Activision has set October 20 as the early-access date for DMZ in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The extraction mode opens three days before the full game launches on October 23.
The offer applies to players who digitally preorder or prepurchase either the Standard Digital Edition or Vault Edition. Activision lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2 among the eligible platforms and storefronts.
Campaign access begins before DMZ
The rollout has three dates rather than one. Campaign early access starts Friday, October 16. Access to all of DMZ follows Tuesday, October 20. The full launch, including the regular multiplayer release, remains Friday, October 23.
That wording matters: October 20 is not the general release date, and Activision does not describe it as an open test. It is a preorder benefit attached to qualifying digital editions. Players using a physical copy or waiting to buy after launch should not assume the same window applies.
Early access includes the full DMZ mode
Activision says eligible players can enter all of DMZ on October 20. Its new guide describes the Forward Operating Base used between deployments, where players manage operators, loadouts, their stash, orders and longer-term upgrades.
Deployments can be attempted alone or with a squad. Players enter Hajin to pursue objectives and collect equipment, then try to extract with their rewards. Failing to leave can cost gear carried into the match. Those rules make the three-day window before the full launch useful preparation time, but they also give early players a chance to begin persistent progression sooner.
Check the purchased edition and storefront
Anyone planning around the earlier dates should verify the edition and account used for the purchase. The official notice names digital preorders and prepurchases, not every copy of the game. It also separates campaign access from DMZ access, so the October 16 campaign unlock does not mean DMZ is available that day.
The safest timetable is straightforward: campaign on October 16 for eligible buyers, DMZ on October 20 for the same qualifying digital editions, and the complete launch on October 23.
Sources
- Reporting source: IGN
- Primary source: Activision’s official DMZ guide
