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Activision Locks In Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 for Nov. 6 at Midnight ET; Warzone Intel Due Nov. 2

By MetaPatchAI Gaming · Published · Updated

Oct 30, 2026 — It's official: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 goes live at 12 a.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 6 (9 p.m. PT on Thursday, Nov. 5). Activision announced the timing in a Season 1 blog post published Wednesday, Oct. 28, which was mirrored on the official Call of Duty Steam page and on the PlayStation Blog. The post also confirms that a separate Warzone roadmap is coming Monday, Nov. 2, and that Halloween modes are rolling out this week before the season even starts.

This is a news update on the announcement. For our ongoing coverage of the season's content, see MetaPatchAI's existing MW4 Season 1 page.

The key dates

According to Activision's announcement:

Date What happens
Oct. 27 Shipment (remastered) added during preseason
Oct. 29 Possession mode arrives (preseason)
Oct. 30 Infected returns (preseason)
Nov. 2 (Mon.) Separate Call of Duty blog post and roadmap for Warzone Season 1
Nov. 6, 12 a.m. ET MW4 Season 1 goes live (9 p.m. PT, Nov. 5)
Mid-season "Season 1 Reloaded" maps and modes

That means today, Oct. 30, is the scheduled arrival day for Infected, one week before Season 1 itself.

What's arriving at launch

Activision lists three Multiplayer maps for day one: Backstab (new, snowy war-torn town), Canyon (new, rock walls and a river) and a reimagined Shoot House set in North Korea. Returning modes Grind and Drop Zone arrive at launch, along with Gauntlet 1v1 Gunfight through a Wager Match Event. A fixed Kill Block: Crash layout, chosen by Infinity Ward from popular MW4 Beta combinations, joins several Core Multiplayer playlists including Search and Destroy.

In DMZ, a new location, the X01 weapons facility, opens up via Hajin. Activision describes it as a former GRANIT Arms black site now held by North Korean forces, with tunnels, underground labs and a sealed Deep Vault. The post says the facility can close off extraction points, forcing squads to complete required steps to escape.

The Cronen Osprey Assault Rifle and CSG-35 SMG come through the Battle Pass, with the JAK 12 Shotgun and ZLR Talonhawk melee weapon later in the season.

The Battle Pass catch-up change

The most player-friendly news may be the Battle Pass. According to the PlayStation Blog version of the announcement, written by Activision, the Season 1 pass has a linear 100-tier track, and players who fall behind in the premium pass will be automatically caught up to the reward matching the current day of the season, up to day 50, which Activision says guarantees 50+ rewards for buyers.

Warzone integration

Activision says Season 1 brings two new Warzone maps, Hajin and Zodiac, plus the return of Verdansk and Rebirth Island, as MW4 becomes fully integrated with the free-to-play battle royale. Full Warzone details are promised in the Nov. 2 post.

What's confirmed / not confirmed

Confirmed (Activision, Oct. 28, 2026): - Season 1 start: 12 a.m. ET Nov. 6 / 9 p.m. PT Nov. 5. - Warzone Season 1 blog and roadmap scheduled for Monday, Nov. 2. - Preseason dates for Shipment (Oct. 27), Possession (Oct. 29) and Infected (Oct. 30). - Launch maps, DMZ's X01 location, Battle Pass weapons and the day-50 catch-up system.

Not confirmed: - Season 1 file size and patch notes; Activision had not published them in the posts we reviewed. - Exact date for Season 1 Reloaded and its "[CLASSIFIED]" maps. - Details on X01's new enemies, items and the FOB 3D Printer, which Activision lists as classified. - Whether the Nov. 6 start time is the same on every platform; the Steam post states the time "on Steam," and the PlayStation Blog gives the Nov. 6 date.

Sources

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