Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, but players can already jump into its single-player campaign through early access. Here is the M4W release date, launch time breakdown, and when Modern Warfare 4 is coming to Game Pass.

When Is the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Release Date?

The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 release date is Friday, October 23, 2026. The shooter is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. However, if you have seen players already making their way through the campaign, there is a reason for that.

Activision is splitting the launch into several stages, with digital preorder customers getting access to certain modes before the full release. The MW4 campaign is already available today as it went live on October 16, while DMZ early access begins on October 20. The full game follows on October 23.

That means you can finish the single-player story before jumping into multiplayer at launch! To make it easier to track, we’ve created an easy-to-read table below that shows when the Modern Warfare 4 release date is in every region:

MW4 Release Date and Time by Region

Region	Local date	Release time
United States / Canada (Pacific)	October 22	9:00 PM PDT
Mexico City	October 22	10:00 PM CST
United States / Canada (Eastern)	October 23	12:00 AM EDT
Brazil (São Paulo)	October 23	1:00 AM BRT
United Kingdom	October 23	5:00 AM BST
Central Europe (Germany / France)	October 23	6:00 AM CEST
South Africa	October 23	6:00 AM SAST
Finland	October 23	7:00 AM EEST
Saudi Arabia	October 23	7:00 AM AST
United Arab Emirates	October 23	8:00 AM GST
India	October 23	9:30 AM IST
China / Singapore	October 23	12:00 PM CST / SGT
Japan / South Korea	October 23	1:00 PM JST / KST
Australia (Perth)	October 23	12:00 PM AWST
Australia (Brisbane)	October 23	2:00 PM AEST
Australia (Adelaide)	October 23	2:30 PM ACDT
Australia (Sydney / Melbourne)	October 23	3:00 PM AEDT
New Zealand (Auckland)	October 23	5:00 PM NZDT

Will Modern Warfare 4 Be on Game Pass?

Yes, Modern Warfare 4 is coming to Game Pass, but it will not be available on the subscription service at launch. Activision has confirmed that MW4 will join Game Pass in Holiday 2027, although an exact release date has not been announced.

So, if you were hoping to play this year’s Call of Duty through your subscription, you will have to wait almost an entire year before it arrives on the Xbox service. Players who want to jump in at launch must purchase the game separately.

How to Get Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Early Access

To play the Modern Warfare 4 campaign early, you need to preorder or prepurchase any digital edition of the game. Campaign early access began on Friday, October 16, 2026, giving eligible players a week to experience the story before the official release date.

You do not need to purchase the more expensive Vault Edition to get the campaign head start. The Digital Standard Edition also includes early access. However, Activision lists this benefit specifically for digital purchases, so a physical preorder does not qualify.

There are two early access dates to keep track of:

Mode	Early access date	Requirement
Single-player campaign	October 16, 2026	Any digital preorder or prepurchase
DMZ	October 20, 2026	Any digital preorder or prepurchase

Both benefits are included with eligible digital editions. However, campaign early access does not unlock the entire game ahead of schedule, so you will still need to wait for the full launch to jump into standard multiplayer.

If you mainly want to experience the story, you can already start playing through a qualifying digital purchase. For everyone waiting on Modern Warfare 4’s Game Pass launch, the confirmed release window is Holiday 2027.

The post Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Release Date and Game Pass Explained appeared first on VICE.

With Xbox Game Pass offering a wide range of games, it’s easy to miss some of the fresh arrivals. Here are some action-packed offerings that hit the platform in recent weeks, including day-one additions and a prequel to a classic series. 

1. Echo Weaver

Included in Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass on PC as a day-one release on October 8, Echo Weaver offers a time loop to explore, reality-bending powers courtesy of an alien weapon, and a pizza-slinging cat. The player moves through the world as a Weaver, whose job is to break the time-loop cycle by piecing together puzzles from the past. Fortunately, the Weaver isn’t alone; other characters help them navigate this fractured world, offering information and hints. 

Along with knowledge, the player also has powers at their disposal, which are revealed during gameplay. The Weaver is fully aware of what it can do, but the player has to learn as they pick up tips and techniques as they progress. Echo Weaver is a 2D platformer where the player guides the Weaver across the screen as they explore the world and delve into the mystery they must solve to break the time loop once and for all. 

2. Neon Abyss 2 

Another October 8 release, Neon Abyss 2 is available on Game Pass Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass. As a sequel to Neon Abyss (2020), Neon Abyss 2 lets you dive deeper into the world of the Abyss, a brightly colored underworld that shifts like a kaleidoscope and constantly delivers new challenges, mini-games, and bosses. Neon Abyss 2 keeps the world as vibrant and fast-paced as ever, with the running-and-gun gameplay fans of the first game know and love still at their fingertips. 

The sequel also offers an exciting new addition. Players can now play with friends, with a co-op option available for up to four people. Friends can work together to defeat the waves of enemies flooding the dungeon, combining their unique combinations and combat styles to win the day. For those who prefer to dive into the Abyss solo, Neon Abyss 2 also includes the solo option from the first game. 

3. Gears of War: E-Day

Available on Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass on PC, Gears of War: E-Day serves as a prequel to the classic Gears of War franchise. Set fourteen years before the first game, E-Day introduces players to Marcus Fenix in his younger years, along with Dominic Santiago, just before his tragic story begins. The game also includes two brand-new characters, Mags Carter and Lucas Reyes. 

Like Neon Abyss 2, this game has co-op availability with up to four players. Gears of War: E-Day also offers a two-player split-screen option, so friends can play side by side, no matter where they are. And, of course, it also offers a single-player option, with any of the four main characters, Marcus, Dominic, Mags, and Lucas, available for action. 

The post 3 Recent Xbox Game Pass Additions You Might Have Missed (And Need to Play ASAP) appeared first on VICE.

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Battlefield 6 is coming to Xbox Game Pass on October 13, giving subscribers another major shooter to jump into. Here is when it joins the service, its estimated release times, and which subscription plans include it.

When Is Battlefield 6 Coming to Game Pass?

Battlefield 6 comes to Game Pass on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Xbox confirmed the date in its October lineup announcement, with the game available through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.

The announcement also confirms that subscribers will be able to play Battlefield 6 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud, so eligible subscribers have several ways to jump into the EA mutliplayer shooter.

Battlefield 6 Game Pass Release Time Estimates

Xbox has not announced an exact Game Pass unlock time for Battlefield 6. Although October 13 is confirmed, the announcement does not provide a specific hour or regional schedule.

However based on previous Game Pass releases, the table below uses an estimated release window of 12:00 AM to 8:00 AM Pacific Time, or 3:00 AM to 11:00 AM Eastern Time. This window is unconfirmed, and the game could become available outside it.

Here is how that estimated window converts to different regions:

Region / Time Zone	Estimated Release Window	Date
Pacific Time (PDT)	12:00 AM–8:00 AM	October 13
Eastern Time (EDT)	3:00 AM–11:00 AM	October 13
UTC	7:00 AM–3:00 PM	October 13
United Kingdom (BST)	8:00 AM–4:00 PM	October 13
Central Europe (CEST)	9:00 AM–5:00 PM	October 13
India (IST)	12:30 PM–8:30 PM	October 13
Japan (JST)	4:00 PM–12:00 AM	October 13–14
Sydney, Australia (AEDT)	6:00 PM–2:00 AM	October 13–14
Auckland, New Zealand (NZDT)	8:00 PM–4:00 AM	October 13–14

But again, these are estimated times, not an official regional release schedule. If you are planning to play as soon as it becomes available, check the game’s listing in the Game Pass library on October 13.

Which Game Pass Plans Include Battlefield 6?

Xbox lists the following subscriptions for Battlefield 6:

• Game Pass Ultimate
• PC Game Pass

Game Pass Premium and Essential are not listed for this addition. Make sure you have an eligible subscription before planning to download it through the service.

Xbox also highlights EA Play rewards, including the Deployment Pack and Season 5 EA Play Pack. Its announcement notes that EA Play is included with Game Pass Ultimate.

The post When Is Battlefield 6 Coming to Game Pass? Release Date and Estimated Times appeared first on VICE.

Xbox Game Pass just confirmed the full list for its October 2026 Wave 1 update and military FPS fans are getting a very exciting addition.

Battlefield 6 Comes To Xbox Game Pass on October 13

The next wave of Xbox Game Pass titles is starting to roll out and subscribers are going to get a chance to dive into one of the biggest surprise hits of late 2025. Battlefield 6 launched late last year to incredibly positive reviews and high ratings from players.

The game has been out for nearly a year at this point, but there’s still an active and lively community and a lot of new content to dive into.

“Jump into the definitive Battlefield experience with all-out warfare, fast-paced close-quarters combat, and tactical destruction in Battlefield 6. EA Play members can unlock the EA Play Deployment Pack, claim the Season 5 EA Play Pack, and earn recurring seasonal rewards. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get EA Play included, plus 10% off eligible EA digital purchases.”

The military first-person shooter arrives on Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers on October 13.

All Xbox Game Pass October 2026 Wave 1 Additions

Although Battlefield 6 is perhaps the biggest addition, it is not the only one. Xbox Game Pass is adding plenty of other titles from various genres for gamers to check out over the next few weeks.

Here’s the full list of everything to expect from Xbox Game Pass during the first few weeks of October 2026:

• Echo Weaver (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 8
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Forever Ago (Cloud, Console, and PC) – October 8
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Neon Abyss 2 (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 8
  • Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Battlefield 6 (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 13
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Deep Dish Dungeon (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 13
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Valor Mortis (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – October 13
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Bluey’s Happy Snaps (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – October 15
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Chained Beasts (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, and PC) – October 15
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Beyond These Stars (PC) – October 16
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Shape of Dreams (Cloud, XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – Available Now
  • Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Minecraft Dungeons II (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – Available Now
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Gears of War: E-Day (XBOX Series X|S, Handheld, PC, and Cloud) – Available Now
  • Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

That should be just about everything subscribers need to know about the upcoming wave of titles. Keep in mind that a handful of games, including Expedition 33, are also preparing to rotate off of the Xbox Game Pass library.

Be sure to check back soon for lots more Xbox Game Pass news and updates as this wave arrives.

The post Xbox Game Pass Is Adding One of 2025’s Biggest Hits This Month appeared first on VICE.