Modern Warfare 4 for PC: Guide, Tips & System Requirements

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A masked soldier in camouflage gear holds a rifle in a burning city with helicopters overhead, beside the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 logo

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on PC. Click to open it full size.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a first-person shooter for PC from Infinity Ward, available on Steam, Battle.net and the Xbox app. You play a story campaign set during a North Korean invasion of South Korea, fight other players in Multiplayer, and loot and extract in DMZ. All three modes come in one purchase.

The campaign splits between two heroes. You fight as Private Park, a young South Korean soldier, and as Captain Price, now working outside the system he once served. The story moves from trenches in Korea to New York, Paris and Mumbai.

Its release date is October 23, 2026, on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo, published by Activision. Beenox built the PC version. It is a separate purchase: Activision said it is not on Game Pass at launch. On PC it needs TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot turned on, plus an SSD.

Already playing? Tell us your favorite map or your best DMZ extraction. Got questions before buying? Reach out to us directly.

What You Need to Know

  • On PC it is sold on Steam, Battle.net and in the Xbox app. It is not on the Epic Games Store.
  • It is not part of Game Pass at launch. Activision said it joins Game Pass in Holiday 2027.
  • TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required to play on PC.
  • Two editions: Standard and Vault Edition, with a paid upgrade from one to the other.
  • It has a paid Battle Pass, BlackCell and a store for COD Points (the in-game currency).

Quick Facts

A young South Korean soldier in a helmet and armor vest sits inside a dark military vehicle

Get the Game:

Steam logoBuy It on SteamXbox logoGet It on Xbox PC

Also sold on Battle.net. Not included with Game Pass at launch.

Price $69.99 Standard, $99.99 Vault Edition
Game Pass Not at launch (Holiday 2027, per Activision)
Released October 23, 2026
Developer Infinity Ward (PC version by Beenox)
Publisher Activision
Genre First-person shooter
Modes Campaign, Multiplayer, DMZ
PC Stores Steam, Battle.net, Xbox app
Also On PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo
Crossplay Yes
Storage 115 GB, SSD required

How to Download Modern Warfare 4 on Windows

You can buy it on Steam, Battle.net or in the Xbox app. These steps use Steam.

  • Step 1. Install Steam. Download it from the Steam website and sign in.
  • Step 2. Open the store page. Go to Modern Warfare 4 on Steam.
  • Step 3. Pick an edition. Add Standard or Vault Edition to your cart and finish checkout.
  • Step 4. Install it. Find it in your Library and click Install. Pick a drive on an SSD.
  • Step 5. Launch it and sign in. Link or create your Activision account when the game asks.

Prefer another store? In the Xbox app on PC, search for Modern Warfare 4 and buy it there. For Battle.net, install the Battle.net app, open the Call of Duty tab and buy it there. Steam, Battle.net and Xbox copies are separate purchases, so pick one store and stick with it.

Before you install: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

Activision requires both on PC as part of its RICOCHET anti-cheat. TPM 2.0 is a security chip, usually built into the processor on newer PCs. Secure Boot is a startup check that blocks untrusted software from loading before Windows. Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 to install, so most Windows 11 PCs already have it. To check TPM, press Windows + R, type tpm.msc and press Enter. To check Secure Boot, open System Information and look for Secure Boot State. If either is off, you turn it on in your PC's BIOS or UEFI settings. Activision's TPM page has the full steps.

Modern Warfare 4 Editions and Price

There are two editions on every PC store. Both include the full game: the campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ. The Vault Edition adds cosmetics and one season of BlackCell (a premium upgrade to the Battle Pass).

Standard
The full game

$69.99

  • The campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ
  • Upgrade to Vault later for $30
Vault Edition
The game plus extras

$99.99

  • Everything in Standard
  • BlackCell for one season
  • Hostile Alliance and Special Forces Operator Packs
  • Signature Weapon Collection and a DMZ Deployment Bonus

Prices are the US launch prices on Steam. Digital pre-orders also came with Campaign Early Access from October 16, 2026, DMZ Early Access from October 20, 2026, the Hunter Killer Operator Skin, the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack and the Inner Circuit Weapon Blueprint. Every edition sells optional extras each season, such as the Battle Pass and COD Points, and you never need them to play. On Game Pass, Activision said Modern Warfare 4 arrives in Holiday 2027. Until then, Game Pass Ultimate keeps the older games, including Black Ops 7.

What Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?

Modern Warfare 4 is the next main game in Infinity Ward's rebooted Modern Warfare series. North Korea launches a full invasion of South Korea, and a young squad of South Korean soldiers tries to hold the collapsing front line.

An operator in black gear vaults over a car on a street lined with Korean shop signs while another fighter fires nearby

Street fighting in Korea, from the Modern Warfare 4 campaign.

You play as Private Park, facing combat for the first time, and as Captain Price, who now runs his own off-book war while people hunt him. The missions cover trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters fights in New York, chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and assaults to take back occupied cities.

A gunman fires from the window of a speeding black car on a Paris street lined with stone buildings and a French flag

A car chase through Paris.

Multiplayer starts with 12 new 6v6 maps, plus large maps that mix vehicles and infantry. A new system Infinity Ward calls Ballistic Authority removes weapon bloom (random bullet spread), so shots go where your barrel points. DMZ is the extraction mode: you drop into the war zone of Hajin, solo or with a squad, grab loot and gear, fight AI enemies and other players, and try to get out alive.

Four masked and armed operators sit together inside a helicopter cabin before a mission

A squad heads out. DMZ deployments start from a transport helicopter.

Coming from the last game? Our Black Ops 7 guide covers the one before this, and Call of Duty: Warzone is the free battle royale that runs alongside it.

Official Trailer

Watch the official Modern Warfare 4 reveal trailer from Call of Duty to see the invasion of South Korea, Private Park's squad on the front line and Captain Price on the run.

Key Features

A war in Korea

A story told through Private Park on the front line and Captain Price in the shadows.

12 new 6v6 maps

Fresh maps at launch, plus large maps with vehicles.

DMZ in Hajin

Loot, fight and extract, solo or in a squad, with a base you upgrade.

No weapon bloom

Bullets follow your barrel, so aim matters more than luck.

Collateral mode

A new round-based bomb mode where you buy gear with cash between rounds.

Built for PC

More than 800 settings, DLSS 4.5, FSR Redstone, XeSS 3 and a benchmark tool.

Is This Game for You?

✓
You Will Love It If
Modern Warfare 4 is a good fit
✓
You want a grounded military story with Captain Price at the center.
✓
You like precise gunplay where aim matters more than random spread.
✓
You enjoy extraction shooters and want one with Call of Duty's gunplay.
✓
You play Search and Destroy and want a round-based mode with an economy.
✓
Your PC has TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, like most Windows 11 machines.
✕
You Might Not If
Think twice before buying
✕
You planned to play it through Game Pass. It is not included at launch.
✕
You cannot or will not turn on TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.
✕
You dislike seasonal Battle Passes and an in-game store.
✕
You mainly play Zombies. The modes Activision lists are the campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ.

Our Take

🎮 Our Take

Modern Warfare 4 makes two big bets, and both are good ones. Moving the story to a war in Korea gives the campaign a setting the series has not used, and splitting it between a raw recruit and an outlaw Price gives it two very different moods. Removing weapon bloom is the more important change for Multiplayer, because it rewards good aim instead of luck. DMZ is the part with the most to prove. Extraction shooters live or die by how fair and rewarding each run feels over months, not on day one.

If you play Call of Duty every year for Multiplayer, this is the game the player base moves to, so buy Standard. Only pick Vault Edition if you will actually use the season of BlackCell. If you mainly play through Game Pass, stay with Black Ops 7 for now, since Activision said Modern Warfare 4 does not join Game Pass until Holiday 2027.

System Requirements

These are the requirements Activision published for PC. The minimum spec is modest, but an SSD, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are not optional. Activision also lists a third tier for ray tracing at 4K.

Modern Warfare 4 PC Requirements
As published by Activision
Component Minimum Recommended Ray Tracing / 4K
OS Windows 10 64-bit (latest update) Windows 11 64-bit (latest update) Windows 11 64-bit (latest update)
Processor AMD Ryzen 5 1400 / Intel Core i5-6600 AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700K AMD Ryzen 7 3700X / Intel Core i7-10700K
Memory 8 GB RAM 16 GB RAM 32 GB RAM
Graphics AMD Radeon RX 470 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or 1060 / Intel Arc A580 AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti / Intel Arc B580 AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
Video Memory 3 GB 8 GB 16 GB
Storage 115 GB, SSD required 115 GB, SSD required 115 GB, SSD required
Security TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

Recommended targets 90 frames per second in Multiplayer on high settings. Seasonal updates add to the 115 GB. The processor must support AVX instructions, and Intel Arc cards need Resizable BAR turned on. Steam lists an RTX 3060 for Recommended, while Activision's PC spec page lists the RTX 3060 Ti. Thinking about an upgrade? Our Best Gaming Desktops guide is a good place to start.

Tips for Beginners

1

Check TPM and Secure Boot first

Do it before you pay. Without both, the game will not run on PC.

2

Install the Xbox PC app for faster startup

Even on Steam or Battle.net, it lets the game download precompiled shaders, so it starts faster.

3

Run the built-in benchmark

It tests your PC in a simulated match and suggests settings to change.

4

Try Enhanced FOV

This PC-only setting widens what you see at the edges of the screen without stretching the center.

5

Add a laser to learn your aim

With no bloom, a laser attachment shows exactly where your shots are going.

Modern Warfare 4 Screenshots

A squad in a misty forest, soldiers in the snow, French operators on a city street and a crowded neon alley at night. Click any image to open it full size.

Modern Warfare 4 FAQ

Is Modern Warfare 4 on Game Pass for PC?
No, not at launch. Activision said it is a separate purchase and joins Game Pass in Holiday 2027. Game Pass Ultimate includes the older games such as Black Ops 7.
Do I need the Xbox app if I buy Modern Warfare 4 on Steam?
No. The Steam version runs through Steam. Activision recommends installing the Xbox PC app anyway, because it lets the game download precompiled shaders so it starts faster, but it is optional.
Can I upgrade from Standard to Vault Edition later?
Yes. Steam sells a Vault Edition Upgrade for $30, and the other stores offer the same upgrade, so you can start with Standard and decide later.
Why does Modern Warfare 4 need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?
Activision uses them as part of its RICOCHET anti-cheat on PC. The game will not run without both. Most Windows 11 PCs have them on already, and you can turn them on in your BIOS or UEFI settings if not.
Does Modern Warfare 4 work with a controller on PC?
Yes. Steam lists full controller support, including Xbox and PlayStation controllers, and you can switch between a controller and mouse and keyboard.
What are the Modern Warfare 4 system requirements?
The minimum is 64-bit Windows 10, an AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600, 8 GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon RX 470, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or Intel Arc A580. Recommended is Windows 11, a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i7-8700K, 16 GB of RAM and a Radeon RX 6600 XT, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or Arc B580. Both need 115 GB on an SSD, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot.

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