MW4 release date and launch time
The full game launches on Friday, October 23, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Battle.net, Steam, Xbox on PC) and Nintendo Switch 2. It is not coming to PS4 or Xbox One.
Activision states it plainly: the game releases "at midnight local time". In Poland that means October 23 at 00:00. The Polish PlayStation page lists exactly the same time for PS5 in its data.
| Where | Time zone | Start (local time) | Polish time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poland, Germany, France | CEST | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Fri, October 23, 00:00 |
| United Kingdom | BST | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Fri, October 23, 01:00 |
| Eastern Europe (e.g. Bulgaria) | EEST | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Thu, October 22, 23:00 |
| US East (New York) | ET | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Fri, October 23, 06:00 |
| US West (Los Angeles) | PT | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Fri, October 23, 09:00 |
| Japan | JST | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Thu, October 22, 17:00 |
| Australia (Sydney) | AEDT | Fri, October 23, 00:00 | Thu, October 22, 15:00 |
Every region gets the game at its own midnight, so Australia plays before Europe, and California plays after New York.
Activision has officially confirmed local midnight for PC, and there is no separate official launch time for Xbox and Switch 2. One exception in the US: the American PlayStation Store lists a start of 00:00 ET in its data, which is October 22 at 21:00 PT. Insider Gaming reported a single global launch, but that contradicts Activision's statement.
Why Steam says October 22
The Steam store page shows "22 Oct, 2026", in Poland too. This is not an earlier launch. Steam counts the date in Pacific time, and the page code stores October 23, 05:00 UTC, which is October 22 at 22:00 PT and October 23 at 07:00 in Poland.
Whether Steam will unlock the game at exactly that time is not confirmed. Activision says midnight local time for every PC store. Likewise, the Xbox Store in Poland, Germany and the UK shows October 22, while the US store shows October 23.
Preload: when it starts and how much space you need
On PC, preloading started on October 15 at 09:00 PT (18:00 CEST) for digital buyers on Battle.net, Steam and Xbox on PC. Activision did not announce a time for consoles. Today (October 19) you can download the game on every platform, since the campaign has been live since October 16.
| Platform | Size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PC (requirements) | 115 GB, SSD required | Activision |
| Steam | 115–120 GB | Dot Esports |
| Battle.net | 124 GB (including about 60 GB for the new CoD HQ) | Dot Esports |
| PS5 | 117 GB (without the DMZ Pack 02) | Dot Esports |
| Xbox Series X|S | about 163.24 GB or about 194.32 GB | PureXbox / Dot Esports |
| Switch 2 | 77.3–84.9 GB | Dot Esports |
Only the PC figure is official. Sources disagree on Xbox, so leave some headroom. Updates may need extra space. Hardware details: PC requirements and best settings.
- You can pick components during installation. Selecting Warzone installs the current version of Warzone, because the MW4 integration only arrives in Season 1.
- On PC, Activision recommends installing the Xbox app (whichever store you use) and the latest drivers: that gives you precompiled shaders (Advanced Shader Delivery).
- On Switch 2, an eShop pre-order downloads before launch, and a small update follows on launch day.
Early access: campaign and DMZ
Campaign Early Access and DMZ Early Access are for everyone who pre-ordered digitally: the Standard Edition or the Vault Edition, on any platform.
| Mode | From | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Campaign | Fri, October 16 | around 19:00 CEST (10:00 PT), based on the countdown on the game site |
| DMZ | Tue, October 20 | not announced; media expect 19:00 CEST (10:00 PT) |
| Multiplayer | Fri, October 23 | with the full launch, no early access |
The campaign has 16 missions and has been live on all platforms since October 16. What it covers: MW4 campaign. DMZ has its own guide: DMZ guide.
The physical (disc) version does not include early access to the campaign or DMZ. With a disc you play from October 23.
Editions and price
There are three editions: the Digital Standard Edition, the Vault Edition (digital only) and the Physical Standard Edition (consoles only). There is no physical version for PC.
| Edition | USD | EUR | GBP | PLN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, PC (Steam, Xbox on PC) | $69.99 | €69.99 | £59.99 | PLN 299 |
| Standard, console (PS5, Xbox) | $69.99 | €79.99 | £69.99 | PLN 349 |
| Vault Edition, PC | $99.99 | €99.99 | £89.99 | PLN 428.50 |
| Vault Edition, console | $99.99 | €109.99 | £99.99 | PLN 479 |
| Vault Edition Upgrade | $30.00 | €30.00 | £30.00 | PLN 129.50 |
PC is cheaper than console in euros, pounds and Polish złoty. In US dollars the prices are the same. Console prices in EUR and GBP come from the Xbox Store (Germany, UK), and in złoty from the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store. We could not confirm Battle.net prices (złoty, euro) or the Switch 2 eShop price in Poland.
- Buying on the Xbox Store gives you Xbox Play Anywhere: one purchase for console and PC (Xbox app).
- The Vault Edition Upgrade only works on the same platform. The physical edition cannot be upgraded.
- Loyalty Discount: 10% off the Vault Edition with a digital pre-order, until October 23, 2026. To qualify, you need to own and have played Modern Warfare (2019), MW2 Campaign Remastered, Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6 or Black Ops 7 on the same account. At PLN 479 that works out to about PLN 431.10, at PLN 428.50 about PLN 385.65 (the store may round differently). The discount does not apply to the upgrade.
What the Vault Edition includes
- Hostile Alliance Operator Pack: Price, Valeria, Ghost and Blix.
- Special Forces Operator Pack: COM SFT, KSK Amphibious, South Korean Special Forces and SAS.
- Signature Weapon Collection: 5 weapons with blueprints, including the Kastov 762 "Voltspine" and the Oris 8.6 "Volt-Edge".
- BlackCell for one season: 20 Battle Pass Tier Skips, 1100 COD Points and the full Battle Pass. It only activates with Season 1.
- DMZ Deployment Bonus: an extra Active Duty slot and a Deployment Kit.
Every digital pre-order also includes the Hunter Killer Operator Skin, the Gilded Pearl Weapon Camo Pack and the Inner Circuit M4 Blueprint.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
No, not at launch. According to Activision, the game launches as a standalone release and will not be included with Game Pass until "Holiday 2027". The Polish Xbox Store page says it is not available in Xbox Game Pass this year.
- Game Pass Ultimate still includes older entries: Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare III.
- Cloud play with Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate also requires buying the game.
- Online play needs Game Pass Essential on Xbox consoles, PlayStation Plus on PS5 and Nintendo Switch Online on Switch 2.
According to Activision CMO Tyler Bahl, being on Game Pass "created confusion" about how to buy Call of Duty (as reported by PlayGround.ru).
What is in the game on launch day
On October 23 you get three modes: Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ.
- Multiplayer: launches with 12 new 6v6 maps, large Ground War maps and Kill Block, a map that changes its layout between rounds. New modes include Hijack, Inflation and Collateral. Full list: multiplayer maps and modes.
- DMZ: the Hajin zone, the Forward Operating Base (FOB) and persistent progression.
- Campaign: single player, already playable in early access.
There is no Zombies mode. Official materials only list the three modes above, and Insider Gaming reports that MW4 will not have any version of Zombies. Activision has not said so directly. Infected, arriving on October 30, is a classic multiplayer mode, not Zombies.
Multiplayer and DMZ require a constant internet connection and an Activision account linked to a mobile phone number. The game has Polish subtitles and interface, without Polish voice-over. All platforms: platforms and Switch 2.
Post-launch schedule: Shipment, Infected and Season 1
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| Fri, October 16 | Campaign Early Access |
| Tue, October 20 | DMZ Early Access |
| Fri, October 23 | launch: Campaign, Multiplayer, DMZ |
| Tue, October 27 | Shipment map |
| Thu, October 29 | new Possession mode |
| Fri, October 30 | Infected mode |
| Fri, November 6 | Season 1 in MW4 and Warzone |
Activision has not revealed Season 1 details yet. What is confirmed: the Season 1 Battle Pass (and the BlackCell from the Vault Edition), the Warzone integration with MW4 and the Operator Skin toggle in Warzone all start then. Which battle royale map launches in Season 1 has not been confirmed.
Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One only works until MW4 Season 1 starts.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Modern Warfare 4 release?
On Friday, October 23, 2026 at 00:00 local time. With a digital pre-order you can play the campaign from October 16 and DMZ from October 20.
Does MW4 release on Steam on October 22?
No. Steam shows October 22 because it counts the date in Pacific time. Activision lists the launch as October 23 at midnight local time.
How much does Modern Warfare 4 cost?
Standard: $69.99, or €69.99 on PC and €79.99 on console. Vault Edition: $99.99, or €99.99 on PC and €109.99 on console. In Poland the Standard Edition is PLN 299 (PC) or PLN 349 (console), and the Vault Edition PLN 428.50 or PLN 479.
Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?
Not at launch. Activision plans to add MW4 to Game Pass in the 2027 holiday season.
Does MW4 have Zombies?
No. At launch you get Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ. According to Insider Gaming, DMZ takes the place of Zombies in MW4.
