Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access Release Date and Time (2026)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access is almost here, and players who want the story first do not have to wait for launch day.

Activision has confirmed that campaign early access begins on Friday, October 16, 2026, a full week before the complete game releases on Friday, October 23, 2026. Here is the release time in your region, how to get access, and what early access includes.

Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access Release Date and Time

Activision has confirmed October 16, 2026 as the start of campaign early access for digital pre-orders of the Standard or Vault Edition. The campaign is the only mode available during this window.

One detail is still unconfirmed: Activision has not announced the exact unlock hour for October 16. Past Call of Duty launches went live around 9 to 10 AM Pacific Time with a simultaneous global rollout, which would be roughly 9 to 10 PM PKT for players in Pakistan. That is an estimate from past releases, not an official confirmation, so watch your storefront countdown as October 16 approaches. Check the official Call of Duty site for the latest announcements.

PC players can preload starting October 15 at 9:00 AM PT, so you can download the game a day early and be ready the moment access opens.

Release Time Per Region (Full Launch)

The full game, including multiplayer and DMZ, unlocks on October 23, 2026. The times below are for the PC full-game unlock, reported as a midnight local time release. Campaign early access on October 16 remains time TBA, and console unlock times have not been separately confirmed, so check your store countdown.

Region	Full Game Unlock (PC)	UTC Equivalent
United States (Pacific)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 23, 07:00
United States (Eastern)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 23, 04:00
United Kingdom (London)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 23:00
France / Germany / Spain	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 22:00
India (New Delhi)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 18:30
Pakistan (Karachi)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 19:00
Japan / South Korea	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 15:00
Australia (Sydney)	Oct 23, 12:00 AM	Oct 22, 13:00

How to Get Campaign Early Access

Getting into the Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access window on October 16 has a few rules:

Digital pre-order only. Digitally pre-order or pre-purchase the Standard Edition ($69.99) or Vault Edition ($99.99). Physical disc pre-orders do not qualify.
All launch platforms qualify. PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Battle.net, Xbox on PC), and Nintendo Switch 2.
Game Pass does not count. Modern Warfare 4 is not on Game Pass at launch, so a subscription alone gives you neither early access nor the full game. A qualifying subscription is still required separately for online multiplayer on Xbox.
You can buy in after October 16. Skipping the pre-order and deciding later still works: digitally pre-ordering on October 17 or 18 grants immediate access to the early access period. Digital pre-orders stay available until the full launch on October 23.

PC players need 115 GB of SSD storage plus TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled for RICOCHET anti-cheat. If the game crashes on launch, see our guide on how to fix Dev Error 6068 on PC.

What Campaign Early Access Includes

Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access unlocks the full single-player campaign, not a demo. The story brings Captain Price back for a new conflict on the Korean Peninsula, with a new antagonist, Archer, at the center of a plot involving a powerful new weapon.

Multiplayer is not part of early access. At full launch the game ships with 12 new core multiplayer maps and returning favorites like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and Search and Destroy, plus the new tactical round-based Collateral mode with no respawns.

A second early access wave follows: DMZ early access begins October 20, 2026 for digital pre-order customers, set in the new Hajin Exclusion Zone.

Modern Warfare 4 supports crossplay and cross-progression across all platforms, plus Xbox Play Anywhere on eligible digital purchases. PS4 and Xbox One are not supported.

Full Launch Date: October 23, 2026

Everything unlocks worldwide on Friday, October 23, 2026: campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ all go live for every player, and the Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access period comes to an end.

While you wait for the story to drop, there is still plenty of Call of Duty to play. Check our list of working Call of Duty Mobile codes for free rewards, or if you are in Warzone, our Warzone bunker codes for 2026 will keep you busy looting Verdansk.

FAQ

When does Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access start?

Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access starts October 16, 2026, for digital pre-orders of the Standard or Vault Edition. Activision has not confirmed the unlock hour; past Call of Duty launches went live around 9 to 10 AM PT with a simultaneous global rollout.

Do I need the Vault Edition for early access?

No. Both the Standard Edition ($69.99) and the Vault Edition ($99.99) include campaign early access. The Vault Edition adds operator skins, weapon blueprints, and BlackCell content.

Does a physical pre-order include campaign early access?

No. Only digital pre-orders and pre-purchases qualify. Physical editions do not.

Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass?

Not at launch. Game Pass does not include the game, so a subscription alone will not give you early access or the full game. Buying the game is required.

What happens on October 20?

DMZ early access begins for digital pre-order customers, three days before the October 23 worldwide launch.

Axee Davies

Axee Davies is the founder of AxeeTech, publishing gaming guides, codes, and Windows how-tos since March 2013. A tech enthusiast for 13+ years — starting with smartphones and Android rooting — he now runs a site that puts out a new guide every day for Roblox players, traders, and Windows users. More about AxeeTech

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