Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Release Schedule: Early Access and Full Release Date Countdown
I hit download two minutes before the window opened and watched the progress bar like a judge at a trial. My phone buzzed with group chats promising spoilers. You can feel the launch week pressure in your bones — beat the crowd or play catch-up.
I’ve tracked Activision’s rollout so you don’t have to guess time zones or miss the one-week early window for campaign and DMZ. Below you’ll find exact times, platform notes, preload sizes, and what to expect when each piece goes live.
When does Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s campaign and DMZ early access begin?
Campaign early access starts on October 16, 2026, and DMZ early access follows on October 20, 2026. Both drop at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET for digital pre-orders.
How do I get the campaign and DMZ early access?
Pre-order any digital edition through the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Battle.net/Steam, or Nintendo eShop. Standard digital copies commonly run about USD 69.99 (€65); Vault and special editions cost more and include extras and early perks.
Does Modern Warfare 4’s early access include multiplayer?
No — the campaign and DMZ come early for digital pre-orders, but multiplayer launches with the full global release on October 23, 2026.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Times
My friends in different time zones were swapping screenshots the moment the early window popped.
Activision confirmed digital pre-orders get access to the campaign on October 16, 2026 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET, and DMZ on October 20 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. This applies to the digital Standard and Vault editions only — physical retail pre-orders do not include the early windows.
Times below reflect the simultaneous global early access release for campaign and DMZ across platforms.
| Region | Campaign Early Access Release Time & Date | DMZ Early Access Release Time & Date |
|---|---|---|
| US West | 10 AM PT (October 16) | 10 AM PT (October 20) |
| US East | 1 PM ET (October 16) | 1 PM ET (October 20) |
| Brazil | 2 PM BRT (October 16) | 2 PM BRT (October 20) |
| UK | 6 PM BST (October 16) | 6 PM BST (October 20) |
| Germany | 7 PM CEST (October 16) | 7 PM CEST (October 20) |
| France | 7 PM CEST (October 16) | 7 PM CEST (October 20) |
| South Africa | 7 PM SAST (October 16) | 7 PM SAST (October 20) |
| Turkey | 8 PM TRT (October 16) | 8 PM TRT (October 20) |
| Russia | 8 PM MSK (October 16) | 8 PM MSK (October 20) |
| UAE | 9 PM GST (October 16) | 9 PM GST (October 20) |
| India | 10:30 PM IST (October 16) | 10:30 PM IST (October 20) |
| Singapore | 1 AM SGT (October 17) | 1 AM SGT (October 21) |
| Philippines | 1 AM PHT (October 17) | 1 AM PHT (October 21) |
| China | 1 AM CST (October 17) | 1 AM CST (October 21) |
| South Korea | 2 AM KST (October 17) | 2 AM KST (October 21) |
| Japan | 2 AM JST (October 17) | 2 AM JST (October 21) |
| Australia | 4 AM AEST (October 17) | 4 AM AEST (October 21) |
| New Zealand | 6 AM NZST (October 17) | 6 AM NZST (October 21) |
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access Countdown Timer
The countdown widget on launch day feels like a second hand on a bomb — you watch it and wait.
The campaign early access opens on 2026-10-16T22:30:00 UTC in the embedded countdown below; it will adjust to your local time automatically.
Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access is now live!
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Early Access Countdown Timer
Four days after campaign early access, DMZ arrives — and you’ll be choosing whether to push for loot or avoid firefights.
DMZ early access begins on 2026-10-20T22:30:00 UTC; the countdown below will reflect your local zone.
Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ Early Access is now live!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Full Release Times
When the full release rolls, the midnight local schedule creates staggered access that keeps matches ticking around the globe.
The global full release is set for October 23, 2026. Activision has confirmed a midnight local launch on PC and is expected to follow the same local schedule on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
The table below lists midnight local release times across major regions so you can plan your session or your sleep.
| Region | Release Time & Date |
|---|---|
| US West | 12 AM PT (October 23) |
| US East | 12 AM ET (October 23) |
| Brazil | 12 AM BRT (October 23) |
| UK | 12 AM BST (October 23) |
| Germany | 12 AM CEST (October 23) |
| France | 12 AM CEST (October 23) |
| South Africa | 12 AM SAST (October 23) |
| Turkey | 12 AM TRT (October 23) |
| Russia | 12 AM MSK (October 23) |
| UAE | 12 AM GST (October 23) |
| India | 12 AM IST (October 23) |
| Singapore | 12 AM SGT (October 23) |
| Philippines | 12 AM PHT (October 23) |
| China | 12 AM CST (October 23) |
| South Korea | 12 AM KST (October 23) |
| Japan | 12 AM JST (October 23) |
| Australia | 12 AM AEST (October 23) |
| New Zealand | 12 AM NZST (October 23) |
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Release Countdown Timer
The global rollout feels like multiple gates opening at once — some get you in early, others keep you waiting.
Use the countdown below to track when the full game arrives in your local midnight window. The timer will adjust automatically.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is now live worldwide!
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Preload Size
Your download queue will show its teeth as soon as you hit preload.
Activision says Modern Warfare 4 exceeds 100 GB without Warzone. Preloads are live on all major stores; expect these approximate install sizes:
- PS5: approx. 120 GB
- PC: 115 GB available space
- Xbox Series X|S: approx. 120 GB
- Nintendo Switch 2: approx. 85 GB
COD HQ downloads with MW4 are mandatory, but installing Warzone is optional. If you choose Warzone, the current version installs; the new Warzone arrives with Season 1 on November 6, 2026.
Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Overview
The first mission drops you into chaos and you’ll notice tone and stakes right away.
Campaign early access opens on October 16, giving digital pre-order players a head start that may let you finish the main story before multiplayer goes live. Modern Warfare 4 moves the conflict to the Korean Peninsula: North Korea invades the South while John Price is on the run after being outlawed. You play two viewpoints — South Korean recruit Private Park Hyun Jun and the fugitive Captain John Price.
The campaign jumps between global locations like New York, Paris, and Mumbai, brings back characters such as Ghost and Gaz, and introduces a mysterious antagonist known as The Archer — played by Mads Mikkelsen.
Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Overview
One quick look at the Hajin map will make you weigh risk versus reward before you even spawn.
DMZ early access begins on October 20 for digital pre-orders. In Activision’s DMZ briefing, players deploy solo or in squads across Hajin — a map that blends air bases, prisons, farmland, city districts, industrial sites, and a nuclear reactor. You loot, complete objectives, face AI threats and rival Operators, and extract when you’re ready.
DMZ adds Story Missions, Dynamic Operations that reward DMZ Cash and Supply Drops, and Side Operations that reveal intel and high-value targets. You’ll also manage a Forward Operating Base (FOB) to handle Operators, loadouts, and resources between runs.
Players comparing DMZ runs will quickly learn which routes are safer and which lanes are richest — the choice is yours.
Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer Overview
When multiplayer launches, queues and matchlists will fill fast, and the meta will form overnight.
The full release on October 23 brings campaign, DMZ, and the multiplayer suite. Infinity Ward confirmed five categories at launch with 17 modes across Respawn, Round-Based, Big War, Party, and Training.
- Respawn
- Team Deathmatch
- Domination
- Hardpoint
- Kill Confirmed
- Free for All
- Counter Attack
- Inflation
- Hijack
- Frontline
- Round-Based
- Search and Destroy
- Gunfight
- Gunfight 10v10
- Arms Deal
- Big War
- Combat Outpost
- Frontal Assault
- Party
- Gun Game
- Drop Zone
- Training
- Mobility Course
If you’re on PC, check Steam or Battle.net and compare your GPU/CPU to the published Modern Warfare 4 system requirements before you preload shaders and settings.
Are you pre-ordering to play the campaign and DMZ early, or will you wait for the midnight global release and jump into multiplayer fresh — which side are you on?