Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's campaign is now playable for players who pre-ordered the game digitally. Activision has confirmed the story runs across 16 missions set in the Korean Peninsula, Paris, New York and Mumbai, and early access lasts until the full game launches on October 23.
Key points
- Campaign Early Access began on Friday, October 16, 2026.
- It is open to players who digitally pre-ordered or pre-purchased the Standard Digital Edition or Vault Edition.
- The campaign has 16 missions, confirmed by the official Call of Duty blog.
- DMZ early access begins October 20, and the full game launches October 23.
- Dexerto estimates the campaign takes around 7 hours to finish.
Who can play early
According to the official Call of Duty blog, everyone who digitally pre-orders or pre-purchases Modern Warfare 4 can play the entire campaign before launch. The offer covers the Standard Digital Edition and the Vault Edition on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2.
Early access runs right up to the official launch on October 23. Activision says the full game releases at midnight local time. Campaign completion rewards will carry over to Multiplayer and DMZ when the full game launches. DMZ itself opens in early access on October 20.
The story
The campaign follows two storylines that eventually meet. According to Blizzard's announcement, players fight as Private Park Hyun Jun, a young South Korean soldier facing combat for the first time when North Korea launches a full-scale invasion.
The second storyline follows Captain Price, described by Activision as an "operator-turned-outlaw" working outside the system he once served. Polygon reports that Price's missions take place a few days earlier, as he hunts "The Archer," a Russian defence minister played by Mads Mikkelsen.
All 16 missions
Polygon lists the full campaign in order, with locations:
- Mayhem (Hajin City, South Korea)
- Out in the Cold (New York, USA)
- Following Orders (North Korea)
- Hired Gun (Paris, France)
- Losing Ground (Hajin City, South Korea)
- Traffic (Paris, France)
- Gone Dark (Mumbai, India)
- Assassins (North Korea)
- Survivors (North Korea)
- Stranded (North Korea)
- Defection (North Korea)
- Counter Attack (Hajin City, South Korea)
- Escape (North Korea)
- Entrenched (Hajin City, South Korea)
- Decapitation (North Korea)
- Greater Good (North Korea)
Polygon highlights a nightclub level in New York inspired by John Wick, a search for a North Korean defector in a remote village, a snowy open-area survival mission in "Stranded," and a race to stop a nuclear reactor from exploding. The first credits roll after "Decapitation," followed by a short final mission, "Greater Good."
How long is it?
Call of Duty campaigns are usually short, and this one is no exception. Dexerto estimates around 7 hours, compared with about 6 hours for Modern Warfare 2 and 5 for Modern Warfare 3. Playing on higher difficulty or hunting for collectibles and puzzle codes will take longer.
On PC
For PC players, Activision says the game targets 90 FPS at its recommended specs and supports ray tracing in the campaign, along with DLSS 4.5, FSR Redstone and XeSS 3 upscaling, according to the official PC blog. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required for its RICOCHET anti-cheat. See our separate guide to the best PC graphics settings for the campaign.
Why it matters
Early access lets fans finish the story before multiplayer launches, and the campaign's reception sets the tone for the whole release. With a returning Captain Price, a new Korean War setting and a well-known actor as the villain, Modern Warfare 4 is one of the biggest game launches of the year. Its first week will show whether the series' return to a more grounded war story pays off.
Sources
- Call of Duty Blog: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access now live
- Blizzard News: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access confirmed
- Polygon: All missions in the Modern Warfare 4 campaign
- Dexerto: All Modern Warfare 4 campaign missions and how long to beat
- Call of Duty Blog: Modern Warfare 4 PC trailer and tech details
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