Modern Warfare 4 on PC: Over 800 Settings, a 90 FPS Target and a Competitive Mode

Activision has released the trailer for the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and with it, the list of technical features the game will ship with on computers. According to Vandal, Beenox is handling the port alongside Infinity Ward. The headline promise is a highly customizable game, with over 800 options spread across graphics, gameplay, interface and input devices. On top of that come ray tracing, every current upscaling technology and a new competitive mode.

This matters because PC is where the most demanding Call of Duty is played. It's where performance differences show, where a large part of the creator scene lives, and where any optimization issue is noticed right away. The minimum requirements say a lot about how many people will be able to jump in on day one. And the frame rate target for the recommended settings hints at what Activision considers an acceptable multiplayer experience.

What you need to know

• The PC version is developed by Beenox alongside Infinity Ward, with over 800 configurable settings.
• It includes NVIDIA DLSS 4.5, AMD FSR Redstone, Intel XeSS 3 and Filmic SMAA T2X as upscaling and anti-aliasing options.
• It supports 1080p, 1440p, 4K and ultrawide monitors.
• The recommended settings target 90 FPS in multiplayer on high graphics.
• Ray tracing will be available in Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ, and there will be a new competitive mode.

Minimum requirements and technical features

The information published by Vandal details the minimum requirements. They are fairly modest: they call for hardware that is already several years old and still found in many of our community's rigs.

The source text is cut off from the storage section onward. That's why we don't include the required disk space or the full details of the recommended settings here. It's worth waiting for the official spec sheet before planning a hardware upgrade.

Upscaling for every manufacturer

One of the most striking points is that it supports DLSS 4.5, FSR Redstone and XeSS 3 at the same time. Whether you have an NVIDIA, AMD or Intel graphics card, you'll get your manufacturer's solution. There's also Filmic SMAA T2X for those who'd rather not upscale. For anyone playing ultrawide or at 1440p with high refresh rates, this range of options can make the difference between barely scraping by on frames and playing with headroom to spare.

Our take

Here at the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we're glad to see such accessible minimum requirements. Having a GTX 970 or an RX 470 on the list means that many people in our community, across the Americas and Europe, will be able to try the game without spending a single cent on new hardware. That widens the player base and, with it, the competitive talent pool. We also like the commitment to 800 settings. For competitive players, being able to fine-tune the interface, the controls and every graphics parameter isn't a luxury: it's part of their toolkit.

Even so, some things leave us with doubts. A target of 90 FPS in multiplayer on high graphics is fine for casual play, but it falls short of the 144 Hz or higher monitors that anyone competing seriously uses. In practice, anyone who wants to play at a high refresh rate will have to lower the quality or rely on upscaling. And upscaling, however good it is, can add latency or artifacts if it isn't implemented well. On the other hand, 800 options are a double-edged sword. If the default values aren't sensible, a lot of people will be playing under poor conditions without realizing it.

What intrigues us most is the new competitive mode, which has few details so far. For content creators and teams, the key question is whether it will bring clear rules, a reliable ranking system and useful tools for streaming and analyzing matches. A long list of graphics options is nice, but the competitive scene is decided far more on that front. We want to see real results at launch before we applaud.

What do you think?

Are you convinced by these requirements, or do you think a 90 FPS target falls short for a competitive shooter on PC? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and let us know: are you going to play Modern Warfare 4 on PC with your current rig, or is it time for an upgrade?