Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 starts on Friday, November 6, 2026, exactly two weeks after the game launched on October 23. Activision has confirmed the date, and the Warzone side of the update is already detailed, but the season’s new Multiplayer and DMZ content has not been revealed yet.
Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 start time
Activision has not published the exact rollout time. Dot Esports expects the update at 10 a.m. PT if the publisher keeps its usual schedule. Treat these times as estimates until the official roadmap blog is posted.
| Region | Expected start (November 6) |
|---|---|
| US West (PT) | 10 a.m. |
| US Central (CT) | 12 p.m. |
| US East (ET) | 1 p.m. |
| UK (GMT) | 6 p.m. |
| Central Europe (CET) | 7 p.m. |
| India (IST) | 11:30 p.m. |
| Japan and Korea | 3 a.m., November 7 |
| Australia East (AEDT) | 5 a.m., November 7 |
What is confirmed for Season 1
The confirmed content so far is mostly for Warzone, which integrates Modern Warfare 4 with this update:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Hajin | New large Battle Royale map, also used as the DMZ map |
| Zodiac | Resurgence map, with visibility changes after beta feedback |
| Weapons | Modern Warfare 4 weapons added to Warzone, with balance changes |
| Equipment | Zipline Launcher and Grabber Drone |
| Movement | Tactical Sprint returns without needing a perk |
| Rotation | Verdansk and Rebirth Island stay available |
An Operator Skin Toggle that hides crossover and non-standard skins has also been confirmed, without a release date.
Before Season 1: Shipment and Halloween modes
The launch window is not empty while players wait. Activision has scheduled three drops between launch and Season 1:
| Date | Addition |
|---|---|
| October 27 | Shipment returns as a Multiplayer map |
| October 29 | Possession mode |
| October 30 | Infected mode |
Launch maps and modes
The game shipped with 12 core 6v6 maps: Silkworm, Lotus, Nautical, Reactor U92, Munition, Cachette, Mumbai, Transit 213, Lithium, Rooftops, Sentry and Coal. Ground War runs on Imjin Farmland, Wolves Stadium and Forest. Gunfight uses Cafe, Library, NYC and Smuggler. Kill Block, a training facility whose layout changes between rounds, hosts Gunfight in 3v3 and 10v10.
New modes at launch are Inflation, Hijack, Collateral and Combat Outpost, alongside the usual Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Free-for-All, Search and Destroy, Frontline and Gun Game. DMZ opened to all owners on October 23. Early access had started on October 20.
Platforms and Game Pass
The game is on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Battle.net and Xbox app) and Nintendo Switch 2. The standard edition costs $69.99 on Steam. It is a standalone release. According to Activision, it will not join Game Pass until Holiday 2027.
What we still expect
Recent Call of Duty seasons have come with a battle pass and new Multiplayer maps, but none of that is announced for Modern Warfare 4 yet. Activision normally publishes a full roadmap a few days before a season begins. Expect it in early November, and this page will be updated when it lands.
Looking for something to watch before then? Our 2026 esports calendar runs from Worlds to the PGL Major in Singapore.
Featured image: Official Modern Warfare 4 screenshot (Image: Activision via Steam).
