Activision has officially announced a partnership with the energy drink brand Monster Energy to launch the first-ever professional esports tournament for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.
The 2026 Monster Energy Launch Invitational will take place from November 6 to 8, and it will mark the beginning of competitive play for Modern Warfare 4, a new tactical shooter title scheduled to release on October 23.
Activision had not released the full list of participating teams, the tournament format, the prize pool or confirmation of whether the competition will take place online or on a local-area network (LAN), where players compete together at a physical venue.
Last year’s event Monster Energy Launch Invitational for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 provides a possible reference point for this year’s tournament. That event featured an online double-elimination format, allowing teams to remain in contention after their first loss. It included Call of Duty League franchises and selected Challengers teams, offered a $75,000 prize pool and was broadcast on Twitch and YouTube.
A similar structure is possible for the Modern Warfare 4 edition, but Activision has yet to confirm whether those arrangements will return. The previous event’s prize money and format should not be assumed to apply to the 2026 tournament. Further announcements are expected to clarify the participating squads, tournament brackets, prize distribution and broadcast details as the event approaches.
The short gap between the game’s release and the tournament could make preparation particularly important. Teams will need to learn the new maps, weapons and gameplay mechanics while deciding how best to approach competition in Modern Warfare 4. Teams will therefore have roughly two weeks to familiarise themselves with the new game before competing in the opening event.
Apart from its latest collaboration with Activision, Monster Energy has strengthened its foothold in the esports industry through several commercial partnerships in recent years. For instance, in March 2026, South Korean esports team Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), owned by Hanwha Life Insurance, officially renewed its sponsorship deal with Monster Energy for the 2026 season. In 2025, the energy drink brand was also named the title partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 and the main sponsor of OpTic Gaming’s FCV Black Ops 7 tournament.
