Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 makes double XP tokens count down only during matches

Activision has announced that double XP tokens in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will count down exclusively during matches, not in real-time. The change applies to new tokens earned in the game and existing tokens carried over from previous Call of Duty titles or Warzone.

Previously, activating a double XP token would start the countdown immediately. Players would lose time on their tokens while building loadouts, taking breaks, or waiting for friends to join. This has been a widespread complaint across the franchise for years, with players repeatedly asking for the mechanic to change with each new release.

The issue extends beyond Call of Duty. Battlefield uses the same countdown system and its community shares the same frustration. Battlefield Studios recently caused controversy by sending an in-game message promising to fix tokens to count down in-match, then claiming it was sent in error twice.

The token change is one of several moves Activision has made to appeal to returning players. Recent announcements include a pre-order loyalty discount, a skin toggle option in Warzone, and updates to Modern Warfare 4's matchmaking algorithm. Modern Warfare 4 releases 23 October on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2.