Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 PC Release Date and Specs
Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2. Preload date, system requirements, upscaling and Game Pass status.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is three weeks away, and Activision has now published the full PC picture. The game launches on October 23, 2026, and for PC players the headline is a promise of real optimization work, a clear spec sheet and an anti-cheat setup that has some strict hardware conditions.
Release date, platforms and access
Activision revealed the game on May 28, 2026. It arrives on PC through the Xbox PC app, Battle.net and Steam, alongside PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. According to GamesRadar, the Switch 2 version is the first Call of Duty on a Nintendo platform since Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013, and crossplay is supported across all platforms. Older consoles are not supported, because the game is built natively for current hardware.
Activision has confirmed the game will not be on Xbox Game Pass. On PC, preloading starts October 15 at 9AM PT for players who buy digitally. A day later, on October 16, digital pre-purchasers get early access to the campaign. The full game releases on October 23 at midnight local time, according to Activision's PC blog.
Story and setting
The campaign centers on the Korean peninsula, where the threat of a full-scale invasion of South Korea risks wider global instability. The lead is Private Park, a young Korean soldier thrown into combat for the first time, and Captain Price returns as a man on the run. A campaign trailer shown during Tokyo Game Show 2026 confirmed that Mads Mikkelsen has a role, and it appears to be an antagonistic one. Missions also take players to New York, Mumbai and Paris.
PC system requirements
Activision lists official requirements and says the game is designed for many specs, not only high-end cards. An SSD is required in every case.
- Minimum: Windows 10 64-bit, Ryzen 5 1400 or Core i5-6600, 8 GB RAM, GTX 970 or 1060, Radeon RX 470 or Arc A580, 3 GB of video memory, 115 GB on an SSD
- Recommended for 90 FPS in multiplayer on High settings: Windows 11, Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i7-8700K, 16 GB RAM, Radeon RX 6600 XT or GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
Graphics, upscaling and performance
The PC lead studio, Beenox, working with Infinity Ward, is promising more than 800 settings across graphics, gameplay and input. The supported upscaling and frame generation options include Nvidia DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3 and a Filmic SMAA T2X mode. Ray tracing is available in the campaign, multiplayer and DMZ, and Activision is targeting 90 FPS at recommended specs without manual tuning.
Tom's Hardware reports that Infinity Ward has described the release as having a focus on PC, and pointed out that older Call of Duty campaigns have suffered from stutter caused by shader compilation. The new answer is Advanced Shader Delivery, previously called shader preloading, which delivers precompiled shaders ahead of time. To use it, Activision advises installing the Xbox PC app in advance on any PC platform and keeping graphics drivers current. Whether the stutter problem is truly solved can only be judged after launch.
Anti-cheat and new multiplayer features
The game uses RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, which combines server-side detection with hardware-based protection, including TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot integration. For some PC owners that means checking firmware settings before launch day. Activision also lists two-factor authentication and email verification for account security.
On the gameplay side, bullets now travel from the weapon's barrel position instead of landing randomly inside an area of effect. A PC-exclusive Enhanced FOV option widens the view at the screen edges without changing the center. A new mode called Collateral is aimed at Search and Destroy fans: teams earn cash during the match and spend it on armor, perks and upgrades between rounds.
Before October 23, check your Secure Boot and TPM status, make sure you have 115 GB free on an SSD, install the Xbox PC app if you want precompiled shaders, and pick your storefront. Editions and bonuses differ by region, so check the official store pages for pricing.
FAQ
When does Modern Warfare 4 come out on PC?
October 23, 2026, on Steam, Battle.net and the Xbox PC app. Digital pre-purchasers can preload from October 15 and play the campaign early from October 16.
Will Modern Warfare 4 be on Game Pass?
No. Activision has confirmed it will not launch on Xbox Game Pass.
What are the Modern Warfare 4 PC requirements?
Minimum is a GTX 970 or 1060 or Radeon RX 470, 8 GB RAM and 115 GB on an SSD. Activision recommends an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6600 XT with 16 GB RAM for 90 FPS in multiplayer.
