MW4 launches today: campaign wins 90% Steam approval as multiplayer opens

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (MW4) went on full release on Friday, October 23, 2026, at midnight local time, with its multiplayer mode opening alongside the story campaign that pre-order buyers have been playing since October 16. Early reaction to the campaign has been positive: it held a 90% positive rating from 1,996 player reviews on the PC store Steam, while professional critics gave mixed-to-good verdicts, with several saying their final scores will wait until the multiplayer modes can be tested.

Each new Call of Duty game is a major event for players, including many young people in India, because it decides where a large community spends its time and money for the following year. Early players and critics have praised the campaign's set pieces, pacing and cast, which gives the game a good start, at least among the fans who played first.

There is an important caution for readers deciding whether to buy. The 90% Steam score comes only from people who paid in advance to play early, who are usually the most enthusiastic fans. Critics have so far reviewed only the single-player campaign. For most players, the multiplayer and DMZ modes, which went live with the full launch, are where they will spend most of their hours, and those modes have not yet been fully reviewed. Several outlets have said they will publish final scores once they have tested the whole package.

The decision to keep the game out of Xbox Game Pass until late 2027 also matters for young players on a budget. Game Pass is a monthly subscription that gives access to a library of games. Because MW4 will not be on it until late 2027, players who want it now must buy it outright.

For young people, gaming is also increasingly a social and career space, through streaming, content creation and esports. Big launches like this one drive a wave of videos, live streams and tournaments, giving creators a moment to grow their audiences. The best approach for a buyer is to wait a few days for full reviews of the multiplayer modes, compare prices across platforms, and check that their device meets the game's requirements before paying.

Short-term: Large numbers of players are expected to log in over the launch weekend, and server performance and early multiplayer balance will shape the next round of reviews.

Long-term: The game's reception will influence how Activision approaches future Call of Duty releases, including pricing and the timing of subscription access.

Who is affected: Console and PC gamers, including young players in India; content creators and streamers; esports organisers; and retailers selling the game.

Questions and Answers