.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
No. Xbox’s own page states that Modern Warfare 4 is not available with Game Pass at launch. No later Game Pass date has been announced; one outlet reports that Activision is expected to wait about a year, but treat that as a report, not a promise. If you were planning to play through a subscription, you will need to buy the game or wait. This is a change from recent entries, which is also noted in our October 2026 video game release roundup. By contrast, Gears of War: E-Day did launch with Game Pass support.
PC Requirements and Download Size
| Minimum | Recommended | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 1400 / Intel Core i5-6600 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700 |
| RAM | 8GB | 16GB |
| GPU | AMD RX 470 / NVIDIA GTX 970 or GTX 1060 / Intel Arc A580 | AMD RX 6600 XT / NVIDIA RTX 3060 Ti / Intel Arc B580 |
| VRAM | 3GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 115GB SSD | 115GB SSD |
The requirements above come from launch coverage of the published specs. The game needs an SSD, and mandatory updates can add to the 115GB figure. Xbox Series X|S is reported at about 163GB. Console storage figures for PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 were not confirmed in the sources we checked, so do not assume the PC number applies. If you are tight on space, clear room before launch day so the download does not delay your first session.
What the Game Includes
Activision’s reveal describes a single-player campaign set across locations including New York, Paris and North Korea, built around a North Korean invasion of the Korean Peninsula. Multiplayer is described as grounded, precise combat with fluid movement, and DMZ is included as an extraction mode. Specific map counts and modes beyond what Activision has published are not covered here, because we only list details we could confirm.
Should You Buy It Now or Wait?
- Buy digital Standard now if you want the campaign early and are sure you will play at launch. Early access only applies to digital pre-orders.
- Consider Vault only if you value the operator packs and BlackCell season. Compare it with the $30 upgrade from Standard.
- Wait if you mainly play through a subscription, are on PS4 or Xbox One, or want to see launch-week reviews and performance first. November is crowded, with Grand Theft Auto VI due November 19 (see our GTA 6 release date and editions guide).
FAQ
What time does Modern Warfare 4 unlock?
The PC version is expected at midnight local time on October 23. Console unlock times were not clearly confirmed, so check your store page.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on PS4 or Xbox One?
No. It targets PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2.
How much does Modern Warfare 4 cost?
Reported digital prices are $69.99 for Standard and $99.99 for Vault. Verify on your store.
Do physical copies get early access?
No. Campaign early access is for digital Standard and Vault pre-orders.
When does Season 1 start?
November 6, 2026, with Shipment returning to multiplayer on October 27.
The Bottom Line
Modern Warfare 4 is a straightforward buy for existing Call of Duty players on current hardware, but the absence of Game Pass and the digital-only early access make the edition choice matter. Preload, clear the storage, confirm the price on your own store and decide whether Vault’s extras are worth it. For what else is arriving this season, see our guide to the Tokyo Game Show 2026 announcements.
Sources: Xbox.com Modern Warfare 4 product page; Pure Xbox launch guide; GamingBible release time and preload report; Insider Gaming Season 1 report; MP1st reveal coverage.
