Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — release date, story, modes and editions
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the twenty-third entry in the franchise and a sequel to the rebooted Modern Warfare subseries. The game was announced on May 28, 2026 with a first trailer: war erupts on the Korean Peninsula while Captain Price wages his own war from the shadows. Infinity Ward leads development, and the release is set for October 23, 2026. Here is everything we know: story, modes, editions and technology.
Modern Warfare 4 at a glance
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Release date | October 23, 2026; early campaign access from October 16 for digital pre-orders |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Battle.net, Steam, Xbox PC), Nintendo Switch 2 |
| No support | PlayStation 4 and Xbox One — the game skips last-gen consoles |
| Developers | Infinity Ward; PC with Beenox, Switch 2 with Digital Legends |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Game Pass | Not at launch; no earlier than a year after release |
Story: war in Korea
North Korea begins a full-scale invasion, and the world teeters on the edge of catastrophe. At the center of the story is Private Paik, a South Korean soldier facing real combat for the first time: his squad (Jay, Cho and Moon) and American marines West and Dunn fight on a crumbling front line. In parallel, Captain Price — still wanted for the murder of General Shepherd — wages a personal war from the shadows, and his path crosses with the forces behind the invasion. Ghost appears in Price's storyline.
- Campaign locations: trench warfare in Korea, close combat in New York, chases through Paris, night SAS raids in Mumbai.
- Offline mode: the campaign can be played without a constant internet connection — a first since Vanguard.
Multiplayer
- 12 new 6v6 maps with their own spawn points and visual identity.
- Kill Block — a training ground that rebuilds itself between rounds: modular sections create over 500 arena configurations. Supports Gunfight 3v3 and 10v10.
- Ballistic Authority: a new technology stack — random bullet spread (bloom) is removed, recoil and weapon behavior are reworked: "every shot is true".
- Movement: extended mantling, climbing, edge hanging and jumps — vertical navigation across maps.
- Gunsmith and Apex Attachments: modular customization, unique mods for maxing out a gun; the Gunny assistant builds loadouts for your playstyle.
- Two Prestige paths: classic progress reset or a "soft" option without locking classes.
DMZ: the extraction returns
DMZ evolves into a full extraction mode: the player drops into the Hajin zone as a "silent asset", completes dynamic operations and decides when to exfiltrate with the loot. The world reacts to your actions: weather, military targets and hostile forces change from raid to raid.
Warzone integration
From Season 1, Modern Warfare 4 integrates with Call of Duty: Warzone: shared progress and content. At the same time, Warzone on PS4 and Xbox One will stop working — Activision is sunning last-gen battle royale.
Editions and pre-order
| Edition | Contents |
|---|---|
| Standard | The game; pre-order grants early campaign access from October 16 and the Hunter-Killer operator skin |
| Vault Edition | The game, Hostile Alliance and Special Forces operator packs, Signature Weapon Collection, BlackCell Season 1, DMZ deployment bonus |
| Loyalty discount | 10% off the Vault Edition for owners of previous CoD titles (until October 23, 2026) |
Technology
- The PC version supports DLSS 4.5, extended ray tracing and esports-oriented settings; TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required.
- The Nintendo Switch 2 version is native, with cross-play; pre-orders opened on August 26, 2026.
- The open beta ran in late August 2026: multiplayer, the "Entrenched" campaign mission and Warzone Resurgence on the Zodiac map.
Tips before release
- Pre-order the digital edition if you want the campaign a week early.
- Check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on your PC — otherwise the game will not launch.
- PS4/Xbox One owners should plan an upgrade: Modern Warfare 4 skips last-gen.
- Follow the "From the Ward" video diary series for weapon, sound and design details.
- Do not expect a Game Pass launch — the earliest addition is a year after release.
Frequently asked questions
When does Modern Warfare 4 come out? October 23, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
Will it be on PS4 and Xbox One? No, only current-gen consoles, PC and Switch 2.
Who is the protagonist? A new protagonist — Private Paik from South Korea; Captain Price and Ghost continue the subseries storyline.
What is Kill Block? A multiplayer arena that changes configuration every round — over 500 possible layouts.
Will there be a zombies mode? As of this writing no zombies mode has been announced — follow Activision news.
Will it come to Game Pass? Not at launch: no earlier than a year after release.
Last updated: September 19, 2026.