Activision sets October 2026 launch for Modern Warfare 4, ends legacy console support
The shooter arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Switch 2, while PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Warzone are retired in June 2026.
Activision has confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch on 23 October 2026, arriving nearly a month ahead of the expected release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Developed by Infinity Ward, the title will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and the Nintendo Switch 2. This release marks the first Call of Duty entry to appear on the Nintendo Switch 2, a move facilitated by a ten-year agreement between Microsoft and Nintendo as part of the broader Activision Blizzard acquisition process.
The game will not be released on legacy consoles, with support for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One winding down in June 2026. These platforms have received Call of Duty titles since the 2013 release of Call of Duty: Ghosts, but Activision is now shifting focus entirely to current-generation hardware. The narrative centres on a North Korean invasion of the South Korean Peninsula, featuring a squad of South Korean soldiers fighting on collapsing front lines while Captain Price wages an off-book mission from the shadows.
Activision stated that Modern Warfare 4 is built natively for current-generation consoles and PC, aiming to deliver greater scale, density, responsiveness, and consistency across every mode. For PC players, the publisher promised specific performance optimizations, multiple options for upscaling and frame generation, and extended graphics settings to accommodate high-end hardware configurations.
Concurrently, Activision is retiring Call of Duty: Warzone on older hardware. New downloads of the game on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will cease from 4 June 2026, with the in-game store removed on 25 June 2026. Warzone on these legacy platforms will become unplayable starting with Season 1 of Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone, which begins shortly after the October 23 launch.
This transition signals a definitive end to the multi-generational support strategy that has characterised the franchise for over a decade. By consolidating development resources on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and the upcoming Switch 2, Activision is aligning its flagship franchise with the next wave of console hardware while maintaining its commitment to Nintendo through its long-term licensing deal.
