CoD MW4: Release date, pre-orders, story, multiplayer and more

B07 wasn't exactly a hit with the players, but hopes are already high for the next one as we approach the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 release date.

Adding a new chapter to the Korean War, players will be launched into the midst of the conflict as a new Cold War emerges.

We're now fast approaching the release, so here's what you need to know about CoD MW4 including story and gameplay details, pre-orders, editions and more.

When is the CoD MW4 release date?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to release on 23 October 2026.

The game is set to release on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and excitingly, Nintendo Switch 2.

It will be the first time that a CoD game has come to Switch consoles, and the first CoD game on a Nintendo console in more than a decade.

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Can I pre-order CoD MW4?

At the time of writing, you can pre-order Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on all platforms except Nintendo Switch 2.

You can purchase all editions (more on those below) from the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store and Steam.

Additionally, you can get a physical copy of the game from the following retailers:

UK

• Amazon (£69.99) – PS5 / Xbox
• Smyths (£69.99) – PS5 / Xbox
• Argos ($69.99) – PS5 / Xbox

USA

• Amazon ($69.99) – PS5 / Xbox
• GameStop ($69.99) – PS5 / Xbox
• Walmart ($69.99) – PS5 / Xbox
• Best Buy ($69.99) – PS5 / Xbox

CoD MW4 pre-order bonuses

Players who pre-order the Standard Edition of MW4 will receive the following benefits:

• Early access to MW4 Open Beta
• Hunter Killer Operator Skin

In addition to these, players who pre-order the Vault Edition of the game will receive:

• Hostile Alliance Operator Pack
• Special Forces Operator Pack
• Signature Weapon Collection
• BlackCell (One Season)
• DMZ Deployment Bonus

CoD MW4 story details

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's story will focus on a conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Here's how it's described by the developers:

"War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that threatens to destabilize the world in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

"A young squad of South Korean soldiers fights to survive on the collapsing front lines, while half a world away a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step ahead of those hunting him.

"As Price's off-book mission collides with the forces behind the invasion, the war spreads beyond anyone's control."

Players will take control of Private Park, a South Korean soldier experiencing his first taste of live combat.

During a routine patrol, North Korea invades the South, forcing Park and his unit to fight through brutal urban battlegrounds.

Captain Price returns, forced to work from "outside the system he once served," forming uneasy alliances to achieve his goals.

Throughout the campaign, players will travel across the world, with levels including "trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters combat in New York, high-octane chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and city-wide assaults to reclaim occupied territory."

CoD MW4 multiplayer details

According to Activision, "Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer delivers grounded, precise combat built around fluid movement that provides greater control in every fight."

Here are a few of the standout features:

Ballistic Authority

MW4's gunplay has received an upgrade, Activision promising of the system, "no bloom, no guesswork, and no doubt. Every shot tells the truth."

• Bloom has been removed, making hipfire shots feel more direct, predictable, and connected to where the weapon is pointed
• Recoil, convergence, and weapon handling have been rebuilt to more directly reflect player input
• Depth of field and visual effects have been refined to improve enemy visibility without sacrificing authenticity
• Weapons respond more naturally to player movement, stance changes, and the environment, creating more consistent behaviour in every engagement

Movement

Movement in MW4 is made to provide fluid gameplay for all types of playstyles.

• Traversal, combat movement, and gunplay transitions are designed to feel seamless and responsive, preserving momentum while maintaining control under pressure
• Expanded movement options for Mantling, Climbing, Hanging and Jumping create new opportunities to reposition, flank, navigate vertical spaces, and approach engagements from multiple angles across increasingly dynamic combat environments
• Every movement system is designed to preserve the grounded realism, physicality, and combat intensity that define Modern Warfare while delivering the fluid, cinematic intensity of operating as an elite soldier in the field, whether you prefer a methodical, tactical approach or aggressive plays

Maps

MW4 will launch with 12 Core maps that will form the foundation of the game's Multiplayer gameplay.

A new mode – Kill Block – offers a live-fire training facility with new experiences every round. With more than 500 different configurations of routes, cover and sightlines, every match has a different rhythm and challenge for players to get to grips with.

The game will also feature dedicated Gunfight maps and Big War maps built for large-scale vehicles and infantry combat – sounds a bit like Battlefield 6, no?

CoD MW4 DMZ details

DMZ in MW4 will see players deploy solo or as part of a squad into a conflict zone, tasked with recovering advanced military technology.

With dynamic weather and military objectives, hostile forces inside the exclusion zone and more, players will have to deal with entirely different challenges every time they drop in.

More info on DMZ is set to arrive in June.

Is there a CoD MW4 trailer?

Yes! The first trailer for Modern Warfare 4 was released in May, and you can watch it here:

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