Modern Warfare 4 Campaign Defies Pre-Launch Skepticism with Record Steam Ratings

Key points

• Modern Warfare 4's campaign early access launched on October 16 for pre-order customers, achieving a 'Very Positive' Steam rating of 92% from over 3,100 reviews.
• This rating makes MW4 the highest-rated Call of Duty on Steam in over a decade, surpassing the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot (79%) and Black Ops III (84%).
• The campaign is approximately six hours long and has been well-received, with IGN scoring it 8/10.
• The full game, including multiplayer and the DMZ extraction mode, releases on October 23, with DMZ early access starting on October 20.
• Recent Call of Duty titles have struggled, with Black Ops 7 at 37% positive, Black Ops 6 at 45.75%, and Modern Warfare III at 48.19% on Steam.

Background

The strong reception of Modern Warfare 4's campaign comes after a period of declining player engagement and critical reception for the Call of Duty franchise. Activision's CMO, Tyler Bahl, had recently labeled the series' struggles as the 'Call of Duty tax,' citing a significant drop in monthly active users. The franchise had also faced pre-launch community drama and lower-than-expected beta numbers on PC for MW4. Additionally, the game's DMZ mode introduced a tiered spawn system that raised concerns about pay-to-win advantages. The current positive campaign reception represents a notable shift from these recent challenges.

How outlets are covering it

Eurogamer emphasizes the dramatic turnaround in sentiment, noting that MW4's 92% rating is the highest for a Call of Duty in over a decade, despite pre-launch drama and low beta numbers. TechPowerUp corroborates the strong start, citing a 90% positive rating and highlighting the contrast with recent releases like Black Ops 7 (38.71%) and Black Ops 6 (45.75%). Both outlets acknowledge that the current reviews are from pre-order customers, who are likely the most dedicated fans, and caution that the rating may shift when the wider player base joins with the full release on October 23. Radio Times provides a factual overview of the campaign's mission structure, while Xbox Wire confirms the standalone release date of October 23. The consensus is that the campaign has been well-received, but the long-term reception remains to be seen with the full launch.

Why it matters

The strong initial reception of Modern Warfare 4's campaign is significant for the Call of Duty franchise, which has faced declining player engagement and critical reception in recent years. It suggests that Infinity Ward and Activision may have successfully addressed some of the issues that plagued previous entries, potentially reversing the 'Call of Duty tax' that Activision's CMO had cited. The success of the campaign could also influence the reception of the multiplayer and DMZ modes, which are crucial for the game's long-term viability and monetization. However, the current positive sentiment is largely driven by dedicated pre-order buyers, and the full release on October 23 will be a more accurate indicator of the game's overall reception.

What to watch

The next major milestone for Modern Warfare 4 is the release of the DMZ extraction mode on October 20 for pre-order customers, followed by the full game launch, including traditional multiplayer, on October 23. The reception of these modes will likely determine whether the positive campaign sentiment holds or shifts. Additionally, the game's performance in terms of player numbers and sales will be closely watched, as it could indicate whether the franchise has successfully reversed its recent decline in engagement.