DMZ requires a purchase rather than a free download. It joins Campaign and Multiplayer as one of Modern Warfare 4’s three parts (there is no Zombies mode at launch). If you are new to the mode, see how DMZ works. Modern Warfare 4 is sold as a full-priced standalone title, so you must buy it to play DMZ at launch.
Modern Warfare 4 editions and DMZ access
You do not need a premium edition to get the mode. The Standard Edition already contains the full base game, so it contains all of DMZ. On Steam in the US, the Standard Edition costs $69.99 and the Vault Edition costs $99.99. Upgrading from Standard to Vault costs $30 (US suggested price).
| Edition | Format | Full DMZ | DMZ Early Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Digital | Yes | With pre-order or pre-purchase |
| Vault Edition | Digital | Yes, plus DMZ Deployment Bonus | With pre-order or pre-purchase |
| Standard Edition | Disc (PS5, Xbox Series X) | Yes | No, plays from 23 October |
The Vault Edition does not unlock DMZ itself. It adds cosmetics, one season of BlackCell, and the DMZ Deployment Bonus on top of the Digital Standard Edition and its pre-order bonuses. The bonus adds an extra Active Duty slot and a Deployment Kit:
- One extra Active Duty slot
- Two Weapon Insurance Contracts
- Two Operator Rescue Beacons
- Two Fulton Drop Markers
- Two Medium Backpacks
- Two 2-Plate Carriers
The Active Duty slot gives you room for one more operator; see how DMZ operators work.
DMZ Early Access needs a digital pre-order
DMZ Early Access begins on Tuesday 20 October 2026 (Pacific Time). The entire mode will be available before launch to anyone who pre-ordered or pre-purchased a digital Standard or Vault edition on any platform. No start hour has been officially announced, and the opening time may differ across time zones.
Campaign Early Access has followed the same rule since 16 October. Full launch arrives on Friday 23 October 2026, making DMZ available to all game owners from that date.
A disc copy doesn’t qualify for Early Access. Physical owners start DMZ on 23 October with everyone else.
DMZ is not on Game Pass at launch
Modern Warfare 4 launches as a standalone release that you buy separately, even if you subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate. The game is due to arrive on Game Pass in Holiday 2027. Until then, Game Pass Ultimate keeps the older games: Black Ops 7, Black Ops 6, and Modern Warfare III.
Xbox players can place a pre-order in the console’s Xbox Store, the Xbox app on PC, or the Microsoft Store.
DMZ platforms
DMZ comes with Modern Warfare 4 on these platforms, and crossplay squads are supported:
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S, with Xbox Play Anywhere so one purchase also covers Xbox on PC
- PC through Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox on PC
- Nintendo Switch 2
The game is not released on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
Requirements for playing DMZ online
Owning the game isn’t the last hurdle. DMZ is an online mode, so a few extra requirements apply:
- A continuous internet connection, because Modern Warfare 4 streams textures
- On console, a subscription to PlayStation Plus, Game Pass Essential, or Nintendo Switch Online
- On PC, enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
- An Activision account, which may need a linked mobile phone number
The online requirement also covers Multiplayer, including Private Matches. Accounts permanently banned in earlier Call of Duty titles, from Modern Warfare 2019 onward, may be blocked from the online modes.
What costs money inside DMZ
Owning Modern Warfare 4 gives you access to DMZ without an extra charge for the mode. COD Points are used to purchase the Battle Pass and in-game Bundles; the Season 1 Battle Pass becomes available when Season 1 starts.
DMZ Cash collected during matches is virtual currency, not real money. Spend it on weapons, attachments, Operator recovery, and intel.
