MW4 Season 1 Release Date, Battle Pass, BlackCell and COD Points Guide

Modern Warfare 4 launched on October 23, and attention has already moved to its first season. This guide covers the Season 1 date, the difference between the Battle Pass and BlackCell, COD Points bundles, and where to buy CP on PS5, Xbox and PC.

This guide was checked on October 28, 2026 against Activision's edition details on Blizzard News, Infinity Ward's roadmap and coverage from outlets tracking the season schedule. Pricing and content details will be finalized when Activision publishes its Season 1 blog, and anything not yet official is marked as such below.

When Does Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Start?

Infinity Ward's roadmap, shared on October 14, puts Season 1 on Friday, November 6, 2026. Warzone integrates with Modern Warfare 4 on the same day, bringing MW4 weapons and progression into Warzone. No start time has been announced; past Call of Duty seasons have usually gone live in the morning Pacific time, but that is not confirmed for MW4.

Which platforms is Modern Warfare 4 on?

MW4 launched on October 23, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. The series has left PS4 and Xbox One behind, and the Switch 2 version is the first Call of Duty on a Nintendo console since 2013. If you are coming from the previous games, our Black Ops 6 movement and settings guide covers skills that still carry over.

Battle Pass vs BlackCell vs Vault Edition

There are three ways to unlock seasonal content. Which one makes sense depends on how much you play and how much you care about cosmetics.

When do Vault Edition owners get BlackCell?

According to Activision, the Vault Edition's BlackCell covers one season. Buying before or during Season 1 unlocks Season 1 BlackCell, while buying later unlocks the season that is live at the time. Access starts when the Season 1 Battle Pass goes live in-game.

What Are COD Points Used For?

COD Points (CP) are Call of Duty's premium currency. You use them for the Battle Pass, Operator and weapon bundles in the store, and tier skips. CP is shared between Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone on the same account, but it is tied to your platform: CP bought on PlayStation stays on PlayStation, and CP bought on Xbox stays on Xbox.

• Earning CP back: the paid Battle Pass awards COD Points at certain tiers. Activision has not said how much MW4's pass pays back; in recent games it came close to the pass price.
• Tier skips: useful if you are running out of time at the end of a season, but playing through the tiers is cheaper.
• Bundle sizes: common CP bundles are 500, 1,100, 2,400, 5,000, 9,500 and 13,000 CP, and bigger bundles usually include a higher share of bonus CP.

What to Expect in Season 1

Activision's Season 1 content announcement has not been published yet. Here is what is confirmed and what is expected:

• Confirmed: the November 6 start date, Warzone integration and a new Battle Pass.
• Confirmed: BlackCell and Vault Edition owners get Season 1 BlackCell access.
• Expected: new weapons, Operators, maps and modes, plus DMZ updates. New multiplayer maps usually arrive with Season 1, but no list has been announced.

DMZ fans looking for something to play between drops can check our ranking of the best extraction shooters in 2026, and if you also play EA's shooter, our Battlefield 6 pro tips are worth a read.

How to Prepare Before Season 1

• Level up your main weapons: progress made in MW4 carries into Warzone once the integration goes live.
• Clear daily and weekly challenges: pre-season challenges are an easy source of XP and rewards.
• Free up storage: seasonal updates are large, so make room on your console or PC ahead of time.
• Top up your balance: if you want the Battle Pass on day one, add funds or CP to your platform wallet beforehand.

Is the Battle Pass Worth It?

For players who log a few hours a week, the paid Battle Pass is usually good value, because the CP it pays back can cover much of next season's pass. If you only play occasionally, the free rewards are enough. BlackCell is only worth it if you care about Operators and cosmetics and plan to play throughout the season.

• Battle Pass is enough: you play regularly and want to earn CP back.
• Consider BlackCell: you want every cosmetic and a head start from tier skips.
• Stay free: you only play a few matches a month.

How to Buy COD Points on PS5, Xbox and PC

CP is always bought from the store of the platform you play on. Topping up in advance means you can grab the Battle Pass as soon as Season 1 goes live.

• Xbox: redeem a Call of Duty Points (Xbox) code directly on your Microsoft account, or add funds with an Xbox gift card.
• PS5: top up your wallet with a PlayStation gift card and buy CP in PlayStation Store.
• PC (Steam): add funds with a Steam wallet code and buy CP in the in-game store.

Playing with friends on other platforms? Our guide to the best cross-platform games covers how crossplay works across systems. Just remember that CP does not transfer between platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 start?

According to Infinity Ward's roadmap, Season 1 starts on November 6, 2026 in MW4 and Warzone at the same time. The start time has not been announced.

How many COD Points is the MW4 Battle Pass?

Activision has not announced the MW4 Battle Pass price yet. In recent Call of Duty games, the standard Battle Pass cost 1,100 COD Points.

What is included in BlackCell?

According to Activision, BlackCell includes the full Battle Pass, 20 tier skips, 1,100 COD Points and exclusive BlackCell content. It lasts for one season.

Do COD Points transfer between platforms?

No. COD Points stay on the platform account where you bought them, so CP bought on PlayStation cannot be used on Xbox or PC.

Do Warzone and MW4 share COD Points?

Yes. On the same account and platform, COD Points are shared between Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone.

Is Modern Warfare 4 on PS4 or Xbox One?

No. Modern Warfare 4 is only available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.