Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 opens its campaign to eligible digital preorder customers on October 16, ahead of the October 23, 2026 launch. Activision Support’s editions guide specifies October 16 in Pacific Time for access to the full campaign.
Which Editions Qualify?
The campaign announcement names the Standard Digital Edition and Vault Edition as eligible purchases. Its platform list covers:
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox on PC
- PlayStation 5
- Battle.net
- Steam
- Nintendo Switch 2
The benefit is attached to digital preorders or prepurchases. The official eligibility wording does not extend it to physical copies.
Campaign Setting and Characters
The June announcement introduces Private Park, a South Korean soldier whose first combat experience unfolds during a North Korean invasion. His squad fights through collapsing cities and counteroffensives.
Captain Price’s story follows a separate conflict beyond the front lines. The September story recap describes him as a fugitive working with the Las Almas cartel while pursuing a global threat. That article revisits earlier Modern Warfare events leading into the new campaign.
Campaign, DMZ and Full Launch Have Different Dates
The Vault Edition page lists October 16 for Campaign Early Access and October 20 for DMZ Early Access. Eligible players can begin the campaign first, with DMZ following four days later.
Activision Support identifies October 20 in Pacific Time for early access to all of DMZ through eligible digital preorders. The Activision Support editions guide confirms the worldwide October 23 launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.
Availability Caveats
Activision’s October support update says Nintendo Switch 2 preorders began August 26, superseding the June announcement’s statement that they would open later in the year.
The official early-access terms caution that outages and time-zone differences may affect actual play time, while platform availability and start dates remain subject to change.
FAQ
Do physical copies get Campaign Early Access?
The campaign announcement limits the offer to eligible digital preorders and prepurchases; physical copies are not listed as qualifying purchases.
Is Campaign Early Access available on all platforms?
The announcement lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2. Availability remains subject to the official terms.
When does DMZ Early Access begin?
October 20, Pacific Time, according to Activision Support. Campaign access begins four calendar days earlier.
Does Campaign Early Access include Multiplayer?
The early-access offers cover Campaign and DMZ separately. They do not advertise Multiplayer Early Access. The full game launch is October 23.
Sources
Official sources checked for this draft on October 15, 2026:
