Updated: October 10, 2026. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on PC on October 23, 2026, and the official PC feature and requirements page already gives players a useful checklist before launch. The most practical takeaways are an SSD requirement, 115GB of listed storage, 16GB RAM for the recommended 90-FPS target, and 32GB RAM plus a higher-tier GPU for the listed 4K-upscaled ray-tracing target.

Launch timing and platform notes

Activision’s September 29, 2026 PC briefing lists October 23 as the full PC release date across Xbox on PC, Battle.net, and Steam. The same announcement lists PC preloading from October 15 at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time for eligible digital pre-purchases, and campaign early access from October 16 for eligible buyers. Dates and availability can change, so check the official Call of Duty page near launch.

The official briefing also describes more than 800 customization options across graphics, gameplay, input, and interface, plus support for 1080p, 1440p, 4K and ultrawide displays. That flexibility is useful, but it does not mean every setting can be maxed out on every GPU. Match settings to the target resolution and frame rate.

Official PC system requirements

The following values are transcribed from the official requirements page checked for this guide. Activision notes that specifications are valid for launch and may be updated, so revisit the official source before installing.

These are the game publisher’s listed targets, not a guarantee of identical performance on every PC. Cooling, laptop power limits, driver versions, background tasks, game updates, and the specific scene can change results. Also note the separate security requirements: the official page says TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required, and Intel Arc GPUs require Resizable BAR. It lists DirectX 12 compatibility and a broadband internet connection as additional requirements.

Storage, RAM and security checks

Storage: leave room beyond the listed size

The official page lists 115GB and requires an SSD. Keep additional free space for patches, shader data, temporary files, and other launch-day updates. Do not plan to fill a drive to its last gigabyte. If you need more capacity, compare compatible drives and your motherboard’s available M.2 or SATA connections before ordering.

Browse the SSD category and verify interface, capacity, physical size, and motherboard support. An SSD helps loading and responsiveness, but it does not replace a GPU or CPU upgrade when those components are the performance limit.

RAM: check capacity and configuration

The publisher lists 8GB as minimum, 16GB for its recommended 90-FPS target, and 32GB for the listed ray-tracing target. More RAM is not automatically a higher frame rate if the system is already comfortable, but running short of memory can trigger paging and inconsistent performance. Check both capacity and whether your memory configuration is supported by the motherboard and CPU.

TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot

Before launch, check Windows Security and your motherboard firmware settings rather than changing BIOS options at random. If either requirement appears disabled, look up the exact motherboard instructions and make sure you understand the current boot configuration before making changes. Back up important data and your recovery key before major firmware or security changes.

Resolution, upscaling and FPS

The official feature list includes NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3, and Filmic SMAA T2X. These are different image-processing approaches, and support depends on the GPU and game implementation. Upscaling can help a system render at a lower internal resolution and reconstruct the output, while frame generation can create additional displayed frames on supported configurations. Neither makes every setting free of cost or guarantees the same image quality.

• 1080p: A sensible starting point for players prioritizing high refresh rates on mainstream hardware.
• 1440p: A useful balance of detail and performance, but the GPU workload is higher than at 1080p.
• 4K upscaled with ray tracing: The publisher’s listed target calls for a higher-tier GPU, 32GB RAM and 16GB VRAM.

Use the built-in benchmark tool described by Activision to compare average FPS, CPU and GPU information, ping, and input latency. Run it more than once after drivers and updates are settled, and change one graphics setting at a time. A higher FPS average is useful, but frame-time consistency and responsiveness matter too.

A sensible upgrade plan

1. Compare your CPU, GPU, RAM, operating system and storage with the official table.
2. Check free SSD capacity and confirm the game is installed on an SSD.
3. Update drivers through the official vendor channel; avoid unofficial driver packs.
4. Confirm TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and any platform-specific requirements using your motherboard’s official instructions.
5. Wait for launch reviews and benchmarks if your PC sits near the minimum. Do not buy a new GPU solely because a game advertises a new upscaling feature.
6. If upgrading, verify power-supply capacity and connectors, case clearance, motherboard compatibility and warranty as a complete system.

For a component shortlist, compare the RTX 5060 category with the RTX 5070 Ti category, and consider your complete build rather than the GPU alone. The right choice depends on your monitor, desired settings, current local availability and total budget.

Frequently asked questions

Is an SSD required?

Yes. The official requirements page lists 115GB of storage and explicitly says an SSD is required. Keep extra free space for updates.

Will an RTX 5060 guarantee 90 FPS?

The publisher’s listed recommended GPU for its 90-FPS target is the RTX 3060 Ti, not the RTX 5060. That does not establish exact RTX 5060 performance; wait for independent benchmarks using the final game build and matching settings.

Do I need 32GB RAM?

The official list specifies 32GB for its ray-tracing target at 4K upscaled. Its recommended 90-FPS multiplayer target lists 16GB. Your other applications and actual workload also matter.

Can I use frame generation to fix high ping?

No. Frame generation affects displayed frames; it does not reduce internet latency or fix packet loss. Measure network performance separately.

Official source

• Call of Duty official PC feature and system requirements briefing, September 29, 2026