Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 is live, and it is a bigger change than a routine playlist refresh. The update brings new Multiplayer maps, an underground DMZ location, 33 MW4 launch weapons to Warzone, and a shared progression system across the three modes.
For PC players, the first question is probably how much space the update needs. Battle.net preload reports put the Season 1 package at around 63GB, although that figure is not an official download-size estimate for every platform. Console players will see their own update requirements, and the final installed storage footprint should not be confused with the size of the download.
There are also some important details beyond the headline content. Warzone is dropping support for older consoles, the shared Player Level is resetting, and several advertised playlists are not available at launch. Here is what changed, what is actually playable, and what players should check before jumping in.
MW4 Season 1 Download Size and Release Time
The reported Season 1 preload on PC through Battle.net is approximately 63GB. This figure was reported ahead of launch and should be treated as a PC-specific estimate, not a confirmed universal size from Activision.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Season 1 launch | November 6, 2026 |
| Eastern Time | 12:00 AM, November 6 |
| Pacific Time | 9:00 PM, November 5 |
| Japan Standard Time | 2:00 PM, November 6 |
| PC preload report | Approximately 63GB on Battle.net |
| Console download size | Varies by platform and installed content |
A large download does not automatically mean the installed game will permanently grow by the same amount. Seasonal updates can replace existing files as well as add new content. However, without verified before-and-after storage measurements for each platform, there is no reliable figure for the final increase in disk usage.
For that reason, claims that the update adds only a specific number of gigabytes after installation should be treated with caution. The safest approach is to check your platform's update screen and make sure you have enough free space for the download and installation process.
Which Platforms Support Warzone Season 1?
There is one significant platform change to be aware of: Warzone Season 1 ends support for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Warzone also launches on Nintendo Switch 2 with the new season. Players moving to another supported platform can retain their progression by signing in with the same linked Activision account.
The update also introduces a 120Hz Performance Mode option for players using compatible displays on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. According to the official patch notes, the mode is available to players with 120Hz displays regardless of VRR support. VRR is still recommended for the best experience.
If you play on console, these platform changes are worth checking before downloading the update. They affect compatibility and display options, not just the amount of storage required.
Multiplayer: New Maps, Returning Modes, and Season 1 Weapons
Four additions enter the Multiplayer map rotation with Season 1: Backstab, Canyon, Shoot House, and Kill Block: Crash. Shipment should not be counted as a Season 1 launch map; it arrived during the preseason on October 27.
| Map | Type | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Backstab | 6v6 | A snow-covered town with buildings, streets, and multiple engagement routes |
| Canyon | 6v6 | A rugged environment with open spaces and natural elevation |
| Shoot House | 6v6 | The familiar three-lane layout returns in a new setting |
| Kill Block: Crash | Featured 6v6 combo | A featured map combination built around Crash |
Two familiar modes also return: Grind and Drop Zone.
Grind revolves around collecting Dog Tags and banking them to score. Drop Zone focuses on controlling a rotating objective to earn Killstreak drops. Both give players alternatives to standard team-based playlists.
One launch detail is easy to miss. Wager Match and Gauntlet 1v1 are part of the Season 1 plans, but Infinity Ward's November 5 patch notes list them as Coming Soon. They should not be presented as modes already available in the initial update.
Cronen Osprey and CSG-35
The opening Battle Pass introduces two new base weapons:
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Cronen Osprey: A 5.56 assault rifle built around a high fire rate, with the Cronen Helix Mk. II Apex Attachment offering an alternative firing setup.
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CSG-35: A fast-firing SMG designed for close-range fights, with an Akimbo attachment option.
Both weapons are part of the new seasonal progression. Players interested in unlocking them should check the Battle Pass reward track and its requirements rather than assuming they are immediately available in every loadout.
MW4 Season 1 Weapon Buffs and Nerfs
The new weapons are only one part of the Multiplayer update. Season 1 also includes a separate weapon-balancing pass, alongside adjustments to equipment and Killstreaks.
That matters for players who have already settled on a favorite loadout. A new season can change the relative value of familiar weapons even when their names and basic roles remain the same.
The official patch notes contain the detailed weapon tuning list. Check that list before spending time rebuilding a loadout around an old setup, particularly if you rely on specific attachment combinations.
Other gameplay adjustments include changes to the Argonaut, Crossfire, Proximity Mine, and Claymore. The Argonaut receives a health increase, while Crossfire receives several damage and handling adjustments. Proximity Mine and Claymore arming times are also reduced.
For the full numbers and weapon-by-weapon details, use the official Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Patch Notes. This is a better reference than relying on an early-season weapon tier list that may not yet reflect the new balance.
DMZ: Designation X01 Adds a New Underground Facility
DMZ gets one of Season 1's biggest content additions with Designation: X01, a newly discovered GRANIT Arms black site accessible through Hajin.
The facility takes DMZ players underground, adding a different kind of environment to the mode. Its areas include cargo and vehicle sections, weapons research spaces, production facilities, and the sealed Deep Vault. The enclosed layout gives squads less room to spot threats from a distance, making careful movement and communication important.
X01 is not simply another point of interest to visit once. Season 1 adds new Orders tied to the facility, additional threats, and equipment-related content that gives players reasons to return.
New DMZ Targets and FOB Updates
The updated Boss Board introduces new Lieutenant and Commander intelligence, including:
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Tae-Hyun, known as Knuckle
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Chol-Min, known as The Wrench
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The Captain, a Juggernaut Commander
The official briefing also confirms FOB updates, including a new 3D Printer and a Vendor offering weapons and gear purchasable with DMZ Cash. Some additional X01 information remains classified in the launch notes, so it is better not to assume that every room, reward, or facility mechanic has been fully disclosed.
DMZ players should also pay attention to the smaller progression changes. Season 1 reduces Weapon XP earned from vehicle kills against enemy AI, while Operator kills remain unchanged. This is relevant if you have been relying on vehicle eliminations to level weapons.
There are also adjustments to the Possum Trait. The enemy squad that killed a player must now be 2.5 times farther away before Possum can activate, and the activation failsafe timer increases from four minutes to five. These changes affect when the trait can be used after a squad fight.
For extraction players, these details are worth knowing before planning a new DMZ route or relying on an old progression strategy.
Warzone Season 1 Integration: 33 Weapons and a Player Level Reset
Warzone's integration with Modern Warfare 4 is the defining change of the season. The update brings MW4's launch arsenal into Warzone and connects progression across Multiplayer, DMZ, and Battle Royale.
The main changes include:
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All 33 MW4 launch weapons becoming available in Warzone.
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Shared Player Level and Prestige progression.
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Shared Daily Challenges and Calling Card Challenges.
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Battle Pass and BlackCell progression across supported modes.
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Apex Attachments and new weapon progression features.
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A Player Level reset at the start of the integration.
The Player Level reset gives everyone a new progression starting point. It does not mean that every weapon, Blueprint, or cosmetic from previous Call of Duty titles has simply disappeared.
What Happens to Legacy Weapons?
Weapons carried forward from Modern Warfare II through Black Ops 7 remain available through the Legacy tab.
They can still be equipped, but they do not receive the full MW4 Gunsmith experience. Legacy weapons cannot be edited through Gunsmith and do not support MW4 Mastery Camos, Reticle Challenges, Weapon Customization, Cosmetic Gunsmithing, or Build Sharing and Build Codes.
Each Legacy base weapon has a five-attachment version, while existing Legacy Blueprints can be unlocked through Player XP in the Armory.
For returning players, the distinction is straightforward: older weapons remain usable, but MW4 weapons receive the full set of new progression and customization features. If your goal is to work toward MW4 Mastery Camos or experiment with Apex Attachments, the new arsenal is the better place to start.
Hajin and Zodiac: Two New Warzone Maps
Season 1 introduces two new Warzone locations, each designed around a different style of match.
Hajin: The New Battle Royale Map
Hajin is the new large-scale Battle Royale map, with 13 major Points of Interest spread across urban, industrial, rural, and mountainous areas.
Its dynamic weather system gives matches more environmental variety. Players may encounter clear conditions, wind, rain, and other weather scenarios that can affect visibility and the feel of long-range engagements.
That makes loadout flexibility important. A weapon setup built around open sightlines may work well in one area, but squads still need to prepare for closer fights and rotations through built-up locations.
Zodiac: The New Resurgence Map
Zodiac is the new Resurgence map, built around the DRC Advanced Systems drone manufacturing headquarters.
Its 10 Points of Interest include industrial interiors, rooftops, underground routes, moving trains, and environmental hazards. Compared with Hajin, Zodiac has a more compact layout, putting greater emphasis on quick rotations and close-range encounters.
Players who want to get familiar with the map before entering standard matches can also try Rally Point, which offers a different way to explore Zodiac.
Verdansk and Rebirth Island are scheduled to return later in Season 1, rather than being part of the initial map additions.
Warzone Cash, Buy Stations, and New Equipment
Season 1 also changes the way players use Cash and interact with the environment. Buy Station adjustments, new Field Upgrades, and Rally Point give squads more options during a match.
Rally Point: A Different Way to Play Zodiac
Rally Point is a 20-player mode set on Zodiac. It removes the Gas Circle and offers unlimited Resurgence, with players able to join or leave during a match.
Players can explore the map, complete Contracts, fight Hostile Soldiers, and build up Cash reserves. It is also a useful way to learn Zodiac's layout without the pressure of a standard Battle Royale match.
One of the mode's notable features is a purchasable Nuke. Only one is available per match, so squads need to collect enough Cash and reach a Buy Station before another team gets there first.
Buy Station Changes and Weapon Augments
Buy Stations receive inventory and availability adjustments. Some items remain locked until a team completes a Supply Run Contract and upgrades the station.
The Fly Buy public event also introduces mobile Buy Stations with additional equipment and Weapon Augments, including Breacher, Gunslinger, and Sharpshooter.
The wider Cash economy has changed too. The Contract Cash Multiplier has been removed, and the number of active High Value Loot Zones in Battle Royale has been reduced from three to one.
For squads, that makes spending decisions more important. Completing Contracts remains useful, but players also need to consider when to spend Cash on equipment, upgrades, and team support.
Zipline Launcher and Grabber Drone
Two new Field Upgrades give players additional ways to move around the map and interact with objects.
Zipline Launcher creates vertical or horizontal ascender lines up to approximately 100 meters long. It has two charges, and enemy players can use deployed lines too. A route that helps your squad rotate can also give opponents an unexpected way to reach your position.
Grabber Drone uses a remote-controlled claw to interact with objects. It can open loot crates and doors, transport items, move certain environmental objects, and deliver purchases from Buy Stations. It can also carry players, but it cannot pick up downed enemies at launch. That functionality is planned for Season 2.
These tools give squads more options for movement and loot collection, but they are not risk-free. In particular, a deployed zipline can become a route for the other team as well.
Are CoD MW4 Bot Lobbies Safe to Use?
Players searching for CoD MW4 Bot Lobbies may be looking for a quieter way to practice weapons, learn maps, or work on progression.
It is important to distinguish between legitimate private practice options and third-party services that manipulate live matchmaking.
Activision specifically identifies Warzone Agent as an unauthorized paid application offering lobby shopping. Its Season 1 patch notes state that the software violates the Call of Duty Terms of Use. Players who continue running it may be prevented from accessing Multiplayer modes, and attempts to bypass those restrictions can lead to temporary or permanent account or hardware bans.
That warning does not establish that every service using the phrase "bot lobbies" works in exactly the same way. However, players should not assume that a paid service promising easier live matches is automatically permitted.
Before using any third-party service, check whether it requires unauthorized software, account access, or matchmaking manipulation. Protecting your account is more important than saving time on weapon progression.
What Should Players Prioritize in MW4 Season 1?
There is plenty to explore, so there is no need to chase every unlock at once.
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Multiplayer players: Try Backstab, Canyon, and Shoot House, then get familiar with Grind and Drop Zone. Check the weapon tuning notes before rebuilding your usual loadouts.
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DMZ players: Explore X01, work through the new Orders, and check the updated FOB, Vendor, and Possum Trait requirements.
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Warzone players: Learn Hajin and Zodiac, review the Legacy weapon restrictions, and get used to the shared progression system.
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Players concerned about storage: Check the actual update size on their platform. Do not treat the reported Battle.net preload as a universal storage requirement or rely on unverified estimates of the final installed size.
The reported 63GB preload may be the first thing players notice, but the more lasting changes are happening inside the game. Warzone now shares MW4's launch arsenal and progression structure, DMZ has a new underground facility to explore, and Multiplayer gets a fresh map rotation alongside balance and gameplay adjustments.
For platform-specific download information and the complete list of confirmed changes, check the official Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Patch Notes and Warzone Season 1 Patch Notes. Those are the best references for checking whether a feature is live, delayed, or subject to further changes.


