Many COD fans struggle to tell beta windows apart from early access and struggle to calculate local launch hours. Our guide reveals the official COD MW4 release date, worldwide time zone unlocks, platform differences, pre-order rewards, and beta timelines.

COD MW4 Timeline Overview

• Aug 21 - 25, 2026: COD MW4 Beta Weekend One (Early Access, pre-order only)

• Aug 26, 2026: COD MW4 Open Beta Preload Starts

• Aug 28 - Sep 1, 2026: COD MW4 Beta Weekend Two (Open Beta, all players)

• Oct 16, 2026: COD MW4 Campaign Early Access Launch

• Oct 23, 2026: Official COD MW4 Global Release

When Does COD MW4 Come Out - Check the Official Release Date

October 23, 2026 is the worldwide full launch date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Unlock times change depending on your local time zone and platform, including the popular COD MW4 PC version. PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Switch 2 players gain access to full multiplayer and all core game modes once the global launch triggers. Convert the global unlock time to your local schedule so you can play the moment COD MW4 goes live.

Check COD MW4 Global Launch Time Zones

COD MW4 unlocks globally on October 23, 2026 based on Pacific Time; PT players can play at 9 PM on October 22, and other regions calculate launch times from this schedule.

• Eastern Time (US): 12: 00 AM, October 23

• UK (GMT): 5: 00 AM, October 23

• Central Europe (CET): 6: 00 AM, October 23

• Japan (JST): 1: 00 PM, October 23

• Australia East (AEST): 2: 00 PM, October 23

• New Zealand (NZST): 5: 00 PM, October 23

Review COD MW4 Beta Test Schedule

The COD MW4 multiplayer beta is a pre-release test that lets players try out online multiplayer gameplay before the official COD MW4 release date. It had two test periods.

• Weekend One Early Access ran August 21 - 25 for pre-order buyers and code redeemers on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Nintendo Switch 2 was excluded from Weekend One. Digital pre-orders get beta access automatically, while physical pre-order buyers need a retailer beta code.

• Weekend Two Open Beta ran August 28 - September 1, open to all players on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. Open beta pre-load became available on August 26, and testers earned permanent cosmetic rewards for the full game.

COD MW4 Campaign Early Access Details & Eligibility

Digital pre-order buyers unlock campaign early access starting October 16, one week before the full global release. This perk applies to both Standard Digital Edition and Vault Edition owners. You need to pre-order either edition and use a valid Activision account. This early campaign access does not unlock full multiplayer until the official global release date, and benefits vary slightly by platform.

COD MW4 System Requirements: Can I Run It?

Check the COD MW4 system requirements and compare minimum and recommended hardware specs ahead of launch, and run a PC scan with Smart Game Booster to find out: can I run it? This simple Windows gaming tool verifies game compatibility, frees system resources, monitors hardware temperatures, and optimizes your PC to raise FPS.