Modern Warfare 4 fixes Double XP drain for launch
Your Double XP timer will no longer run down while you sit in menus.
Infinity Ward said Double XP tokens, timed boosts that let players earn progress faster, will only count down while the player is actually in a match in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. Previously the clock kept ticking in lobbies or while searching for a game. That ate into the bonus. The fix was outlined alongside other post-beta updates GameSpot.
The studio set out its thinking in a 'The Road to Launch' video after beta testing. Developers talked through time-to-kill, how quickly a weapon downs an opponent, spawning algorithms, the logic that decides where players re-enter the map, and interface problems. It is direct feedback work. Short sessions should feel fairer.
Infinity Ward is now buffing submachine guns to shorten time-to-kill on outlier weapons. It is also adjusting perks, small bonuses tied to loadouts, and spawns ahead of launch Dot Esports. The changes aim to even out fights that beta players flagged as too slow or uneven.
There is also a change to how the game looks. Call of Duty will let players customise what they see by toggling off skins they do not want to see in Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale spin-off. The toggle is not supported for Modern Warfare 4 itself yet.
Modern Warfare 4 is due to launch on 23 October 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2 and PC. The release date was announced on 28 May 2026 Call of Duty. The same date applies across all four platforms.
It is a return and a break. It is the first Call of Duty release on a Nintendo platform since Call of Duty: Ghosts, released in 2013. It is also the first entry since Ghosts to skip PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, leaving the older consoles behind.
Matchmaking is getting two tracks. Activision said the beta will use a new "classic" matchmaking system, the behind-the-scenes software that fills lobbies, and that an Open matchmaking option will also be available GameSpot. The two options give players a choice in how strictly skill shapes their lobbies.
Nintendo players have a set route to buy. Pre-orders for Switch 2 were due to begin on 26 August, as announced on 20 July 2026. They are available at retail and through the Nintendo eShop, the company's digital storefront Call of Duty.
For players, this means less waste and fewer surprises. Saved XP time helps shorter sessions. Weapon tuning and spawn fixes address the usual beta complaints head on. Skin choice stays limited to Warzone for now.
