Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Receives Positive Early Reviews Ahead of Launch
The campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is now available through early access for players who purchased the game digitally. Released on October 16, the single-player mode gives fans an opportunity to experience the story before the game's official launch on October 23, 2026.
The campaign features 16 missions set across several locations, with the story centered on a major conflict on the Korean Peninsula. Players follow South Korean soldier Park Hyun Jun and his squad as they attempt to survive a large-scale invasion, while Captain John Price pursues a separate investigation connected to the events unfolding around them.
The early access period also gives players time to complete the campaign and unlock rewards intended for use in other game modes.
A Story Told From Two Perspectives
One of the campaign's central storylines follows Park Hyun Jun, a South Korean soldier caught in the middle of a North Korean invasion. His missions focus on the struggle to hold defensive positions, protect his squad, and survive as the conflict spreads.
The campaign also follows Captain John Price, who operates outside conventional military structures while investigating the people responsible for the crisis. His pursuit introduces a second storyline involving covert operations, difficult alliances, and decisions that could have consequences far beyond the battlefield.
By moving between the two perspectives, the story connects the experiences of soldiers fighting on the front lines with a broader investigation into the forces driving the conflict.
The approach gives the campaign room to explore both large-scale military engagements and the personal stakes facing its main characters.
Early Player Reactions
Initial reactions to the campaign have been positive, with players highlighting its narrative, character performances, and cinematic presentation.
The early response also suggests that the single-player experience is an important part of the game's appeal, rather than simply an introduction to its multiplayer offerings.
On Steam, an early report from Windows Central recorded an 82% rating in the “Very Positive” category. That figure reflects the reception at the time of reporting and may change as more players complete the campaign and submit reviews.
Although the initial feedback is encouraging, it is too early to determine how the game will be received over the longer term. Broader assessments will also depend on technical performance, mission variety, and the content available after launch.
DMZ and Full Game Release
The release schedule separates the campaign's early access period from the arrival of the remaining content.
The campaign became available on October 16, while early access to DMZ is scheduled for October 20. The full release of Modern Warfare 4 is set for October 23.
According to the release information, eligible players who purchased the digital Standard Edition or Vault Edition can access the complete campaign ahead of launch. This is not a limited demo, but an opportunity to play through the story before the rest of the game becomes available.
Campaign progression also provides rewards intended for use in multiplayer and DMZ, allowing players to make progress before exploring the additional modes.
Players should check their platform's official store for eligibility requirements and the availability of specific bonuses.
What Comes Next for Modern Warfare 4?
With the full release approaching, attention is shifting toward the arrival of the additional modes and the broader community's response to the game.
The campaign offers an early look at the narrative direction of the latest installment, but the overall reception will also depend on the quality and stability of the complete package.
For now, early feedback points to a promising start for the single-player experience. More reviews and player impressions over the coming days should provide a clearer picture of the campaign's strengths and weaknesses, as well as how Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 compares with previous entries in the franchise.
Context
Modern Warfare 4 is the fourth game in the rebooted Modern Warfare series that began in 2019. Activision announced it on May 28, 2026, and it launches on October 23 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Battle.net and Steam) and Nintendo Switch 2.
Any digital pre-order or pre-purchase, Standard or Vault Edition, unlocked the full campaign on October 16 and DMZ on October 20. Physical pre-orders do not get early access. Unlike the last two Black Ops games, Modern Warfare 4 is not on Game Pass at launch: according to VICE, Activision has slotted it for the service in Holiday 2027.
The reception matters because the series is coming off a rough year on Steam: TweakTown puts last year's Black Ops 7 at "Mostly Negative", with around 37% positive user reviews.
What we know
- The campaign has 16 missions (GamesRadar+) and moves between Korea, New York, Paris and Mumbai (GameSpot).
- It follows South Korean Marine Park Hyun-Jun during a North Korean invasion, and Captain Price, now a rogue agent hunting Makarov, with Ghost and Gaz ordered to capture or kill Price. Mads Mikkelsen plays the antagonist, the Archer.
- The Steam user score has climbed during early access: 82% "Very Positive" on October 17 (Windows Central), 92% from more than 3,400 reviews on October 19 (TweakTown) and 94% on October 20 (GamesRadar+).
- Critics are cooler than players so far. GameSpot gave the campaign 7/10: it praised the pacing and the intertwined storylines, and criticized the short final boss fights and the lack of new ideas. Its playthrough took about eight hours.
- On PC, the game requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (Activision).
What we don't know yet
- How multiplayer and DMZ will be received: DMZ early access only started on October 20, and multiplayer opens with the full launch on October 23.
- Whether the Steam score holds once the game reaches players who did not pay for early access. Early buyers tend to be the most committed fans.
- The final review averages: several outlets still have their reviews in progress, and there is no Metacritic or OpenCritic score for the full game yet.
- How the Switch 2 version, developed by Digital Legends, performs, and the exact Game Pass date.
VICEVERSA's take
A 90%-plus Steam score for a Call of Duty campaign is unusual, but read it with care: early access is a self-selected audience of people who already paid. The real test is launch week, when multiplayer arrives and the wider player base starts reviewing.
For GTA 6 readers, the calendar is the story. Modern Warfare 4 arrives 27 days before GTA VI (November 19), and Activision chose to put its campaign in players' hands a week early. Strong word of mouth now gives it a head start before Rockstar's release takes over the month.
Mike Novinski Pagani, editor
