Modern Warfare 4 sets Campaign Early Access for 16 October, DMZ for 20 October

Digital pre-orders for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will unlock the full campaign on 16 October, seven days before the game's scheduled launch on 23 October.

The date comes from Call of Duty, which lists Campaign Early Access for players who digitally pre-ordered or pre-purchased. Activision's support page states that any digital edition on any platform grants that campaign access, meaning the full story mode, not a trial.

DMZ follows close behind. Its Early Access period begins on 20 October, three days before launch. The wait is short.

Eligibility for DMZ is narrower. It applies to digital pre-orders or pre-purchases of the Standard Digital Edition or the Vault Edition. Access will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2.

The dates arrived alongside a new how-to guide. Published on 9 October 2026, the Forward Operating Base guide describes the FOB as the command centre for DMZ deployments, the hub where players prepare and then head out. Progression in DMZ will go to Level 70 during Early Access.

The guide is Part 2 of a DMZ Deep Dive series. Part 1, titled Tour of Duty – Hajin Environments and released on 5 October, focuses on the setting. Part 2, titled How to Play – Forward Operating Base, walks through the hub itself.

For background, the store listing places this year's campaign in trench warfare in Korea. That detail comes from the Call of Duty Store, which gives no launch-date context beyond the setting.

For players counting down, the calendar is now simple. Story first on 16 October. DMZ on 20 October. Everything together on 23 October.