Modern Warfare 4 Season 1: release date and content

Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 launches on November 6 at midnight ET. It brings three new multiplayer maps, a new DMZ zone called X01, new weapons and full Warzone integration, while Halloween party modes start this week.

When does Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 start?

According to Activision's official Call of Duty blog, Season 1 goes live at 00:00 ET on November 6, which is 21:00 PT on November 5, across all platforms. For UK players that works out to 05:00 GMT on November 6.

New multiplayer maps

Three maps arrive at launch. Backstab is a war-torn town covered in snow, with abandoned tanks and long sightlines. Canyon is a sun-scorched valley hemmed in by towering rock walls, with a river, a cliff path and a cave in the north.

The third is a familiar name. Shoot House returns with Modern Warfare 4's new movement systems and is now set in North Korea during light snowfall, keeping its classic three-lane layout. At mid-season, Ministry and Overflow join along with other classified maps. Ministry is set around an embassy damaged at a peace summit, while Overflow centres on a factory and the farmland around it.

Kill Block, modes and events

Kill Block gets a featured Crash combo. All three slabs stay static and do not change between rounds. Infinity Ward picked them from the most popular combinations in the beta, and the combo is also added to other playlists, including Search and Destroy.

• Possession (October 29): eliminate an enemy to take over their body and loadout.
• Infected (October 30): survivors versus a growing horde of the infected.
• Grind: collect dog tags and bank them to score.
• Drop Zone: hold a rotating objective while airdrops deliver Killstreaks.
• Gauntlet 1v1: one-on-one duels in the Wager Match Event.

Counter Attack follows at mid-season. Your team has to detonate bombs at the enemy Comm Station while protecting your own.

Shipment and Infected details

Shipment has been live since October 27. This remaster moves the map to a Russian harbour between the water and concrete panel buildings, keeping its classic 6v6 layout. Activision suggests using it to level weapons before Season 1. In Infected, the infected start with the FSS Carbon Edge Combat Knife, a Throwing Knife and the Ninja perk, while survivors carry the Rezi 12 shotgun with explosive slugs, a Trip Wire and a Concussion Grenade.

DMZ heads into X01

The biggest DMZ addition is X01. Activision describes it as a former Russian facility on the edge of Hajin, now a black site held by North Korean forces. It has cargo bays, vehicle depots, underground labs, production lines and a sealed Deep Vault. Its maze of tunnels and shifting hazards calls for planning and squad coordination.

Ghost guides squads through X01 as the Watcher. Troops and specialists from the 100 Spirits faction patrol the area, and new DMZ Orders plus classified equipment are on the way. As the facility closes off extraction points, you will need to complete specific steps to escape.

New weapons and Warzone

The CSG-35 SMG and Cronen Osprey assault rifle arrive at launch. Later in the season come the JAK 12 shotgun and the ZLR Talonhawk melee weapon. In Warzone, two new maps, Hajin and Zodiac, join the returning Verdansk and Rebirth Island as Modern Warfare 4 becomes fully integrated with the free-to-play game.

Catch up with our Modern Warfare 4 launch guide, the first patch notes and the SBMM debate.

Frequently asked questions

When does Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 start?

Activision says Season 1 goes live at midnight ET on November 6 (9pm PT on November 5) on all platforms.

What new maps are in Season 1?

Multiplayer gets Backstab, Canyon and a reimagined Shoot House at launch, with Ministry, Overflow and more classified maps arriving at mid-season.

When will Warzone Season 1 details be revealed?

The Call of Duty blog will publish a separate post and roadmap for Warzone Season 1 on Monday, November 2.

Sources

• Call of Duty Blog: Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone Season 1