MW4 Campaign Early Access: Unlock Times & Platforms

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is Infinity Ward's next mainline Call of Duty, and its campaign is already playable. Digital pre-orders and pre-purchases opened campaign early access on 16 October 2026, a week before the full launch on 23 October. The campaign has 16 missions across the Korean Peninsula, Paris, New York and Mumbai, following Private Park Hyun Jun and Captain Price. The full game adds Multiplayer and DMZ, the extraction mode returning with its own progression.

Campaign early access: who qualifies

Early access is tied to a digital purchase, not a separate code. You need the Standard Digital Edition or Vault Edition, bought digitally on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC through Battle.net, Steam or the Xbox app, or Nintendo Switch 2. The official blog says the benefit applies to digital pre-orders and pre-purchases and lasts until the full launch on 23 October. If you are buying a physical edition, do not assume the same access: the official wording is specifically about digital purchases.

The launch schedule and unlock times

• 16 October: campaign early access begins.
• 20 October: DMZ early access begins for the same digital editions.
• 23 October: full launch, including Multiplayer.

PC Gamer's launch-time roundup puts the full unlock at midnight local time; platform stores show their own countdowns, so check the one you bought from. Steam lists 22 October while Activision's blog uses 23 October — treat that as a regional/storefront difference, not a second launch. The campaign's 16 missions are playable throughout early access. DMZ's early start is separate: it is a three-day head start on the extraction mode, not the campaign.

What carries over

Campaign completion rewards are the main carry-over. The official blog lists base operators Cho, Dallas, Luca, Oh-Ji, Kal, Dunn, West and Park, plus a calling card, loading screen, emblem and Double XP and Double Weapon XP tokens. These become usable in Multiplayer and DMZ when the full game launches. The order is fixed, so the further you play, the more of the list you unlock.

DMZ is built around persistent progression. Early access uses the same mode that launches on 23 October, so time spent learning the Hajin map, levelling weapons and building your Forward Operating Base is not a throwaway beta. Pre-order bonuses such as the Hunter Killer operator skin, Gilded Pearl camo pack and Inner Circuit M4 blueprint are separate from campaign completion rewards.

Platforms, Game Pass and preload

Modern Warfare 4 is listed for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Battle.net or Steam (and the Xbox app on PC), and Nintendo Switch 2. The official platform list does not include PS4 or Xbox One.

Steam lists the standard edition at $69.99 / ¥298, with the Vault Edition priced higher; it also credits Infinity Ward alongside Beenox, Digital Legends, Activision Shanghai and other support studios.

It is not a Game Pass game at launch. Activision's own post says Modern Warfare 4 "will not be included with Game Pass until Holiday 2027" and must be purchased separately to play on 23 October. PC players should check the Steam or Battle.net preload; PC Gamer reports a 115 GB install, and Activision's PC specs start at Windows 10 64-bit, 8 GB RAM and a GTX 970 / RX 470-class card. Console preload timing varies by store.

Start here

If you have early access, play the campaign first: its completion rewards are the only guaranteed carry-over, and they are earned mission by mission. If you are waiting for 23 October, preload now and decide whether DMZ's 20 October head start matters to you. Do not buy a physical copy expecting campaign early access; the official benefit is digital.