MW4 DMZ early access starts October 20 at 10 AM PT: who can play and what's included

DMZ opens early. Players who pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 digitally can drop into Hajin on Tuesday, October 20 at 10 AM PT, three days before the full launch.

Updated October 18: Call of Duty has confirmed the start time (10 AM PT, worldwide), a required update on October 19, and that early access XP carries over.

The key dates

What	When
Campaign early access	Live now, until launch
Required DMZ update	By 9 AM PT, Monday, October 19
DMZ early access	10 AM PT, Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Full launch, worldwide	October 23, 2026
Shipment returns (Multiplayer)	October 27
Season 1	November 6, 2026

Start time in your time zone

DMZ goes live at the same moment everywhere: 10 AM PT on Tuesday, October 20.

Where	Local start time
Los Angeles (PT)	Tuesday, 10:00 AM
New York (ET)	Tuesday, 1:00 PM
London (BST)	Tuesday, 6:00 PM
Paris, Berlin (CEST)	Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Dubai (GST)	Tuesday, 9:00 PM
Tokyo (JST)	Wednesday, 2:00 AM
Sydney (AEDT)	Wednesday, 4:00 AM

Our countdown at the top of every page counts down to it in your own time.

Download the update first

A required update for DMZ early access will be available on all platforms by 9 AM PT on Monday, October 19. Install it the day before so you’re ready at 10 AM PT on Tuesday.

Your progress carries over

XP and Weapon XP earned in DMZ early access count toward your Modern Warfare 4 career progression and unlocks, including Weapon Camos. Nothing you level up in those three days is wasted.

Who can play

DMZ early access is for anyone who pre-ordered or pre-purchased a digital edition, on any platform, and it covers all of DMZ.

• Consoles: PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
• PC: Xbox on PC, Battle.net and Steam.
• Nintendo Switch 2: included in early access too.
• Not included: physical editions aren’t listed for early access. The game isn’t coming to PS4 or Xbox One, and it won’t be on Game Pass until Holiday 2027.

Pre-order bonuses

Every digital pre-order also gets the Hunter Killer Operator skin, the Gilded Pearl Camo Pack and the Inner Circuit M4 blueprint (an OG Green translucent version on Xbox consoles).

Campaign rewards you can use in DMZ

Finishing Campaign missions unlocks Base Operators Cho, Dallas, Luca, Oh-Ji, Kal, Dunn, West and Park, plus Double XP and Double Weapon XP Tokens. They are usable in DMZ at full launch.

The Vault Edition DMZ bonus

The Vault Edition, or the $30 upgrade from Digital Standard, adds a DMZ Deployment Bonus:

• +1 Active Duty slot, so one more Operator ready to deploy.
• A Vault Edition Deployment Kit with:
  • 2 × Weapon Insurance Contract
  • 2 × Operator Rescue Beacon
  • 2 × Fulton Drop Marker
  • 2 × Medium Backpack
  • 2 × 2-Plate Carrier (2-Plate Armor Vest)

Activision lists the Deployment Bonus as available at full launch on October 23. The Digital Standard Edition doesn’t include it.

What to do on day one

1. Read the basics. Our DMZ beginner guide explains what you keep and what you lose.
2. Start DMZ Orders. They are the quickest way to learn Hajin and unlock stations. See all Orders.
3. Learn your base. The FOB page shows which stations open at which DMZ Level.
4. Plan your first traits. Picks are permanent, so try the skill tree planner first.
5. Know your way out. The exfil guide covers every way out of Hajin.

We will keep this page updated through launch week.