When is Call of Duty: Warzone updating to be integrated with Modern Warfare 4?
Officially, we don't have a date as yet. However, there are points of data we do have that can give us an educated guess.
Traditionally Warzone updates to the newest game when Season 1 launches, which is usually around three weeks in. The best guess at this time is early-November, given the final Black Ops 7 season is due to end on November 4.
Additionally, we know that Warzone will be shutting down on Xbox One and PS4 when the final Black Ops 7 season ends, as those platforms won't be getting Modern Warfare 4 or its Warzone integration.
So it stands to reason that the Warzone Modern Warfare 4 update will come as that season ends. Season 06 began on September 17, and based on the timer on the Battle Pass it looks to expire on November 4.
Note, this is all speculation right now. But we can see when the final Black Ops 7 season is going to end, but we won't know for sure until Activision confirms a date for the start of Season 1 in Modern Warfare 4.
What carries forward from Black Ops 7 into Modern Warfare 4 as far as Warzone goes?
Warzone is usually the exception when it comes to weapons, camos, and operators carrying forward, as even on the newer updates it continues to support legacy items as far back as Modern Warfare II.
Your 2XP tokens will carry forward, as these are attached to your account in the Call of Duty HQ app. Likewise, COD Points you have will also carry forward, but only on the same platform as they were purchased. You can't spend COD Points on PS5 that you bought via the Xbox Store, for example.
What this year's update looks like exactly hasn't yet been confirmed, but given past years, it's highly unlikely that weapons and their progress, along with unlocked camos, blueprints, and your operators, wouldn't be making the jump with you.
There are also camos to unlock for Modern Warfare 4 already available inside Black Ops 7. These will transfer across to the new game when it launches.
We did get an early look at the Modern Warfare 4 update to Warzone in the recent open beta, which showcased the new Zodiac Resurgence map.
Beyond this we don't really know a whole lot about how Warzone will look in a Modern Warfare 4 world, but there's still some time left yet to fill in the blanks.
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What items carry forward from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 to Modern Warfare 4?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is made by a completely different studio from Black Ops 7, as such, most items will not carry over into the new game. Your weapons and their progress, unlocked camos, blueprints, and operators will not be available in the new game.
The only exception is the Hunter Killer operator and the two universal camos that were made available in Black Ops 7 for players who pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4. Those will carry forward.
What will carry forward into Modern Warfare 4 are any unspent 2XP tokens and your COD Points currency so long as you're staying on the same platform. COD Points are linked to the platform you bought them on and can't be used to buy content via other stores.
Given that everyone will be starting Modern Warfare 4 from zero, now is a good time to stop using up any 2XP tokens you currently have on your account. They'll be far more beneficial giving you a boost in the new game if you're going to play it.
We don't yet know exactly what the Prestige system looks like in Modern Warfare 4, but there's going to be plenty of leveling to do, and those 2XP tokens will make life a lot speedier in the new game.
Do I get to keep my old weapons, operators, and blueprints in Warzone when Modern Warfare 4 launches?
The exception to carry forward is Warzone, where traditionally older weapons, their attached blueprints, and unlocked camos are still usable in the battle royale modes. Likewise, previously unlocked operators and their skins can also be used.
It's highly unlikely that Black Ops 7 items would be removed given that it's the most current game at this point, so you can still go ahead and unlock battle pass rewards or spend COD Points and use those items in Warzone when it migrates to Modern Warfare 4.
There's no confirmed date for this yet, but the current best guess is mid-November, when we expect the final Black Ops 7 season to end.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on all platforms on Friday, October 23, 2026. Players who pre-order the game digitally on any platform will have early access to play the campaign a week prior on Friday, October 16.
Modern Warfare 4 will not be on Xbox Game Pass at launch. Based on Microsoft's previous statements, it's not expected to join Game Pass until October 2027 at the earliest.
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When does the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access period start?
The early access period for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 begins on Friday, October 16, 2026.
The early access period is open to players on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox on PC, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch.
We've already had the Modern Warfare 4 beta weekends at the time of writing this post, so the next chance for anyone to play will be the early access period.
During this window, only the campaign will be playable. Anyone hoping to get a head start on the multiplayer camo grind will have to wait until the general release date.
The early access period does at least give players a chance to clear the campaign before full release. though, leaving the floor clear to jump right into multiplayer and DMZ.
How do I qualify for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 campaign early access?
There's only one way to get in on the campaign early access period for Modern Warfare 4, and that's by digitally pre-ordering the game before launch.
Pre-ordering a physical copy from a retailer such as Amazon won't get you in, as the discs won't be shipped until the general release date.
To play the campaign early, you'll need to pre-order from your chosen platform's store. Early access applies to both the standard edition and the upgraded Vault Edition.
When can I play multiplayer and DMZ on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
All other content in Modern Warfare 4, that is, the multiplayer mode and the returning DMZ, will be available a week later on Friday, October 23, 2026.
Additionally, Warzone will not be integrated with Modern Warfare 4 until some point after October 23. This is expected to take place with the launch of Season 1, which will come in the weeks after launch.
Current guesses put this around the November 12 timeframe, but Activision has not confirmed anything at this time.
It's also worth a reminder that unlike Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, Modern Warfare 4 will not be on Xbox Game Passat launch. The only way to play early is to pre-order. Modern Warfare 4 isn't currently expected in Game Pass until October 2027 at the earliest.
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I didn't actually get any kind of mojo back until the launch of Black Ops 6, helped in large part because of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, and the arrival of Call of Duty into Xbox Game Pass.
The back catalog has gradually joined, too, and going forward, it'll only be a back catalog since the new games won't join for a year. While I do fear for how that decision (among other things) will affect Modern Warfare 4 and its player count, subscribers still have a smorgasboard of older games to enjoy.
Black Ops Cold War is the latest addition, having joined Xbox Game Pass this week as I write this. So I installed it, because I can, and I spent an evening playing it. What a breath of fresh air. Having just completed, finally, the gruelling Singularity Mastery Camo on Black Ops 7 in the sweatiest lobbies of all time, Black Ops Cold War feels so good.
Importantly, it feels fun. As much as I may have played the last two Call of Duty games, I can't always say it's been fun. Maybe it's the 'no pressure' environment of not actually trying to do anything. Not chasing unlocks, filling battle passes, or completing challenges to get the new items that I apparently need, but never use. It feels low commitment, and it feels absolutely fantastic.
The slower pace of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is perfect for more casual players
The reduced movement makes us more casual players feel like we can compete! (Image credit: Windows Central)
I'll admit, I don't hate the movement in Black Ops 6 or Black Ops 7, but it is pretty outrageous. The term "movement demon" is one us less sweaty players fear, and every lobby in the current game seems to have multiple.
While there's a satisfaction to flying, sliding, and wall bouncing around the map, it feels like hard work, and it's hard work to play against. Black Ops Cold War has a slower pace; there's no wall bouncing, no Omnimovement, just a run and fairly basic slide. Being an average player that can kinda sorta aim decently well, I feel like I can actually compete.
Positioning, map knowledge, and tactics feel like they have more of an impact in Black Ops Cold War compared to Black Ops 7. In the current game the movement and the pace make it so, if you're capable, you can just fly around and rely on this to get you out of trouble. Or to make trouble for the opponents.
I played a bunch of objective modes in Black Ops Cold War, and every match felt like where I positioned myself mattered. Breaking into hardpoints took a measured approach and actually aiming, rather than just bouncing around. Even Nuketown doesn't feel like a miserable experience, and that's saying a lot.
The weapons look and feel good, and the camo grind is a different type of challenge
I think I prefer the way the camo grind was set up in the older games. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The gunplay in Black Ops Cold War is obviously different from the two most recent Black Ops titles, and I think it's better. It's closer to how Modern Warfare feels, which, traditionally, I wasn't much of a fan of.
Maybe it's old age, but I like it better this way.
To say it's from 2020, the weapons look great and still hold up today. The sound also feels better, like you're firing an actual weapon. It's loud.
Going back to an older Call of Duty also highlights the difference in the camo grind to what we've had the last couple of years. I don't think I'm bothering, but compared to the all headshots, then specials, then multikill challenges we've had to do in order in Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, I think this is still a better way.
Once a weapon is leveled high enough, you can progress multiple categories at the same time. You can get those Bloodthirsty medals alongside the long shots, headshots, and general eliminations, for example. I just finished doing the three Bloodthirsty's per weapon 30 times in Black Ops 7, and it's exhausting. Working on it earlier seems like it'd be better.
The overall aesthetic is really nice, too. I love the 80's theme, and while graphically the textures on some maps do definitely look old, some others look really good.
The BIG problem: Black Ops Cold War will eat up your PC or Xbox storage
You don't seem to have the option not to have the 4K texture pack on the PC Game Pass version, so it needs A LOT of storage space. (Image credit: Windows Central)
We're used to Call of Duty being a storage hog, but this is a game from 2020, detached from Warzone, and it's absolutely gigantic.
On Xbox you're looking at 158 GB (according to the store listing), and the "Windows Edition" on PC takes up a whopping 220 GB, including the high-res texture pack. A pack you seemingly on this version cannot play without.
That's more than the current Call of Duty launcher is taking up on my PC, and that at least also has Warzone installed. There's nothing we can do about it, and they're certainly not going to try and shrink down a six-year-old game, but you'll need a lot of space to be able to play it.
I'm at the point now where I think I'm mostly done with Black Ops 7. There's a couple of things I want to finish still, like the Endgame 100% since I've only got two challenges left, but a new game is coming soon.
While I'm feeling better about it after the beta than before, I'm still up in the air over whether it's going to be worth playing longer term.
But I haven't even touched the Campaign or Zombies in Black Ops Cold War yet, and I'm actively looking forward to playing the game again. Maybe this will be the Call of Duty to scratch the itch until Modern Warfare 4 comes out.
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is fast approaching now that the traditional yearly beta test is out of the way. Included for the first time this year was a look at the next iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale that ties in with a current year's game.
It's bittersweet for folks still on an Xbox One or a PS4, though, because they weren't able to try out the new Zodiac map, and they're never going to, either.
Modern Warfare 4 will be the first Call of Duty title to drop support for Xbox One and PS4, and along with it, Warzone. The announcement was made back in June, but for now, the game is still playable.
That's going to change fairly soon, though. Here's what's already happened, what's going to happen, and crucially, when we think the final shutdown will happen.
Why is Call of Duty: Warzone on Xbox One and PS4 being shut down?
Once the Black Ops 7 integration is over, Warzone is no more on last-gen consoles. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The simple answer is that Warzone is shutting down on Xbox One and PS4 because Modern Warfare 4 will not be on those platforms.
Despite Warzone being free-to-play without any requirement to own the latest Call of Duty game, crucially, it integrates with each year's new game.
As Modern Warfare 4 will be taking over from Black Ops 7, and it won't be supported on the last-gen consoles, Warzone will no longer be playable.
When do we think Call of Duty: Warzone is shutting down on Xbox One and PS4?
Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One family of consoles are affected. (Image credit: Windows Central)
"Call of Duty: Warzone on PlayStation 4 and XBOX One will be available to play through the end of Season 06 for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7."
Activision hasn't given an exact date yet, but we can make an educated guess based on how the new games have rolled out in previous years.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will release on Friday, October 23, 2026. The assumption may be that this is when the Warzone shutdown will happen, but it's not that straightforward.
Traditionally, the Warzone integration doesn't go live when the new game launches. It follows on when Season 1 of said new game begins.
In the case of Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, Season 1 began 20 days post-launch of the game, and this is when Warzone was updated with the new game's integration. In the case of Modern Warfare III, it was actually almost a week longer.
We expect Season 06 to begin on September 17, given it's both a Thursday and the date the Season 05 battle pass expires. Unlike the jump from Black Ops 6 to Black Ops 7, where there was a month without a seasonal update, it looks like this year's transition will leave us with content right to the very end.
This year isn't an in-house transition like the past two Treyarch releases. Given how long the seasons in Black Ops 7 usually are, we could be looking at Season 06 ending after Modern Warfare 4 launches.
This means Xbox One and PS4 players could have until around November 12 to keep playing Warzone. But we'll know for sure once Season 06 begins when we can expect it to end.
But it wouldn't be crazy to assume that Black Ops 7, the Season 06 content, Battle Pass, and Warzone that is linked to it all could remain live this long. It would be about 20 days after the Modern Warfare 4 launch, too.
Can I still get Call of Duty: Warzone on Xbox One and PS4?
You can still get Warzone if you played it before, but you can't buy anything. (Image credit: Windows Central)
For now, you can only play Warzone on Xbox One or PS4 if you have previously added it to your library.
No new downloads are being offered on either console, but if you're a past player, you can still reinstall it and play until the shutdown date.
The store is also disabled now, despite showing up in the launcher. You're unable to spend anymore money or redeem COD Points.
What happens to all the stuff I've bought in Call of Duty: Warzone on Xbox One and PS4?
The store is no longer accessible from Warzone on the Xbox One and PS4. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The in-game store has been closed for a while now, preventing players from spending real money via the Xbox One and PS4 versions.
But your purchases aren't disappearing. Because you have an Activision ID in order to play, all those purchases are tied to your account.
As such, if you log in on another platform at any time, you'll have everything there waiting for you.
I don't have an Xbox Series X|S, PS5, or gaming PC, so how can I keep playing Call of Duty: Warzone?
If you don't have hardware to keep playing natively, the cloud can help. (Image credit: Windows Central)
If you don't have more current hardware to move to or don't want to upgrade, you're all but out of options.
You do, however, have the ability to play Warzone via the cloud, either through Xbox Cloud Gaming or NVIDIA GeForce Now. The former, you can use on your Xbox One.
Is it the same experience? Not totally. The visuals and frame rate will certainly be an upgrade (especially on GeForce Now) but you do have to consider that you will have some additional latency concerns.
The game will be playing on a piece of hardware that's in someone else's building. While server latency in the game won't be too bad, you then have to stream the game to your own device. Cloud gaming has come a long way, though, and unless you're the absolute most competitive player, it might well be good enough.
The downside is that you're going to have to pay, even though NVIDIA does have a free tier. This one is limited to an hour's play, and you have no priority access, so if the servers are full, you'll be in a longer queue. And who wants to be chucked out in the final circle?
Likewise, you can't play Warzone via the cloud for free with Xbox Cloud Gaming, either. Ultimate gets you the best quality stream, but you can play via the cheaper Xbox Game Pass tiers, too.
So, that's where we're at. While Warzone has indeed been playable on Xbox One, it's hardly been the best experience. The Xbox One X still does OK, but being attached to the Xbox One generation it has to say goodbye, too.
But there's still probably a couple of months at least left to play from the time of writing this, so enjoy.
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The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta weekend was expected to come to a close this afternoon, but just as the shutdown clock ticked toward its final moments, the team from Infinity Ward took to social media to share that players would have a few more hours to unlock exclusive Beta rewards.
The Open Beta for Modern Warfare 4 will now end on September 1 at 10 PM PT. For those on the East Coast, that makes the final end time September 2 at 1 AM ET.
A little more time on the clock. We see you grinding out those Beta Rewards and camos, so we’re giving you some extra time.The #MW4 Open Beta is extended until 10 PM PT tonight.2XP + Double Weapon XP stay active until close.Enjoy!September 1, 2026
The Open Beta weekend served as a second chance for players to provide feedback to Infinity Ward and the dozen other studios (including Raven Software and Beenox) that support the annually released first-person shooter. The Beta offered players their first hands-on experience with a select few maps and modes — including the new dynamic map Kill Block, new modes Hijack and Inflation, and a hands-on first look at new Ground War gameplay — that will be a part of the Multiplayer package for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
The Beta also introduced players to the new Resurgence map — Zodiac — that will come to Call of Duty: Warzone with Season 1 of Modern Warfare 4's post-launch content.
In exchange for providing gameplay data, players could unlock special rewards to show their participation in the Beta. Beta rewards included unlocks for limited player emblems and weapon charms, though the most coveted rewards included the Beta Operator Skin unlocked at Level 20, a weapon blueprint unlocked at Level 30, and a secret hidden weapon camo that could only be unlocked by racking up 1500 player kills (not eliminations) during the Beta window.
You now have more time to work at unlocking the limited emblem, weapon blueprint, and Operator skin, as well as the hidden weapon camo in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's Open Beta. (Image credit: Activision)
Two opposing matchmaking systems have also been deployed with a variety of maps and modes. Modes with a modified Skill-Based Matchmaking (SBMM) algorithm have been pitted against the Open playlist popularized by Black Ops 7. The return of SBMM has led to some spirited debates as Infinity Ward maintains that player feedback indicates matches assembled with SBMM in place have better player retention and satisfaction.
Popular Call of Duty content creators and others from the community continue to argue that SBMM punishes players for doing well by putting them in more difficult lobbies.
Infinity Ward has made several adjustments to the multiplayer experience throughout the two live weekends of the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, making changes to weapon balancing and Time to Kill (TTK) in frequent patches. How Infinity Ward responds to feedback on SBMM ahead of the game's launch remains to be seen.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23 on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam, Battle.net, and Xbox on PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Players who preorder Modern Warfare 4 can jump into the game's campaign up to one week early, starting on October 16.
Players have barely got a taste of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has to offer, and the game is already breaking records. Preorder now to experience a brand-new, thrilling campaign, reworked multiplayer, and a new DMZ experience this October. Digital preorders unlock early access to the MW4 Campaign starting on October 16.View Deal
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I'm not going to go over too much old ground, but the tl;dr was that I expected not to enjoy this year's game at all based on past experience from the Modern Warfare reboot series.
But I am going to follow up after putting some hours in during said early access weekend on whether or not I was actually wrong. And yes, I was. Mostly. It's not perfect by any stretch, but from what I've seen so far, I am actually looking forward to playing this year's Call of Duty after all. But there's still some stuff I don't like.
The good about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
The atmosphere in what we've seen of the campaign so far is superb. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Everything I said previously I liked about Modern Warfare 4 still stands. Possibly more so having shifted from playing on console initially over to PC.
It's easily the best-looking Call of Duty game in recent memory, for starters. The Silkworm map, especially, looks absolutely glorious if you turn up the graphics settings a bit.
But it's the campaign I think that'll really benefit here. We've only had a single mission, Entrenched, to play so far, but the visual appeal is clear, and it's absolutely filled with atmosphere.
The most competitive players will always turn the graphics right down, but for the rest of us, it's nice to be playing a Call of Duty that actually looks like a modern game.
Silkworm is probably the best looking of the new maps so far. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The movement is also, I think, spot on. It doesn't feel as crazy fast as Black Ops 7; you can't jump up walls here, but it's fast enough. And it's only taken players a couple of days to figure out how to exploit it as best they can, be that positive or negative.
But combine the movement with the excellent gunplay, an aim assist that doesn't feel like it's doing all the work for you (at least in my opinion), and some solid weapons, and the core experience is very enjoyable.
I'm also a fan of the way Modern Warfare 4 handles its attachment unlocks. Once you get an attachment, it's automatically unlocked for all of the weapons you can use it on.
The Apex attachments you unlock when you reach max level are also an interesting addition. It's similar, I guess, to the prestige unlocks in Black Ops 7, except you don't lose an attachment slot to use them. They go on top of everything else.
The menu design is also excellent, and overall it's just a really solid player experience. Of particular note is more clarity on the server you're connected to, and I've been seeing low ping across the board.
The bad about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
I really don't like this map and would happily never play it again. (Image credit: Windows Central)
As good as the gameplay is, I'm not so much of a fan of the maps. There will be more at launch and in subsequent seasons, of course, but I don't think what they've given us in the first beta is the best way to show off this game.
If I have to play Transit 213 again, I'm going to lose my mind. It's another of those Call of Duty maps that are really small, where you're constantly on top of each other, and it falls into what I call the brainrot category.
Think Stakeout from Black Ops 6, Shipment from previous Modern Warfare games. It's not as bad as Shipment, but its only purpose in existing is for people to pad their stats and probably for camo unlocks. Otherwise it's horrible.
Silkworm, while looking amazing, isn't overly fun either. The middle lane is essentially a long open street, so you force yourself down the outer lanes, which both have lengthy open runs, too.
Rooftops feels like it should be a good map, with a mix of external and internal sections paired with elevation changes. But there's something about the way it plays right now that feels a little off.
I feel like Rooftops should be a good map, but it hasn't felt like it so far. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Of the debuting maps, Cachette is a decent challenge, I feel, and I enjoyed Lotus the most by far. Both feel like they play more into a properly competitive, tactical way of playing rather than just running full speed at the opponents.
The meta also has not and will not change (outside of Ranked Play at least) from UAV spam. They're so easy to get; you'll be spammed constantly with multiple UAVs, and since they give away your positions, you become easy pickings. It also forces you to buy into that meta or be on the backfoot, and I'd rather use my streaks a different way.
I'd love to see Infinity Ward change the UAV so it's harder to get, but I don't see that happening. Add in the Personal Radar Field Upgrade and you may as well just walk around with a glowing beacon on your head inviting your opponents to take you down.
There's also a healthy round of weapon balancing that needs to happen, and I'm sure it will, as it always does. Snipers are obviously strong, but they're way too strong right now and too easy to use. Spawns are also pretty bad right now, but Infinity Ward is already working on that ahead of the second weekend of the beta.
Overall, though, I'm a lot happier with Modern Warfare 4 than I expected to be. Lots would say the last two Black Ops games were bad, and that's their opinion they're entitled to, but I've really enjoyed Black Ops 7 in particular. I usually do when it's a Black Ops game.
But I've gone from trepidation and expecting not to play this year's game (in part thanks to GTA 6 looming) to back on board the Call of Duty train. It's a shame we're not getting to see DMZ in the beta, as that's the mode I'm most excited for, but I am curious to see how Warzone will be. At least we can try that out in the open beta, which begins on Friday, August 28.
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A promotional image from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 showing two soldiers in the door of a helicopter.
Consider me all aboard the Modern Warfare 4 train.
From the get go, as soon as I heard that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 would be this year's entry in Microsoft's biggest franchise, my head dropped.
Since Modern Warfare was rebooted, it's been my least favorite. Modern Warfare (2019) was OK, and I played it for a little while but lost interest quicker than in any previous Call of Duty. I barely touched the two that came after it.
I've always preferred Black Ops, and while the last two in that series haven't been perfect by any means, I've really enjoyed playing them. But I've now finally played Modern Warfare 4 for the first time as part of Call of Duty: NEXT, and I'm man enough to admit my initial trepidation may well have been way off base.
I'll preface this by saying I haven't seen much of the game so far. I'll be enjoying the full multiplayer experience, that campaign mission, and the new Warzone map for the first time during the beta like everyone else.
But what I have already experienced has given me hope, because two aspects in particular I was expecting not to enjoy have turned out to be far better than I anticipated: Movement and gunplay.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's movement feels good
Movement doesn't feel like Black Ops 7, but it's still fast and smooth. (Image credit: Windows Central)
I'm no "movement demon" on Black Ops 7, but I do enjoy the fast fluidity to it. I enjoy the pace of Call of Duty when it's flying along, and I appreciate that not everyone does. I don't enjoy slower-paced, more tactical shooters nearly as much.
I just want to run, gun, and then run and gun again. Have some fun.
Modern Warfare 4 is more grounded in that there's no wall jumping, but it still feels fluid. The pace isn't quite at Black Ops 7 level, but it's not slow. Sliding is smooth but doesn't feel ridiculous, and I think the best way I can describe the movement overall is that everything feels deliberate.
You don't feel like a superhero. You feel like you have some weight behind you, like you can't just use movement to get you out of a hole. You actually need to know what you're doing.
I like Modern Warfare 4's gunplay
So far the gunplay feels pretty satisfying. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Again, this is based on only a very brief playtest before the beta opens, but so far I like the gunplay a lot. The way the weapons move as you're running, the way they move when you're firing, and even the way the whole experience looks.
It's pretty satisfying.
Of course, I haven't yet experienced levelling up weapons, strapping on attachments, and such, but I do hope that we don't end up in a position, as we do every year, where there's a single meta that makes every weapon shoot like a laser beam with no recoil.
As it stands out of the gate, I like the recoil, and I like that you actually need to be able to aim a little to hit your shots. I'm not very good, but I like it.
It feels good hitting your shots, especially with a pistol. Call of Duty isn't realistic by any stretch, but Modern Warfare 4 so far seems to be headed in a better direction in this aspect than the last two Black Ops games.
Visually Modern Warfare 4 is the best Call of Duty in a while
Even the water looks pretty good on Modern Warfare 4 (Image credit: Windows Central)
Nobody plays Call of Duty because it's a particularly good-looking game, and those who indulge primarily in PvP action on PC always turn the graphics down anyway to get the extra frames. Console players can't do that, so there needs to be a balance.
I've played so far on the Xbox Series X, and I think Modern Warfare 4 looks pretty good. Certainly more like you'd expect a modern shooter to look.
Part of this, I do wonder, is it down to the decision to ditch last-gen consoles? I played Black Ops 7's beta last year on an Xbox One X, and it wasn't great. Visually it looked fine, close enough to the Xbox Series X, but the frame rate was awful. But I also felt like the last-gen consoles were holding back the visuals on the more modern systems.
Everything about the visuals on Modern Warfare 4 so far feels like an upgrade over Black Ops 7. The lighting is nice, textures are decent, and I think the weapons look fantastic. It's just generally all-around nice to look at.
Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 were OK, and I get that Modern Warfare has a whole different aesthetic, but it feels less 'fake' and altogether a more pleasing environment.
That's not to say that there isn't plenty more that needs to be experienced to decide whether Modern Warfare 4 is a "good game" or not. There's still the matchmaking experience, for example, that could make or break things, and plenty of other decisions that could affect the player experience.
But on the face of it, I'm prepared to admit my preconceptions were wrong that I'd immediately dislike this game. The fundamentals of it are a lot better than I expected.
Like everyone else, I'll be really getting to grips with Modern Warfare 4 during this weekend's early access beta. Things kick off today, Friday, August 21, at 9am Pacific for Call of Duty: NEXT, with access for everyone else with a code beginning at 11am Pacific.
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Early looks at Simon "Ghost" Riley from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 in his Nomad gear, available by purchasing the Vault Edition of the game.
At least with first impressions, I might have been wrong.
Update August 14, 3.45 pm ET: Activision has since put out a further update reminding PC players that they will need to have TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled on their PCs to play the Modern Warfare 4 beta. This is the current requirement for Black Ops 7, so it isn't new, but it's a reminder if you haven't been playing this year that without it you can't take part.
Mark your calendars, Call of Duty fans, because Infinity Ward and Activision have revealed the content of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's upcoming beta tests, set to commence over the following weekends.
These beta tests will feature sneak peeks at the game's multiplayer modes, the Battle Royal-like Warzone mode, and an exclusive single-player campaign mission.
Here are the full details on these beta tests and when you can expect to play them.
Its content will include an exclusive campaign mission called "Entrenched", several multiplayer maps, and several multiplayer game modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Inflation, Search & Destroy, 10v10 & 3v3, and Mobility Course.
On a side note, the first beta test begins on the same day as Activision's Call of Duty Next eventon August 21, 2026, which will showcase various gameplay aspects of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, such as 6v6 PVP, the first look at Zodiac, Kill Block gameplay, and much more while giving away free beta codes to players who tune in to the event.
New exclusive single player campaign mission for COD MW4 Beta drops next week. Weekend 2 brings Zodiac, a new warzone resurgence map. Let's go pic.twitter.com/rYif62bFw4August 14, 2026
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's second beta test will run from August 28, 2026, to September 1, 2026, and it will be open to the general public to play on the Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox on PC, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of the game.
It will include all the content of the first beta test, with the addition of the Warzone game mode, a new Warzone map, and several new Ground War maps.
So, if you need to get some practice with your aim and are hungry to play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 before the full version launches on October 23, 2026, for all the aforementioned platforms, these beta tests will be the perfect time to do it.
Travel the world to stop a global conflict in an epic single-player campaign, take risks destroying objectives behind enemy lines in tactical DMZ operations, and dominate your rivals in chaotic multiplayer modes in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
It's that time in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7's seasonal rotation for a Reloaded refresh, and once again the big deal for many is Zombies.
Black Ops 7 Zombies is reaching its narrative conclusion as the Rex Infernus map is open for business when Season 05 Reloaded goes live on August 20 at 9am Pacific.
"As reality stands on the cusp of destruction, the crew face their ultimate challenge. Cleanse the Shadowsmith places of power, find the Warden’s inner sanctum, and put an end to his loathsome existence."
As ever, completing the main quest will bring forth your rewards. If you get it done before Directed Mode launches, you'll get a unique Calling Card that will become unavailable when it does.
Other rewards include the "Bloodthorn" Wonder Weapon skin, calling cards, and 10,000 XP. Collect all the Intel to get another Calling Card and 10,000 XP.
Widow's Wine is also back, complete with new major and minor augments to research, and a new GobbleGum, "Fully Packed," will upgrade your weapon to Pack-a-Punch level 3. So that's definitely going to come in handy.
Two new Ultra-Rarity weapons are being added to the mystery box, too, with the TR2 marksman rifle and the Olympia shotgun joining the ranks of Zombies-based gambling.
It's bittersweet for Zombies players, as this is it. The last new full map content that we're going to see for some time. Modern Warfare 4 doesn't have a Zombies mode, so for now, that's all she wrote.
Naturally Season 05 Reloaded covers all aspects of the game, not just Zombies. The PvE extraction Endgame is about to reach the end of its free-to-play run, as it'll return to being a Black Ops 7-owned (and Game Pass) exclusive when Season 05 comes to a close.
During that time, though, the Burn Run Assignment will continue to appear across Avalon. Keep tabs on your map for the skull icon for a little Forza racing in Call of Duty action. The maximum combat rating you need for any of these is only 45, too, so they're pretty accessible.
Multiplayer will see a new pinball-themed Turbo Tilt map based on Nuketown history, complete with interactive bumpers and ramps. Freerun: Descent is getting a new course, and Cranked Moshpit is back if you like a bit of that.
As for Warzone, Loaded Resurgence will be coming back for another go around. It does also get some new gameplay features, though, with the Quickdrop Kit, which reduces redeploy time in Resurgence, and a Special Delivery Drone you can shoot down in all modes to earn yourself some weapon camos.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 05 Reloaded goes live on August 20 at 9am Pacific.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal trailers, showing characters, weapons, and maps.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 reveal trailers, showing characters, weapons, and maps.
The next premium Call of Duty release, Infinity Ward's upcoming Modern Warfare 4, is just a few months away from hitting consoles and PCs, and it's finally time for players to get a good look at the upcoming first-person shooter's multiplayer gameplay.
As it has with previous Call of Duty launches, Activision will show off Modern Warfare 4's multiplayer in detail during this year's Call of Duty NEXT showcase. COD NEXT is a fan-favorite event where many of the top Call of Duty players — from popular streamers to esports pros — go live to broadcast gameplay, dev commentary, and more across YouTube and Twitch.
Here's everything you need to know so you don't miss out on COD NEXT 2026.
When and where to watch Call of Duty NEXT 2026
Call of Duty NEXT 2026 is set to go live on August 21 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET. Players can tune in to the official Call of Duty channels to catch the live stream. Those who have preordered or have otherwise received an early access beta code can hop into the Modern Warfare 4 beta via the Call of Duty HQ immediately following the broadcast.
The Early Access Beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is only for players on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Xbox on PC, Steam, and Battle.net. Modern Warfare 4 will not release on last-gen consoles, but it will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time. Switch fans will have to wait until the open beta on August 28 to try out multiplayer.
Players have barely got a taste of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has to offer, and the game is already breaking records. Preorder now to experience a brand-new, thrilling campaign, reworked multiplayer, and a new DMZ experience this October. Digital preorders unlock early access to the MW4 Campaign starting on October 16.View Deal
What to expect from Call of Duty NEXT 2026
Official Call of Duty NEXT details remain scarce, even as the event draws nearer. Activision and Infinity Ward have been oddly tight-lipped on what players can expect to see during the showcase, but there have been some vague clues that the experience may be a bit different this year.
In previous years, Activision would pool together popular streamers, sports professionals, and more to show off gameplay. However, Xbox and Activision previously partnered with Fanatics Fest in July to spotlight the upcoming Kill Block map. Many of the popular streamers who typically participate in Call of Duty NEXT were present at the Fanatics Fest event for hands-on gameplay.
In an official blog post, the Call of Duty team calls COD NEXT 2026 a "global event featuring live gameplay, an in-depth briefing on the lineup of content coming to Modern Warfare 4's Multiplayer, developer insights, and new reveals ahead of the Beta."
The description is a bit vague, but the phrase "global event" has led many to speculate that this year's COD NEXT event will not feature the in-person gameplay event that has been a staple for the showcase. For the first time ever, the beta for this year's Call of Duty title will go live immediately following the COD NEXT broadcast — a welcome move that just might help the hype generated by the NEXT showcase carry over into the beta experience.
That move, however, may ultimately make it unfeasible to bring big-name gamers who might not want to miss streaming the beta during its early access period to an in-person event.
Infinity Ward has confirmed that it will showcase multiplayer during COD NEXT 2026, but the team has been surprisingly mum on Modern Warfare 4's third mode since the initial DMZ reveal. DMZ is not expected to be playable during the two beta weekends for Modern Warfare 4.
The Vault Edition for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 includes the base game — complete with the campaign, multiplayer, and access to DMZ — as well as additional content that includes the Hostile Alliance Operator Pack, Special Forces Operator Pack, Signature Weapon Collection, 1 Season of BlackCell, and a DMZ Deployment Bonus. Preordering also unlocks early access to the Open Beta ahead of the game's launch, and 1 week of early access to the Campaign.View Deal
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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta screenshots including operators in combat and upcoming weapons.
Call of Duty NEXT 2026 goes live August 21 at 9 AM PT/12 PM ET.
Xbox and Activision have broken with tradition and partnered with Fanatics Fest to show off one of the most innovative new maps heading to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 when it launches this October.
Multiplayer map reveals are typically reserved for the annual Call of Duty NEXT event, but a date for the celebration of all things Call of Duty has yet to be confirmed for 2026. Rather than waiting until closer to launch, Infinity Ward will give the public their first look at the new map, "Kill Block", during Fanatics Fest in New York City from July 16-19.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be playable for those who have purchased tickets to Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center in NYC, and a panel featuring Kevin Durant, Inde Navarrette, Infinity Ward Studio Co-Head Mark Grigsby, and Tyler Bahl will take the stage for an exclusive panel on Call of Duty in Culture on Saturday, July 18.
Players have barely got a taste of what Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has to offer and the game is already breaking records. Preorder now to experience a brand-new thrilling campaign, reworked multiplayer, and a new DMZ experience this October. Digital preorders unlock early access to the MW4 Campaign starting on October 16.View Deal
Get your first shot at Kill Block, the adaptive Multiplayer battleground, live at @FanaticsFest July 16-19 in NYC.Stay tapped in as we'll share more gameplay and details from the field. pic.twitter.com/d9daYaEAJlJuly 3, 2026
The original concept behind Kill Block was dreamed up by Multiplayer Creative Director Geoff Smith, who was inspired by the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid. The stadium is designed to have multiple arena floorings set on a rotating slab, allowing it to shift from a football stadium to a concert venue and back again while maintaining the various fields.
From concept to production, Kill Block eventually evolved into an adaptive training facility with a modular battleground that pieces together different slabs to create hundreds of unique map combinations. Designed to resemble a live-fire training environment, Kill Block is assembled from two end slabs with a central slab that pieces together map sections, both new and from iconic locations seen throughout Modern Warfare's rich history.
Infinity Ward shared an overview of how the engineering behind Kill Block works in a new blog post.
Engineering a dynamic map for Modern Warfare 4
An overhead view of the Killhouse slab for Kill Block. (Image credit: Activision)
While Call of Duty is a video game, the team at Infinity Ward takes great pride in the real-world inspiration beyond the pixels. It would be easy enough for the development team to shrug off the hows and whys of the mechanics powering Kill Block as "It's just a game" and hope that the players could suspend disbelief enough to enjoy themselves. But Infinity Ward doesn't work that way, and the team has taken the engineering behind Kill Block very seriously.
Kill Block, which is set within the West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility, is flanked along the perimeter by eight concrete towers that house the electronics, motors, and pulley systems that make the dynamic arena function. The map is functionally the size of the popular Shoot House map from Modern Warfare past, though its continuously evolving layout keeps things fresh with each new round.
The map's three slabs sit upon a network of rail-mounted wheel assemblies, known as 'bogies', that travel along tracks embedded above and below the training area. The map changes at the end of each round of Gunfight. When the active slab decouples from the others, it is lowered to a storage chamber beneath the arena for safekeeping. The motor then selects the new Slab and winches it into position before raising it to the surface. How's that for combat evolved, Halo?
A look at the Station slab for Kill Block. (Image credit: Activision)
Each slab effectively takes up one third of Kill Block's play space, and each one is completely self-contained while maintaining all the necessary openings to flow seamlessly into each other. While each team spawns on their respective endpoint, movement across all three slabs in the combo is unrestrained (and encouraged.)
Some slabs add more than just new buildings, trees, or other obstacles. Some are also fitted with military-grade weather simulation systems — introducing snow flurries, fog, and other conditions that affect not just the look of the map but also weapons.
Kill Block's slabs are a new way to experience old favorites
Infinity Ward's multiplayer team claims they have enough assets for 900 map combos in the upcoming dynamic Kill Block. However, only 500 are expected to be live when Modern Warfare 4 launches in October. (Image credit: Activision)
Call of Duty as a franchise struggles to walk a tight line between feeding into the nostalgia of its long-time player base while allowing the developers the creative freedom to create fresh and new experiences that might lure new players in. One way the development teams have sought to bridge that gap is with remastered variants of once-popular multiplayer maps.
But leaning into an influx of remasters leaves players looking for something new out in the cold. After 5 different variants of Shipment and Shoothouse, both the fans and the players can find themselves struggling with the threat of Call of Duty fatigue. Kill Block is an interesting solution to that problem, introducing both the chaotic gunplay of a small map without leaning exclusively into the tried-and-true favorites.
Infinity Ward's multiplayer team has claimed that there are enough assets readily available for Kill Block to support up to 900 combos total, though at launch, players can expect roughly 500 to be live. The following slabs can be expected in the Kill Block rotation at launch, though some names may be changed:
The Station, Highrise, and Cabin prefab buildings on Kill Block. (Image credit: Activision)
Ambush (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare): A central slab featuring a convoy-clogged main road with blown-out pre-fab buildings on either side, with plenty of sniping opportunities.
Blacksite (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and III): An end slab featuring three prefabricated structures with open access between each of them. Players will find a mud and grass thoroughfare, a rusted van, an open cargo container, and stacked military gabions.
Killhouse (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare): Gabions corner prefab walls with some small gaps for mantling, while a central kill box dots the middle of the map, and small scenic cover opportunities cover the edge of the end slab.
ME-Town: A central slab featuring a kill box dirt courtyard surrounded by prefabricated structures in each corner. Lots of interior and roof space for sniper nests. The main building is turquoise and features plenty of opportunities for close-quarter combat in its tight rooms and scramble points.
Snow Block: The fortifications of open cargo containers and concrete blocks offer unique overwatch opportunities to would-be snipers, but there's a limit to how much cover you can find on this end slab.
Trench: This central slab is a literal no-man's land of sunken mud walls and pill boxes with sandbags, tires, and wooden trusses that feel like they're going to collapse in on your squad without a moment's notice. This is a fraught middle ground with minimal cover, but good sight lines.
In addition to the confirmed Kill Block slabs, Infinity Ward also teased imagery showing off combos for the dynamic map featuring parts of Station, Shoot House, Woods, and Killhouse. Additional maps and supported modes for Kill Block are expected to be added to the game during Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's seasonal content drops post-launch.
Hands-on impressions of Kill Block
A group of three players move through a Kill Block slab. (Image credit: Activision)
Members of the press and content creators alike were invited to Infinity Ward's studio for an early hands-on preview of Kill Block in action. During the preview, we were able to play matches of 10v10 Gunfight on Kill Block. The match would begin with the player teams each infilling on their respective end slabs with a loadout that had been randomly assembled by the game.
Gunfight is a round-based, one-life per player core mode, and the first interactions with Kill Block were surprisingly intimidating. There's an urge to explore the undeniably creative design of Kill Block and to understand all the machinations behind it. But doing so certainly puts you at risk of other players who aren't so interested in the aesthetics willing to pick you off as an easy target.
When you do get over the desire to ooh-and-aww over what Infinity Ward has managed to create out of Kill Block and decide to focus on the game, you'll find yourself quickly flung into intense combat against enemy players. As a long-time fan of small map playlists that throw you immediately into the line of danger, I was excited to feel that rush of instant action from Kill Block.
Operators engage in combat on the Woods slab of Kill Block. (Image credit: Activision)
Infinity Ward's willingness to give fans of small maps something to sink their teeth into had interesting effects on the player base in Modern Warfare 2 (2022). There were considerable complaints on social media by players who felt the time between matches was too long in standard map playlists as players flocked to small map rotations in order to complete grindy camo challenges.
And yet, at the same time, there was a subset of players who love small maps so much they were even requesting Treyarch to introduce IW's beloved tiny map, Shipment, to the Black Ops series. (They didn't, but they did take a risk and go even smaller with the chaotic GRWM limited map during April Fools.)
Kill Block feels fresh and exciting and new, but it's serving multiple purposes for the split fan base that pines for nostalgic gameplay and laments continuous remasters simultaneously. Personally, Kill Block is one of my most anticipated new additions for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch 2 on October 23, 2026. Players who preorder the game will unlock early access to the Open Beta and up to one week of early access to the Modern Warfare 4 campaign starting on October 16. Modern Warfare 4 is the first Call of Duty title to skip last-gen consoles, and the game will also not be included in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions until Holiday 2027.
The Vault Edition for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 includes the base game — complete with the campaign, multiplayer, and access to DMZ — as well as additional content that includes the Hostile Alliance Operator Pack, Special Forces Operator Pack, Signature Weapon Collection, 1 Season of BlackCell, and a DMZ Deployment Bonus. Preordering also unlocks early access to the Open Beta ahead of the game's launch, and 1 week of early access to the Campaign.View Deal
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 introduces the new dynamic map, Kill Block, with rotating slabs that change the scenery of the arena every round.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 introduces the new dynamic map, Kill Block, with rotating slabs that change the scenery of the arena every round.
Only everyone who's ever tried playing the backward compatible versions on Xbox consoles in recent memory. Collectively, it's an "I told you so," because we knew it would happen.
The only difference is that the 'shiny new' ports on PlayStation seem to be getting some kind of active support from Activision. Because Black Ops has had some of its playlists deactivated while "issues" are investigated.
The issues are simple: hackers. You think Black Ops 7 has a bad rep for hackers? Without modern anticheat technologies, the old games are like the Wild West.
📢 Call of Duty: #BlackOps on PS4/PS5Select playlists have been disabled as we investigate reported issues.July 13, 2026
It's taken absolutely no time at all for the new ports to be compromised, which really does show just how lazy they are. We're not just talking about wallhacks, either, though those are bad enough.
Players are being inundated with lobbies packed with players running exploits. Some are instantly max prestige, everything unlocked, ridiculous statistics, and perhaps worst of all for legitimate players, it's been reported a "negative XP" hack is dropping players back to level 1.
I love both of these games, but from the get-go, I saw nothing but a quick cash grab, cashing in on player nostalgia for the old games we loved so much, especially in a year when the new Call of Duty hasn't had the best reception. But they're not 'new,' are they? They're just the same old games we've been able to play on Xbox all along.
I saw a question on Reddit where, potentially linked to the recent hype, an Xbox player was asking if it was worth them buying Black Ops 2. At full price, the only answer is no. If you want to enjoy multiplayer, I'd also say the answer is no. If you can get a cheap disc to enjoy the campaign and Zombies? Sure.
But props at least to Activision for seemingly offering support on these ports. How long it'll last and how far they'll go, I guess we'll find out. But it's more than we've seen on Xbox with the existing versions in a long time.
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Microsoft is removing Call of Duty from Game Pass at the absolute worst time with GTA 6 looming large, but it also shows the company still doesn't know what to do with its biggest gaming franchise.
An image of Call of Duty: Warzone overlayed with a person shrugging
Following Microsoft's acquisition of Call of Duty, this is what I imagine the plan is.
After 36 years of leading Call of Duty developer Raven Software, studio head Brian Raffel is leaving the company to "step into a well-earned retirement."
Raven Software studio head Brian Raffel.
Brian Raffel founded Raven Software with his brother Steve in 1990, and has led the studio for 36 years.
Treyarch aims to release Black Ops 7 campaign's Endgame mode for free as part of Call of Duty: Warzone with the Season 3 update on April 2. Free-to-play access to Endgame is only for a limited time.
Black Ops 7 Endgame Season 3
The Endgame mode from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is a 4-player PvE experience blending futuristic military combat against The Guild and horrific nightmare ghouls together on the Avalon map.
Connexion
