Infinity Ward is preparing a new release for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but also a full-fledged technological leap. For the first time in the franchise’s history, the new installment in the legendary shooter series will be released on PC (via Battle.net and Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. However, the developers have abandoned previous-generation support, leaving PS4 and Xbox One behind.
So far, the game’s marketing campaign hasn’t seemed aggressive in terms of pre-order incentives. Beta testing and cosmetic bonuses are the standard offering, some of which are hidden in the “Treasure Edition.” But as it turns out, that’s far from all the developers have in store.
Infinity Ward just confirmed that everyone who pre-orders will receive early access to the story campaign, regardless of version. Whether it’s a digital or physical copy is irrelevant. As early as October 16th, exactly one week before the official launch on October 23rd, players will be able to dive into the new story. No strings attached.
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Modern Warfare 4 Edition Review Prices and Bonuses
Activision has offered players a choice of two digital editions: the basic Standard Edition and the premium Vault Edition. The difference in price and content is significant, with some bonuses available immediately after purchase, even before the game’s release. Let’s find out what’s what.
Standard and Vault Edition Pricing on Battle net and Steam
The Standard Edition will cost $70, and €70-80 in Europe. This is the complete game with all modes: campaign, multiplayer, and the updated DMZ. The Vault Edition costs $100—almost a third more—but it also offers many more rewards. Incidentally, owners of previous Call of Duty games can expect a 10% discount when purchasing the premium edition. An interesting detail: pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will open a little later, so owners of the hybrid console will have to wait for now.
How to Get Early Access to the Campaign Starting October 16th?
Pre-ordering now is a great opportunity for several reasons:
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Early access to the open beta. Activision isn’t revealing exact dates yet, but the beta will definitely run before the release. Digital purchases won’t need codes—access is activated automatically. Owners of disc versions will receive a code from the retailer.
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Hunter Killer Operator Skin. This skin is available in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Warzone, and will also be available with the launch of Modern Warfare 4. Activation is limited: you must do so by October 23, 2027.
Vault Edition Contents and BlackCell Pass
The Vault Edition includes skins, as well as a whole host of exclusive content:
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Hostile Alliance Operator Pack. Four operators: Price, Valeria, Ghost, and Blix. Price and Valeria have masked and unmasked variants.
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Special Forces Operator Pack. Four more soldiers represent the special forces of Great Britain, Germany, France, and South Korea. Each speaks their own language.
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Signature Weapon Collection. Five exclusive weapon packs with the latest Apex attachments. These are not available in the regular version.
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BlackCell (Season 1). A complete Battle Pass for the first season with 20 instantly unlockable levels and 1,100 COD Points at launch.
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DMZ Deployment Bonus. Additional starting content for the Neutral Zone mode—the developers are keeping details under wraps for now.
Upgrade Terms and Discount for Owners of Previous Parts
If you purchased the Standard Edition but later want to upgrade to the Vault Edition, you can. Activision allows upgrades, but only within one platform—from Battle.net to Battle.net, from Steam to Steam, and so on. And yes, physical copies are not upgradeable.
