Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Steam player count already tops Black Ops 7 in early access

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 early access is off to a strong start. Even before its October 23rd release date, the COD Steam player count peaked higher than during the Black Ops 7 launch. Reviews on Valve’s marketplace credit a compelling single-player campaign for reigniting interest in the franchise.

Because the SteamDB tracker includes many Call of Duty games, it's difficult to evaluate an individual title. Nevertheless, it reached over 108,000 players on the first day of Modern Warfare 4 early access. That’s more than the around 100,000 achieved on the opening weekend following the November 2025 Black Ops 7 debut.

BO7 struggled to grow its base, and the Steam player count never rose above that level. Still, Infinity Ward’s new shooter has work to do before it can match previous highs in the series. In the Black Ops 6 launch period later in 2024, 313,000 gamers were engaged simultaneously.

Initial Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 reviews may be an even more promising sign. Its Steam rating currently sits at 84%, while Black Ops 7 is significantly lower at 38.71%. It also beats most recent entries in the series, with the 2015 Black Ops 3 leading at 84.36%.

Until the release date and the bulk of multiplayer options are ready, the campaign takes center stage. Early access gamers find the narrative compelling, bolstered by a mix of popular returning characters and newcomers. The cinematic sequences are well produced, and the varied missions make the single-player mode stand out.

Can MW4 maintain its momentum?

As engrossing as it is, the campaign lasts 8 hours or less. How PC and console fans respond to the competitive online action will determine the long-term Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Steam player count. 3 days after DMZ extraction drops on October 20th, alternatives like 6x6 and Ground War arrive.

The late-August multiplayer open beta drew mixed impressions. Most participants praised the shooting mechanics, but the powerful aim assist was controversial. Combatants will learn whether other issues, like spawning too close to enemies, get further tweaks.