Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 officially releases on October 23, 2026 – but pre-order players get to jump in earlier. Here are all the dates you need to know now.
When Does Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Start?
- October 15, 2026, 6:00 PM: PC preload begins.
- October 16, 2026: Campaign Early Access begins.
- October 20, 2026: DMZ Mode Early Access begins.
- October 23, 2026 (starting at midnight): Full release with all modes.
This early access is only valid for digital pre-orders, whether Standard or Vault Edition. Those who pre-ordered a physical disc will miss out. Supported platforms include PC (Steam and Battle.net), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. You can find the official key details on the Call of Duty blog.
When Does Preload Start and How Big is the Download?
PC preload begins on October 15th at 6 PM German time, one day before the campaign. Activision has not yet announced separate times for PS5 and Xbox – however, console preloads usually occur within the same or a similar timeframe. The installation size is stated as 115 GB of SSD storage, with the preload itself estimated by GameStar to be around 80 to 100 GB. It's best to plan for 130 to 140 GB of buffer space, as the installer requires additional temporary room during extraction.
Important: MW4 runs through the central Call of Duty HQ installation. If you already have current CoD content on your drive, the download might be smaller thanks to shared textures. After launch, check the in-game menu to ensure the campaign and DMZ packages are selected for download.
What Does This Mean for DMZ Fans?
DMZ has its own schedule: The mode starts earlier than classic multiplayer, as we've already reported – read more about it in our article on DMZ Early Access and in our report on PvE hopes. From our perspective, the preload is the most important advantage: those who start it early will avoid server congestion on launch day, when historically many players download simultaneously.
Source: GameStar
Did you pre-order MW4 digitally and will you jump straight into the campaign? Discuss with us in the comments!
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