Microsoft and Activision opened a standalone free trial for Modern Warfare 4 DMZ on November 6, giving console and PC players full access to the extraction shooter mode without buying the base game. The trial runs until November 11 at 10 a.m. PT, arriving in tandem with the regular Xbox Free Play Days weekend that features eight other titles including Payday 3, Anno 117, and Deceive Inc. While the full game sells for $70, this limited window lets squads download the complete DMZ experience to test its high-stakes survival missions [3].
Trial Dates for Modern Warfare 4 DMZ
Early access for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ started on October 20, 2026, before the full project officially arrived on October 23 for PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. The standard retail edition normally sells for $70 on digital storefronts. This free trial gives curious squads a five-day window to test extraction combat on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Battle.net, and Steam. Players who have avoided spending full price on the retail edition can jump into matches without paying an upfront entry fee before the trial concludes on November 11 [1].
The game mode drops teams into a large hostile environment where they complete contracts, scavenge high-tier gear, and fight toward an extraction point to secure their inventory. Dying during a match wipes out every item carried by that squad member. Squads must weigh the risk of staying for extra loot against the danger of losing everything in an ambush. Player feedback remains divided between those wanting a PvE-only alternative and those who prefer the tense PvPvE combat loop [1].
Early reviews for Modern Warfare 4 DMZ have stayed mostly positive among gaming outlets. Alex Huebner of Insider Gaming wrote that “DMZ Adds Extraction Shooter Action” to the broader series while giving newcomers a low-risk way to explore the map. The trial gives hesitant buyers a chance to see whether they enjoy the harsh inventory penalties before investing in the full release [1].
New DMZ Missions in Modern Warfare 4
Activision expanded the combat theater by introducing X01, an underground GRANIT Arms facility located beneath Hajin that was seized by Russian military forces. Squads dropping into this bunker must complete fresh DMZ Orders and finish Threat Assessments while fighting hostile defense forces [3]. The subterranean corridors force teams into close-quarters gunfights.
The underground complex ties into ongoing narrative arcs where a Modern Warfare 4 DMZ trailer revealed the Hajin nuclear threat and drew teams into high-value infiltration tasks. Players can also enter the Threat Briefing: Battle Tank event to destroy armored vehicles, collect armor fragments, and extract with bonus rewards [2].
Michael Harradence of PlayStation Universe detailed several major fixes that arrived with the Season 1 update to stabilize the mode. Developers patched item duplication bugs, refreshed Forward Operating Base vendor assembly requirements, and stopped the Apex .50 GS Magna pistol from vanishing out of player backpacks during Hajin deployments. The patch also fixed Sedative Inhalers that failed to activate while carrying knives, removed unused Hydrochloric Acid loot drops, and corrected enemy melee damage values based on their equipped weapons. Map adjustments stopped Colossus enemies from spawning prematurely at the Military Base, fixed overlapping RHIB boats along the Hajin Shoreline, lowered battery spawn rates inside Banks, and eliminated glitches where tanks bounced into the air after driving over Razor Wire equipment [2].
Season 1 Maps and Modes
Traditional multiplayer also received an overhaul as Infinity Ward details Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer for Season 1 with fresh battlegrounds and weapon additions. The update introduces Backstab, a 6v6 map set in a snow-covered town, and Canyon, which focuses on natural elevation and open sightlines. Longtime fans can also revisit Shoot House, which returns with its classic three-lane layout in a revised setting, plus Kill Block: Crash for fast-paced skirmishes [2].
Two popular game types returned to the active playlist: Grind, where teams collect and deposit Dog Tags to score points, and Drop Zone, which centers on rotating objective hills that yield Killstreak crates. Both weapons join the multiplayer armory as players unlock the Cronen Osprey assault rifle and the CSG-35. The update includes a 100-tier Battle Pass with day 50 catch-up rewards [2].
Console performance received an upgrade as Activision enabled “Performance Mode (120Hz)” on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for players using 120Hz displays, even without VRR support. Meanwhile, Activision launched detection measures against Warzone Agent, an unauthorized paid app used for lobby shopping to dodge competitive lobbies. Users who run the software receive a notification instructing them to close it, and refusing to close the tool blocks access to multiplayer modes while risking hardware bans [2].
Xbox Free Play Days Lineup
Microsoft expanded its weekend promotion beyond Call of Duty by offering six titles to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members from November 5 to November 8. Subscribers can download PAYDAY 3 by Starbreeze Entertainment to pull off cooperative bank heists in New York, with the base game discounted by 35% down to $19.49. Tactical card battler Nowhere Prophet from No More Robots is also playable and discounted by 70% to $7.49 [3].
The subscription lineup also includes Devolver Digital’s roguelite BALL x PIT, on sale for 50% off at $7.49, and Tripwire Interactive’s social stealth title Deceive Inc., cut by 90% to $1.99. Paradox Interactive added 4X fantasy builder Age of Wonders 4, which carries a 50% discount down to $24.99. Sci-fi space station survival game IXION from Kasedo Games rounds out the selection with a two-hour trial and a promotional price of $12.24 [3].
Players without any Game Pass subscription can access two separate titles under the Free Play Days For All banner from November 5 to November 8. Ubisoft made Anno 117: Pax Romana free to test, discounting its Gold Edition by 40% off its normal $59.99 price tag to showcase the Dawn of the Delta expansion in Aegyptus. All campaign progress saves if users decide to purchase the full strategy game later. Crime Boss: Rockay City from 505 Games is also free for all Xbox members, dropping by 75% to $4.99 with full access to its Urban Legends co-op mini-campaigns and turf war missions [3].
Installation Steps on Console and PC
Console owners can install the promotional games directly through the Subscriptions tab on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. Navigating to the Free Play Days collection brings up each available title for immediate download. Web users can sign in on Xbox.com to view product listings on the Microsoft Store [3].
All progression, unlocked achievements, and Gamerscore earned during Free Play Days carry over permanently if users decide to buy the full games. Discounts remain active through Sunday evening. Microsoft noted that exact percentage cuts and regional store availability may vary by country [3].
While the other Free Play Days titles leave the rotation on Sunday evening, the Modern Warfare 4 DMZ trial stays live until Wednesday, November 11 at 10 a.m. PT. PC and PlayStation users can download the trial directly through Steam, Battle.net, and the PlayStation Store. The extended schedule gives squads several extra days to run missions in X01 and evaluate the shooter before making a purchase [1].
- ONLINE NEWS Huebner, A. (2026, November 6). Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ Gets Free Trial on All Platforms. Insider Gaming. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Harradence, M. (2026, November 6). Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Adds 4 New Maps, Grind Mode, New Weapons & More – Full Patch Notes Listed. PlayStation Universe. [Article Link]
- WEBSITE Xbox Wire. (2026, November 5). Free Play Days – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – DMZ, PAYDAY 3, Anno 117, BALL x PIT, Deceive Inc, Age of Wonders 4, and More. Xbox Wire. [Article Link]
