MW4 Season 1: Release Date, Maps, and Everything New

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 is almost here, but MW4 Season 1 marks the beginning of the game’s first major content cycle. The update also brings the new Call of Duty into Warzone.

Season 1 launches on November 6, 2026, two weeks after MW4’s full release on October 23. Highlights include the first Battle Pass, the new Hajin and Zodiac maps, and major changes to the battle royale experience.

If you want to jump into MW4 Season 1 on day one, here’s everything confirmed so far, from the release schedule to Warzone changes and the features still awaiting an official announcement.

When Does MW4 Season 1 Start?

Infinity Ward has scheduled Season 1 for Friday, November 6, across both Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone. The date appeared in the roadmap released on October 14. An exact launch time has not been announced.

Until then, players can enjoy a preseason period featuring additional multiplayer maps and modes. The schedule separates launch content from the updates arriving over the following weeks.

Shipment, Possession, and Infected arrive before Season 1. They shouldn’t be confused with new maps or modes announced specifically for the Battle Pass season.

MW4 Season 1 Battle Pass and BlackCell: What’s Included?

MW4 Season 1 introduces the game’s first Battle Pass. Activision has announced more than 100 rewards, including weapons, blueprints, Operator skins, and COD Points. However, the complete reward list and standalone Battle Pass price have not been revealed.

Players who purchased the Vault Edition receive access to one season of BlackCell. For those who activate their edition before or during Season 1, the benefit applies to MW4’s first Battle Pass.

The package includes 20 tier skips and 1,100 COD Points, alongside BlackCell-specific content.

These benefits won’t be available when the base game launches on October 23. The Battle Pass, COD Points, and tier skips included with the Vault Edition become usable when Season 1 begins. The included BlackCell redemption applies to one season only.

Another major change is shared seasonal progression with Warzone. Players will be able to progress through the Battle Pass across connected titles.

MW4 weapons will also arrive in the battle royale with separate balance adjustments designed for Warzone.

Which Maps Are Coming to Warzone in Season 1?

MW4’s integration expands the Warzone map rotation. Hajin and Zodiac are the new maps confirmed by Activision. Meanwhile, Verdansk and Rebirth Island will remain available, according to details shared by Infinity Ward.

• Hajin and Verdansk: These are the two large-scale battle royale maps. Hajin makes its Warzone debut after serving as the setting for Modern Warfare 4’s DMZ mode.
• Zodiac and Rebirth Island: Both are part of the Resurgence experience. Zodiac is the new addition, while Rebirth Island stays in the rotation.

Vondel will not be available at the beginning of Season 1. According to Infinity Ward’s presentation, the map is scheduled to return in Season 2.

The announced map rotation doesn’t necessarily mean every mode and playlist will be active simultaneously. Players should check the launch announcements for details on playlist availability.

What’s Changing With Movement and Legacy Content?

One of the biggest gameplay changes is the return of Tactical Sprint to Warzone. It will be enabled by default, without requiring players to equip a perk.

Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer works differently. Tactical Sprint is tied to the Blood Rush perk, creating an important distinction between the two experiences.

Warzone is also adopting MW4’s more tactical movement direction, moving away from the omnimovement system used in the previous Call of Duty cycle.

Players coming from Black Ops 7 may need to rethink how they approach positioning, engagements, and movement during gunfights.

Another addition is an Operator skin visibility filter. When enabled, it lets players see other participants using MW4 Operators.

The setting is disabled by default and does not change the appearance of the Operator selected by the player.

Eligible Operators, skins, weapons, and blueprints from Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, and Black Ops 7 will remain available in Warzone.

However, legacy weapon camos will not carry over, following an official correction published by Activision.

Legacy weapons will also face restrictions in Gunsmith and custom loadouts. Under the announced system, they can be used through five-attachment versions available in the Armory or through existing blueprints, subject to Activision’s stated conditions.

Is Warzone Shutting Down on PS4 and Xbox One?

Yes. When Season 1 launches, Warzone will no longer be playable on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Players using those consoles will need to move to a supported platform, such as PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC, to continue playing.

Eligible progression and content can follow players who use the same linked Activision account. However, COD Points and certain purchases remain subject to platform-specific restrictions.

Before switching platforms, it’s worth checking transfer requirements and any remaining currency balance.

This change affects Warzone. It does not automatically mean that older Call of Duty games released for PS4 and Xbox One will stop working.

New Call of Duty Release: What to Play Before November 6

The full release of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 on October 23 already includes the campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ.

That gives players two weeks to learn the game’s systems before Season 1 begins.

The multiplayer launches with 12 core 6v6 maps: Cachette, Coal, Lithium, Lotus, Mumbai, Munition, Nautical, Reactor U92, Rooftops, Sentry, Silkworm, and Transit 213.

Kill Block is listed as an additional map, while Ground War features Wolves Stadium, Forest, and Imjin Farmland. Gunfight also includes four arenas designed for 2v2 matches.

The campaign features 16 missions, with conflicts taking place across the Korean Peninsula and Captain Price returning to the story.

DMZ uses Hajin as its extraction map. Since weapon progression is shared with multiplayer, spending time in both modes can help players unlock attachments before the Warzone integration.

How to Prepare for MW4 Season 1

• Level up your weapons: Use the preseason multiplayer and DMZ experience to test loadouts and unlock attachments.
• Learn Hajin: Explore routes, cover positions, and points of interest in DMZ before the map arrives in battle royale.
• Practice your movement: Remember that Tactical Sprint works differently in multiplayer and Warzone.
• Wait for Battle Pass details: Review the official rewards before spending COD Points or committing to a premium edition.

As of now, Activision has not released a complete list of new 6v6 maps, weapons, Operators, or DMZ additions specifically planned for Season 1. Those details are still awaiting official announcements.

MW4 Season 1: Get Your Connection Ready With ExitLag

In multiplayer and Warzone, high latency, unstable connections, and packet loss can interfere with how quickly your actions register.

These issues can be especially frustrating during gunfights or critical moments in a battle royale match.

On PC, ExitLag provides tools designed to optimize how data travels between your connection and game servers.

Real-time route optimization looks for more efficient network paths, while Multipath uses multiple routes to help improve connection stability.

Traffic Shaper helps prioritize gaming traffic over other network activities.

These features may reduce connection issues under certain conditions, but they don’t guarantee low ping, lag-free gameplay, or identical results for every player. Performance depends on your network, location, and the server you’re connecting to.

If you’re planning to play MW4 Season 1 on PC, explore ExitLag for Windows and evaluate your connection routes before dropping into Hajin, Zodiac, or multiplayer matches.

Got questions or want to connect with other players? Join the conversation at the ExitLag Forum!