Release
MW4 release date and unlock time
The game is out. Unlock was 23 October 2026 at local midnight. In the United States that is 00:00 Eastern Time.
From my notes. I compared the official launch posts with the Steam date stamp. Steam can read 22 October for people west of the US unlock, which is a timezone shift, not a different release. The editions and early-access posts both use 23 October as the worldwide street date.
The date that matters
Activision set Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for 23 October 2026. Campaign early access began 16 October 2026 at 13:00 ET for digital editions. DMZ early access began 20 October 2026 at 13:00 ET, also for digital editions.
Preload opened earlier: consoles from 14 October 2026 at 21:00 PT, PC from 15 October 2026 at 09:00 PT. If your store still shows a countdown, refresh the license. Status of online services is on the live status page.
What was already playable
Digital pre-orders included campaign early access, DMZ early access, the Hunter Killer skin, Gilded Pearl camo and the Inner Circuit M4. Physical copies are the game only. Details are on early access and pre-order bonuses.
A new Warzone build is tied to Season 1, not to this morning's unlock. On launch day the existing Warzone client is the one that runs. See MW4 and Warzone.
Questions
When did Modern Warfare 4 come out?
23 October 2026 at local midnight. In the US that is 00:00 Eastern Time.
Why does Steam say 22 October?
Steam's date shifts with the viewer's timezone relative to the US midnight unlock. It is the same release.
What time was campaign early access?
16 October 2026 at 13:00 ET for digital editions.
Keep reading
Sources checked 2026-10-23
- Call of Duty — Modern Warfare 4 — Modes, editions, platforms
- Wikipedia — Entity summary
- Steam store page — Price, size, reviews
- Campaign early access — 16 missions
- Game Pass intel — Holiday 2027
Updated .