Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Guides

Modern Warfare 4 System Requirements: Can Your PC Run It?

What Activision says your PC needs for Modern Warfare 4, the four checks that block a launch even with a good GPU, and when the PC preload opens.

PandaPlay TeamCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Guides
Updated 7 min read
Close-up of a Modern Warfare 4 operator in a black helmet, headset and clear glasses aiming a rifle, from the official PC trailer
On this page
  1. Modern Warfare 4 system requirements: minimum, recommended and ray tracing
  2. Can your PC run Modern Warfare 4? Four checks beyond the GPU
  3. Modern Warfare 4 PC preload date and early access
  4. Modern Warfare 4 drivers and shader setup before launch
  5. Modern Warfare 4 PC features: DLSS 4.5, FSR Redstone and ultrawide
  6. Modern Warfare 4 PC accounts and Double XP tokens
  7. Frequently asked questions
  8. Sources and update history

The Modern Warfare 4 system requirements start at a GTX 970 or RX 470, a Ryzen 5 1400 or Core i5-6600, 8 GB of RAM and 115 GB on an SSD. Every PC also needs TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot turned on. Activision’s recommended build for 90 FPS in multiplayer is an RTX 3060 Ti or RX 6600 XT with 16 GB of RAM.

The launch specification table, dates and PC feature details come from Activision’s Modern Warfare 4 PC blog of September 29, 2026. The TPM compatibility guidance further down comes from Activision Support. Activision notes that the specs are valid for launch and may be updated later. The game releases on October 23, 2026 on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox on PC.

MinimumRecommendedRay tracing
TargetTo play the game90 FPS in multiplayer on High settingsHigh quality ray tracing at 4K upscaled
OSWindows 10 64-bit (latest update)Windows 11 64-bit (latest update)Windows 11 64-bit (latest update)
CPUAMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700KAMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K
RAM8 GB16 GB32 GB
GPUNVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / 1060, AMD Radeon RX 470 or Intel Arc A580NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT or Intel Arc B580NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
Video memory3 GB8 GB16 GB
Storage115 GB, SSD required115 GB, SSD required115 GB, SSD required

All three tiers also need a broadband connection and DirectX 12. Activision adds that mandatory updates may need more storage space than the 115 GB install.

Activision's official Modern Warfare 4 PC Requirements chart with Minimum, Recommended and Ray Tracing columns for OS, CPU, RAM, GPU, VRAM, storage and security
Image: Activision, Modern Warfare 4 PC Trailer and Specs, September 29, 2026

Can your PC run Modern Warfare 4? Four checks beyond the GPU

A fast graphics card is not enough on its own. Activision lists four requirements that can stop the game from running on an otherwise capable PC.

Activision’s two official pages do not line up perfectly on the CPU. The PC requirements list a Ryzen 5 1400 or Core i5-6600 as the minimum. Its TPM and Secure Boot support article lists Intel 8th Gen or newer and AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer for TPM 2.0, plus Windows 10 version 22H2 or later. That article still refers to the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, so it may be updated for launch. If your PC has one of the older minimum CPUs, run Activision’s Secure Attestation Wizard from that page before you buy. It scans your PC and reports whether it meets the security requirements.

  1. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. Both are required to play on PC, as part of RICOCHET Anti-Cheat. Activision says other security measures may be enforced. The support article above has the setup steps.
  2. An SSD. Every tier says “SSD required”. A hard drive is not listed as an option.
  3. A CPU with AVX. Only Intel and AMD processors with the AVX instruction set are supported at this time.
  4. Resizable BAR on Intel Arc. Intel Arc GPUs need Resizable BAR enabled.

To see where your PC stands, the support article says to open tpm.msc in Windows. The Status box should say the TPM is ready for use, and Specification Version should read 2.0.

Windows TPM Management window with the Status box highlighted, reading The TPM is ready for use, and Specification Version 2.0 at the bottom
Image: Activision Support, Trusted Platform Module and Secure Boot article, checked October 6, 2026

Activision also says account security includes two-factor authentication and email verification.

MW4 Standard Edition Steam AccountMW4 Standard Edition Steam AccountA Steam account with Modern Warfare 4 Standard Edition. Check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on your PC before you buy.From $44.90View offer

Modern Warfare 4 PC preload date and early access

PC preloading starts on October 15, 2026 at 9 AM PT for players who pre-purchased digitally. The other time zones below are converted from that PT time.

EventDateTime
PC preload opensOctober 15, 20269 AM PT / 12 PM ET / 5 PM BST / 6 PM CEST (converted)
Campaign Early Access (digital pre-orders)October 16, 2026Not given in the PC blog
Full gameOctober 23, 2026Midnight local time

Activision’s footnote says actual play time is subject to possible outages and time zone differences. Console dates and regional launch details are in our Modern Warfare 4 release date guide.

Modern Warfare 4 operator in a hooded mask and tactical vest holding a rifle upright as a helicopter lifts off behind, the image Activision used for its PC preloading section
Image: Activision, PC Preloading section art, Modern Warfare 4 PC Trailer and Specs, September 29, 2026

Modern Warfare 4 drivers and shader setup before launch

Activision’s recommended graphics drivers at the time of the blog:

  • AMD: 26.7.1
  • NVIDIA: 616.56. An ASD-compatible driver is due before launch.
  • Intel: 32.0.101.8974

ASD is Advanced Shader Delivery, the new name for shader preloading. It delivers precompiled shaders at install and with live updates so the game launches faster. Activision recommends installing the Xbox PC app ahead of time whichever store you buy from, because ASD runs through it. The app is only needed if you want to use ASD.

Two other changes cut waiting. Updates no longer force a restart while the game is booting, though an update that goes live while you are in game still asks for one between matches. A built-in Benchmark Tool runs a simulated multiplayer sequence and reports average FPS, CPU, GPU, ping and input latency, with setting suggestions.

Modern Warfare 4 PC features: DLSS 4.5, FSR Redstone and ultrawide

  • Upscaling and frame generation: NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3 and Filmic SMAA T2X, with a sharpness slider that works with any upscaler.
  • Ray tracing: supported in Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ.
  • Displays: 1080p, 1440p, 4K and ultrawide, plus HDR10+.
  • Enhanced FOV: a PC-only option that widens the view near the screen edges without changing the centre.
  • Settings: more than 800 options, and the game automatically configures settings for your hardware.
  • Mouse: sub-frame mouse polling.

The same blog also introduces Collateral, a round-based multiplayer mode with a buy phase and no respawns. Our Modern Warfare 4 DMZ guide covers the extraction mode that ray tracing also supports.

Modern Warfare 4 PC accounts and Double XP tokens

If your PC passes the checks above, these are the Modern Warfare 4 items we have ready for launch. The accounts are Steam accounts with the game on them, not game keys.

Activision’s PC blog lists the Vault Edition extras as the Hostile Alliance and Special Forces Operator Packs, the Signature Weapon Collection, one season of BlackCell and a DMZ Deployment Bonus. Our Standard vs Vault Edition guide compares the two, and the Monster Energy rewards guide explains how Modern Warfare 4’s Double XP and Double Weapon XP tokens count down.

Frequently asked questions

What are the minimum requirements for Modern Warfare 4 on PC?

Windows 10 64-bit, a Ryzen 5 1400 or Core i5-6600, 8 GB of RAM, a GTX 970 / 1060, RX 470 or Arc A580 with 3 GB of video memory, and 115 GB on an SSD.

How big is Modern Warfare 4 on PC?

Activision lists 115 GB of storage for every tier and says updates may need more. The exact download size is Not confirmed.

Does Modern Warfare 4 need TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot?

Yes. Activision says both are required to play on PC. Its support article, which is still worded for the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, lists Intel 8th Gen or Ryzen 2000 series and newer for TPM 2.0, which is newer than the minimum CPUs in the requirements table.

When can I preload Modern Warfare 4 on PC?

From October 15, 2026 at 9 AM PT, if you pre-purchased digitally.

Can I install Modern Warfare 4 on a hard drive?

Activision’s requirements say “SSD required” at every tier and do not list a hard drive option.

Does Modern Warfare 4 run on Steam Deck?

Not confirmed. The PC blog does not mention Steam Deck or other handhelds.

Sources and update history

Update history: Published October 6, 2026. Facts last checked October 6, 2026 against the sources above.

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