We are heading into the final few months before the launch of Modern Warfare 4, and before we get to actually jump in and give the game a try, there is quite a lot of information out there that is worth knowing pre-launch. As has been the case with many previous Call of Duty games, the build-up is all about slow reveals and in-house events like COD: NEXT, and over the following weeks, the full picture should come into view.
There are the specifics regarding the editions and the content included, the beta times and dates, as well as some in-game details that may be the deciding factor for those riding the fence on whether to make the purchase. In any case, it’s always nice to know what an upcoming game is all about and the kind of experience you can expect to find if you do decide to buy it.
Editions And Pre-order Bonuses
Where Can We Play The Latest COD
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Image via Infinity Ward / Call of Duty -
Image via Infinity Ward / Call of Duty -
Details:
- Launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
- Early beta access and additional in-game items
The Modern Warfare 4 preorders are already live now across all the modern platforms we would expect, including the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC, with Nintendo Switch 2 preorders opening August 26. It is worth noting that if you are still playing on the previous generation of consoles, then I am sorry to say you’re going to be missing out on this year’s COD, but for those who aren’t, you get to choose between the standard and the Vault Edition, the latter bundling exclusive cosmetic content like weapon camos on top of the base game.
Preordering also unlocks several additional benefits ahead of launch, giving you access to the beta early and the Hunter Killer Operator Skin that can be used right now in BO7 and Warzone. Finally, when October rolls around, you will be able to play the campaign a week early, so even if you’re not that interested in the extra skins, that preorder will put the actual gameplay in your hands just a bit sooner.
Story
A Whole New Direction
Details:
- Modern-day Korean setting
- Price returns alongside several new locations
The 2026 COD campaign might not be the first to visit Korea, but this time around, the stakes are a lot higher and the reach is global right from the start. War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion threatening the stability of the entire world, and you get to step into the boots of Private Park, a young soldier fighting to survive on a collapsing front line, moving through Korea, New York, Paris, and Mumbai.
Running parallel is Captain Price, operating outside official channels on a vengeful, off-book mission of his own, adding in a nostalgia factor whilst still offering something new for longtime fans as well. It’s a modern, dark reinvention of the formula, and there is a lot of room for some pretty explosive set pieces and twists as you fight to quite literally save the world.
Multiplayer/Matchmaking
Fixing Issues And Innovating For The Future
Details:
- Grounded combat style
- Open playlists and more balanced matches
There are quite a few different details to mention about multiplayer, and the first is arguably the most important change in the entire game. The centerpiece of MW4’s multiplayer overhaul is Ballistic Authority, a new weapon system that eliminates hipfire bloom entirely, ensuring bullets land exactly where you aim, which is being paired with rebuilt recoil patterns, more realistic audio propagation, improved visibility, and reduced gun smoke clutter that should all combine to deliver a gritty and satisfying gunplay experience.
Adding to that is the new matchmaking system, which has already been implemented in BO7 and aims to combat a lot of the frustrations around the previous skill-based approach. This means that you are going to be able to jump in and feel much less stressed to compete with all your energy, and the updated weapon feel will only serve to improve the overall match satisfaction for newbies and veterans alike.
Modes
Some Welcome Returning Faces
Details:
- Standard multiplayer modes
- DMZ extraction mode
It has been a long time coming, but DMZ is finally returning as Call of Duty’s flagship extraction shooter mode, located in a new zone called Hajinm, which comes directly from the fallout of the campaign’s Korean conflict. It combines narrative story missions, dynamic operations, and persistent player progression across deployments, bringing it in line with the modern standards of the genre, without forcing you into an additional purchase.
For the other confirmed multiplayer modes, we have Search & Destroy, Kill Block, Big War, party games, as well as the usual suspects like Free-For-All, bringing the total to 21 when you include hardcore variations. There’s also a mobility course for practicing movement mechanics, giving you more than enough places at launch to grind out those camos.
Beta Schedule
Sooner Than You Think
Details:
- Preordering gives you early access
- More information will be revealed at COD NEXT
Although it is still over two months till the official launch, you are going to be able to give the game a try across two separate weekends depending on whether or not you have preordered. Early Access opens August 21–25, launching immediately after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast, and the second Open Beta will run from August 28 to September 1, letting everyone else get in on the action.
This includes betas for all platforms, with Switch 2 receiving the same access as well for the first time, meaning no matter what console you are playing on, the beta is going to be open for you eventually. And, if you are someone that cares a lot about account progress, your levels won’t be carrying over to launch, but specific reward items unlocked during the beta, such as exclusive weapon blueprints, operator skins, calling cards, emblems, and XP tokens, will, so there is at least some additional benefit to spamming games outside of pure fun.
Progression Carryover
Get Grinding Now
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Image via Infinity Ward / Call of Duty -
Image via Infinity Ward
Details:
- Double XP tokens and COD Points will transfer into
- Counts for Warzone and BO7
It is always interesting when a new Call of Duty drops to see how much content is going to carry over, and this time around, the team has confirmed that there will at least be some currencies that will stay with you during the move. 2XP tokens from Warzone and Black Ops 7 will transfer into Modern Warfare 4, giving returning players a head start on leveling once the game launches.
COD Points carry over as well, though only within the same platform family, meaning progress won’t transfer across, say, PlayStation to Xbox or vice versa. This isn’t an unexpected move, as the same procedure occurred with the most recent release, and it is nice to see some consistency in how the wider franchise ecosystem functions over the long term.
