The two dates that matter
Modern Warfare 4 launches globally on Friday, October 23, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Battle.net and Xbox on PC) and Nintendo Switch 2. Every platform detail, including the missing last-gen versions. That is the date Activision's own support pages and the official multiplayer blog carry, and it is the only date this wiki uses.
Campaign early access starts October 16, 2026 for anyone who pre-ordered the digital edition. That is a full week of the story mode before launch day. Multiplayer, DMZ and everything else go live for all players on October 23; there is no early-access window for multiplayer. Pre-order bonuses and the editions they attach to.
Unlock times, as they stand
No official per-platform chart exists yet. What we have, with its sources:
| Platform | Reported unlock | Basis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X | S, Switch 2) | Midnight local time, October 23 | Series precedent, reported by multiple outlets |
| PC (Steam) | October 23, 12:00 AM ET (October 22, 9:00 PM PT) | The Steam store listing itself | |
| Multiplayer & Warzone global go-live | Historically around 9:00 to 10:00 AM PT on launch day | Series precedent, not confirmed for MW4 |
Treat the clock times as precedent-based until Activision posts its chart. The recent series pattern is midnight local on consoles with a synchronized PC and multiplayer switch, and every Call of Duty this decade has followed some version of it.
Why Steam says October 22
The Steam store page lists "Oct 22, 2026". Now it makes sense: the Steam unlock is October 23 at 12:00 AM Eastern, which is 9:00 PM on October 22 in Pacific time, and Steam displays the date in its home-region timezone. There is no conflict with Activision's October 23. When the official chart lands, this section gets the primary-source numbers, and we re-check the Steam API the same day.
What is not confirmed yet
- The official per-platform unlock chart. It goes here the moment Activision publishes one, and on launch day we fill in what actually happened.
- Pre-load timing. No official date or file size yet. Series precedent is roughly 48 hours before each unlock, and the confirmed install footprint is 70 GB on an SSD. The system requirements page has the details.
- A staggered release. Nothing suggests one; every platform launches the same day.