The Guardian Reviews Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Across Four Platforms

The Guardian published its review of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on Oct. 23, 2026, covering the PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2 and Xbox versions.

GamesIndustry.biz reported that The Guardian’s Keith Stuart rated the game four out of five in its review. Stuart called the campaign short but polished, said the multiplayer grabs you by the neck, and described DMZ as richly detailed and exhaustive.

The previous year’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was a sales disappointment for Activision and was poorly received by critics and players. The result put extra pressure on Infinity Ward, and third-party tracking data suggested the game underperformed compared to other series entries.

On Switch 2, the game offers the entire package with crossplay and cross-progression. The campaign runs at 30 frames per second, while multiplayer aims for 60 frames per second. Digital Legends developed the Switch 2 version, and Nintendo Life’s Gavin Lane said the studio made the right compromises for handheld and the game feels smooth in the hands.

The campaign centers on a fictitious North Korean ruling family invading its southern neighbor, with North Korea waging full-scale war alongside ally Russia. Multiplayer First said the story splits into two parts: one concluding Taskforce 141 and another starting a new story around a war with North Korea and Russia.

The Guardian described the multiplayer as a refinement of Black Ops 7’s turbo-paced, ultra-lethal experience. Maps include Mumbai, Nautical, Coal and Reactor U92, with modes such as Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Combat Outpost and Hijack. The Kill Block multiplayer mode takes place inside a modular training center, choosing three landscape types at random from dozens and randomizing weapons.

Multiplayer includes an up-to-64-player mode called Combat Outpost. The Guardian listed Combat Outpost alongside Collateral and Kill Block as decent newcomers to classic modes. Nintendo Life’s Gavin Lane preferred Frontline and called the 32-versus-32 Ground War: Combat Outpost mode repetitive, though he liked close-quarters shotgun play on ship-bound Nautical.

DMZ is a reconstructed extraction shooter mode set in and around Hajin City, where players parachute in with up to two teammates. It features a Forward Operating Base safe house for weapon upgrades, 3D-printed gear and boss information, plus a three-branch character skill tree.

The Guardian had only played an early access version of DMZ at review time, and its reviewer said the mode’s success depends on Activision attracting and retaining players from rivals such as Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov. Critics agreed DMZ is a strong addition even in early access, though its survival depends on tempting players from those same rivals.

The Guardian described an open-world section as a nice break from corridor shooting that does not stall the game’s momentum. Multiplayer First said an open-level on a massive map throws off pacing and feels like a crawl compared to the rest of the story.

Game Informer’s Michael Murphy rated the game 8.5 out of 10 and called it a strong return to form and a solid sendoff for the rebooted subseries. Nintendo Life’s Gavin Lane rated it nine out of 10 and called it impressive.

IGN’s Simon Cardy said the game made him feel something for the series again, though he found Captain Price’s chapters the weaker half because more missions focus on the Korean conflict. Cardy said Infinity Ward handled the story challenge well, resulting in a genuinely exciting string of missions. He criticized unforgiving stealth segments, an imprecise counter-based melee system and disorientating first-person thumping.

Murphy said most of the attempt to wrap up the rebooted series’ overarching plot works, but it rushes through some character arcs and story beats unevenly. The campaign follows its 2023 predecessor and continues Captain Price’s story after the events of Modern Warfare 3.

Multiplayer First praised Barry Sloane’s performance as Captain Price as the best in the series. The Guardian said Mads Mikkelsen appears as evil instigator The Archer but has little screen time. The outlet’s reviewer said, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which is the conclusion of the Modern Warfare saga according to Activision, and what a conclusion it is!”

Multiplayer First said community sentiment around the game remained muted after Black Ops 7’s disappointing campaign, and that Grand Theft Auto 6 shadowed nearly every other release. The Guardian’s reviewer said the game may not bring in a new audience, especially with Grand Theft Auto 6 on the way. Stuart described the series as a gung-ho Hollywood fantasy that glorifies the military-industrial complex.

Multiplayer First said DMZ and core multiplayer were releasing in the coming days and weeks after its Oct. 20, 2026 campaign review, with a final score to follow once the full experience was out. The outlet said things were off to a great start for the campaign.