Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, the next big release in Activision’s long-running shooter franchise, is almost here. After a successful Early Access Beta in August and an open beta in September, the game’s multiplayer mode is just about ready for the full release on October 23.
Player count peaked at 115,145 concurrent players during the beta, so server demand is expected to be high at launch. If you don’t want to wait until launch day, there’s a trick you can try to access the game early. Here’s how it works.
When Will Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Unlock?
If you already preordered the digital version of Modern Warfare 4, you should already have access to the game’s campaign and the DMZ extraction mode. Multiplayer is due to unlock at midnight local time on October 23, 2026. Activision will use a staggered release, so players in certain regions will be able to access the game before others. You can still preorder the game digitally on Call of Duty’s website, Xbox, or PlayStation ahead of Friday’s release date to get early access to the campaign and DMZ mode.
Can You Really Play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s Early?
Don’t want to wait for your copy of the game to unlock multiplayer mode? You may be able to start playing 17 hours early on Xbox by changing the location of your Activision account to New Zealand, since the game will be released on Oct. 23 at 12 a.m. NZDT (7 a.m. EDT on Oct. 22).
Here’s how to change your Activision account time zone:
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Log in to your Activision account on the Call of Duty website
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Go to Profile
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Click on Basic Info
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Go to Edit Address to update your profile to a valid New Zealand address
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Save your changes
From there, you’ll update the time zone settings on your Xbox. To change your Xbox region settings to New Zealand, follow these steps:
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On your Xbox dashboard, go to Settings
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Scroll to System
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On the right side, select Language & Location
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Change your region to New Zealand
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Hit Restart Now to save your changes
If you’re playing on PlayStation 5, there’s an unproven method that starts with also updating your Activision account time zone. However, changing the time zone on your console is not as simple since your account is region-locked. To make this work, you’d have to create a separate account, likely using a virtual private network (VPN) that is set to New Zealand. You’d then have to purchase a copy of the game through the New Zealand PlayStation Store. This may require a payment method compatible with the region and might also cost you more after converting currencies. Even after all of this, there’s no guarantee it will actually work.
Is The Timezone Trick Worth the Effort?
Changing your time zone could get you early access to MW4, as it’s worked for other Call of Duty games in the past. If you’re playing on Xbox and it’s as easy as changing your Activision and Xbox account settings, it’s worth trying. But the complicated PlayStation method is not guaranteed to work and is probably not worth playing 17 hours earlier.
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How to Preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
While the beta has long since passed, you may still want to preorder Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to gain access to the game’s campaign and extraction modes. You can preorder the digital edition for Xbox, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch 2 (physical editions don’t include early access). For PC, preorders are available on Battle.net, Steam, or Xbox on PC.
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You can preorder from Amazon now:
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Can Your PC Run Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?
Yes, your PC should be able to run the latest Call of Duty as long as it meets certain requirements. Here’s what your PC should have and what developers recommend:
Minimum System Requirements (PC):
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1400, Intel: Intel Core i5-6600
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RAM: 8GB
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GPU: AMD Radeon RX 470, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / 1060, Intel Arc A580
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vRAM: 3GB
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Storage: 115GB available on SSD
Recommended System Requirements (PC):
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700
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RAM: 16GB
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GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, Intel Arc B580
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vRAM: 8GB
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Storage: 115GB available on SSD
About Our Expert
Jason Cohen
Senior Editor
Experience
As PCMag’s editor of how to content, I have to cover a wide variety of topics and also make our stories accessible to everyday users. Considering my history as a technical writer, copywriter, and all-around freelancer covering baseball, comics, and more at various outlets, I am used to making myself into an expert.
I believe tech corporations are bad, but you might as well know how to use technology in everyday life. Want more how to content delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the tips and tricks newsletter that I curate three times a week.
My job as how-to guru means I use just about every gadget under the sun, so I can figure out how everything works. I work from a Lenovo ThinkPad running Windows 11, but also have a very large Dell Inspiron 17 3000 and Apple silicon MacBook. I have a Google Pixel 6a for personal use and use a Galaxy Z Flip 4 for additional Samsung-related testing. For iOS coverage, an iPhone 13 mini works like a charm, though it’s already becoming a little long in the tooth.
My desktop situation includes a dual monitor setup with a modest Acer monitor. I also use a Logitech vertical mouse (who can use these ThinkPad trackpads) and a Havit keyboard (my first mechanical keyboard; I love it but my wife hates it!). I’m a recent convert from wired headphones; I have Anker Soundcore Liberty Air wireless earbuds for personal use and have taken to the Sennheiser HD 450BT headphones for work.
Whenever I have a second to myself, I’m probably gaming on my Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Xbox Series S. I also still have a bunch of classic consoles lying around as well.
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