Activision is testing Modern Warfare 4 on PS4 — and dropping it from day-one Game Pass
Call of Duty's next instalment — Modern Warfare 4 — is being tested on PS4 internally at Activision, according to CoD insider Alaix. That's notable because many fans expected MW4 to be the first entry in years to cut last-gen consoles loose entirely, freeing developers to push better graphics and more demanding tech on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
The PS4 and Xbox One launched in 2013. New hardware has been available for over six years, yet both platforms still carry a massive active player base — and Activision knows it. PS5 has surpassed 90 million units sold, but the old consoles haven't gone dark. A significant share of the annual CoD audience still plays on legacy hardware, and that's real revenue Activision isn't willing to walk away from.
The last-gen gamble
Testing on PS4 does not guarantee a PS4 release. Internal compatibility work is routine, and Activision hasn't confirmed anything. But the pattern is familiar: Black Ops 6, released in 2024, still shipped on PS4 and Xbox One, drawing complaints from fans that cross-gen obligations held back the overall game's ambition. MW4 following the same path would extend that criticism into 2026.
Hearing that MW4 is currently being playtested on PS4
— Alaix (@HeyImAlaix) May 3, 2026
xddd
The business logic is straightforward. Cutting off tens of millions of PS4 and Xbox One players means cutting off their wallets. For a franchise that drives billions in annual revenue, cross-gen development — however expensive — pencils out.
Game Pass, repriced and restricted
The other big shift comes from Microsoft. New Call of Duty titles will no longer land on Xbox Game Pass on day one, per Xbox Wire. MW4 won't arrive on Game Pass Ultimate until around Christmas 2027 — roughly a year after release. To soften the blow, Microsoft cut the price: Game Pass Ultimate now costs $22.99 a month, down from $29.99, and PC Game Pass drops to $13.99 from $16.49.
That's a meaningful change for players who've been getting CoD included in their subscription. Buying the game outright will be the only day-one option.
October vs November
MW4 is expected to launch in October 2026 — slightly earlier than CoD's usual autumn slot. The reason is almost certainly GTA VI, which Rockstar has officially confirmed for November 19, 2026. Activision is moving to clear the calendar rather than compete directly with Rockstar's blockbuster on the same weekend.
None of the above — PS4 support, the October date, the final Game Pass terms — is officially confirmed by Activision. But the pieces are falling into place fast.
