A new conflict awaits players in Call of Duty! Developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a first-person shooter coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series and Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23, 2026. This latest installment in the Modern Warfare series follows Captain Price, now hunted by his former allies, amid military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Players can look forward to a single-player campaign, new multiplayer maps and an extraction mode.
Our review of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4:
Play time: 18 hours
Our editorial team had the chance to try out the game at launch. The Campaign mode begins in South Korea, with a squad ready to head out on a mission after a few shopping stops... But then North Korea launches an attack, and you must manage the crisis in real time. The result is a dynamic, fast-paced installment in which global conflicts have never felt more relevant.
Overall, the graphics are decent. The cutscenes are excellent, even if the in-game visuals sometimes fall a little short—particularly in details such as foliage when you’re lying on the ground. In the end, the game stands out as a very complete package, more so than other games in the genre.
Now, our tips:
A varied multiplayer experience that breaks the mold
Multiplayer is out of the ordinary and offers a range of different experiences. It’s easy to switch from more traditional, fast-paced 6v6 matches to huge war zones that evoke the spirit of Battlefield. We don’t have any particular tips, other than to practice to improve your shooting skills: in the arena, you need to be accurate, strategic and quick... and that takes practice, especially if you’re a beginner (like us).
Try DMZ mode, the game’s real standout feature
Don’t miss DMZ mode: it’s the biggest strength of this installment. Sitting somewhere between traditional multiplayer and a free-roaming mission, it offers slightly longer sessions in the vein of games like Helldivers 2 or Marathon. It’s a great way to play with friends or strangers alike.
A varied solo campaign that evolves as you play
The campaign is long enough to make an impression, with a wide variety of missions. The story starts out at a very linear, action-packed pace before shifting to a more open format. Following the plot from several different perspectives also gives the narrative a nice sense of momentum. Try out all the weapons available as you progress: you’ll get a sense of which ones to favor in multiplayer, and which ones you need to practice with to improve your shooting skills (you won’t always get to choose your weapon in multiplayer).
Vary your approach depending on the mission
Adapt your playstyle as the story unfolds: while the beginning is all about reflexes in tightly scripted action corridors, the later campaign missions give you much more freedom in the field to tackle objectives however you like.
Presented at the Tokyo Game Show 2026, the trailer for the campaign spotlights the two throughlines driving the story: the invasion of South Korea and the escape of John Price. Following General Shepherd’s death, the former head of Task Force 141 operates outside the military chain of command, and his methods provoke tension with Ghost and his old crew.
The video also highlights a threat tied to a weapon that a mysterious adversary, dubbed The Archer, is poised to seize. The footage alternates between military operations, firefights, and narrative scenes, set against the backdrop of a global crisis.
Here’s Activision’s official synopsis, in its French edition:
"War bursts onto the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that could shake the world. A young South Korean squad fights to survive on front lines buckling under pressure, while across the globe a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war in the shadows, always staying one step ahead of those who hunt him."
The narrative lets players assume the role of Soldier Park, a young South Korean serviceman facing his first combat. The campaign will take players to several cities, notably New York, Paris, and Mumbai, with missions ranging from trench battles to the SAS's nighttime raids. The various theaters of operation will be used to illustrate the consequences of a single global crisis.
The game sticks to the fundamentals of a first-person shooter, weaving together movement, gunplay, and military objectives. The campaign offers a varied slate of scenarios—from close-quarters gun battles to large-scale operations. It remains a scripted military FPS, with sequences that shift depending on the location and the characters you play.
In multiplayer, 12 new maps designed for six-on-six battles will be available at launch. Other, larger environments will host clashes that blend infantry and vehicle combat. Infinity Ward also places a premium on shooting accuracy and fluid movement, with mobility engineered to give players greater control during engagements.
The DMZ mode takes a different approach. Players are dropped in solo or as a squad into a dangerous zone to scavenge gear and extract with their equipment intact. Encounters with other players can lead to temporary alliances or clashes, while missions and progression evolve from one match to the next. The mode thus blends exploration, resource gathering and extraction, with the risk of losing the gear you’re carrying.
Two main editions are offered for preorder: the Standard Edition and the Vault Edition. The latter includes, among other things, operator outfits, weapon blueprints, cosmetic items, and BlackCell content for a season.
Digital pre-orders grant access to the full campaign as of October 16, 2026, a week ahead of the wider release. The official site also announces early access to DMZ mode starting October 20, subject to the terms of the offer.
On the development front, Beenox is helping optimize the PC version, distributed notably on Steam and Battle.net. The Nintendo Switch 2 version is being developed natively for the platform with Digital Legends. Activision has also confirmed that several other studios are involved in the production.
A few days from launch, one of the big questions now is how the game will balance its three core components. The release will help gauge how much emphasis is placed on the campaign compared with traditional multiplayer and DMZ, whose mechanics hinge on a notably different progression.
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