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Activision says Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch on PC with more than 800 customization options, PC-exclusive Enhanced FOV, ray tracing, multiple upscaling choices, and a new competitive mode called Collateral. Its recommended PC tier targets 90 FPS in Multiplayer on High settings, but that is the publisher’s target—not a guarantee for every computer. The game is scheduled to launch October 23, 2026; the features and specifications below are pre-launch announcements and may change.
What PC features has Activision announced?
In its September 29, 2026 announcement, Activision described more than 800 settings covering graphics, gameplay, input devices, interface, and other options. It also says the game can configure settings based on a PC’s hardware and supports 1080p, 1440p, 4K, standard, and ultrawide displays. These are announced capabilities, not hands-on findings.
Enhanced FOV and visibility controls
Enhanced FOV is the clearest PC-exclusive feature. Activision describes it as physically accurate lens effects that widen the view near the display edges while leaving center FOV unaffected. The announcement also lists HDR10+ adjustments based on screen brightness, a global sharpening slider, new shading and Filmic SMAA T2X settings, and improvements to reflections, shadow filtering, occlusion, and screen-space lighting.
Combat effects and depth of field
Planned combat-visibility features include dynamic masking of muzzle effects around the point of aim, separate depth-of-field settings for the world and weapons, and weapon bloom based on barrel position. Activision also says players may equip a laser attachment to help visualize shot trajectories.
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Ray tracing, upscaling, and PC diagnostics
Ray tracing is announced for Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ. The listed image-scaling and anti-aliasing options are AMD FSR Redstone, NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, Intel XeSS 3, and Filmic SMAA T2X. A built-in benchmark is planned to simulate a Multiplayer sequence and report average FPS, CPU and GPU activity, ping, and input latency, with zone-level breakdowns and setting suggestions.
Activision also describes Advanced Shader Delivery as providing precompiled shaders on supported PC platforms. The Xbox PC app is necessary only for players who want to use Advanced Shader Delivery on a supported system, according to the announcement.
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What PC specs do you need?
Activision’s support page lists these desktop PC tiers for launch. It says specifications may change, additional storage may be needed for mandatory updates, and laptop GPU models can differ from desktop versions and may not be supported.
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| Tier | Publisher’s target | Listed components |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Minimum specifications needed to play; no FPS target stated | Windows 10 64-bit; AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or Intel Core i5-6600; 8 GB RAM; AMD Radeon RX 470, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970/1060, or Intel Arc A580; 3 GB video memory; SSD with 115 GB available. |
| Recommended | 90 FPS in Multiplayer on High settings; this is Activision’s target, not an independently measured result or performance guarantee | Windows 11 64-bit; AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700; 16 GB RAM; AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, or Intel Arc B580; 8 GB video memory; SSD with 115 GB available. |
| Ray tracing | High-quality ray tracing at upscaled 4K | Windows 11 64-bit; AMD Ryzen 7 3700X or Intel Core i7-10700K; 32 GB RAM; AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti; 16 GB video memory; SSD with 115 GB available. |
Requirements beyond the tier table
The support page also specifies TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, broadband internet, and DirectX 12 compatibility. It currently supports Intel and AMD processors with AVX; Intel Arc graphics cards require Resizable BAR. These are Activision’s current launch-page statements, which may be updated.
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How to check your PC against the target you want
- Choose your goal. Use the minimum tier as the publisher’s baseline for playing, the recommended tier if you are aiming for its 90-FPS Multiplayer target on High, or the ray-tracing tier for its upscaled-4K ray-tracing target.
- Compare the whole system. Check the CPU, graphics card and video memory, system RAM, Windows version, and SSD free space—not just the GPU name. The listed 115 GB is available SSD space; mandatory updates may require more.
- Check security and graphics prerequisites. Confirm TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are enabled, that your processor supports AVX, and, if you use Intel Arc, that Resizable BAR is available and enabled.
- Match display features to your monitor. Ultrawide support and HDR-related features are announced, but Activision does not state that an ultrawide or HDR10+ display is required.
The GPU examples are parts of Activision’s listed tiers, not a recommendation to upgrade in advance. The announcement provides no independent test results showing how a particular combination of parts will perform.
What is the Collateral mode?
Collateral is presented as a new competitive Multiplayer mode for players who like Search and Destroy. Teams alternate between attacking and defending two bomb sites. Players begin with a pistol and earn in-game cash during rounds to purchase upgrades between rounds.
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- Eliminated players lose their loadout but retain the money they earned between rounds.
- Custom loadouts, respawns, killstreaks, and automatic health regeneration are disabled.
Activision says it will share more details closer to launch.
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When does the PC version launch, and where will it be available?
Activision’s official hub lists a worldwide October 23, 2026 release, with PC versions on Battle.net, Xbox on PC, and Steam. The PC announcement gives October 15 at 9 a.m. PT as the preload start for PC and says digital pre-purchasers receive Campaign early access beginning October 16. These dates are time-sensitive, so check the official pages for changes near release.
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- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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Activision describes the PC Standard Edition as a digital purchase or pre-purchase; its editions page lists physical editions for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 through select retailers. It also says texture streaming requires continuous internet for Multiplayer and DMZ.
Quick Recap
Official sources
- Activision’s PC features announcement
- Activision’s PC system requirements
- Official Call of Duty hub
- Xbox Wire release and platform announcement
- Activision’s editions information
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