If you activated a double XP token, you'd assume it would only be active when you can actually earn XP, right?

That has not been the case in the Call of Duty series for all of time, as the franchise allows the token's XP timer to keep on counting down to zero even when you're not in matches, like in a lobby. Essentially, you'll activate a double XP token for 30 minutes, and maybe a third of that time will be spent simply waiting for the game to transition from one match to the next.

From the start of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 next month, that finally won't be the case anymore.

Infinity Ward has confirmed double XP tokens in Modern Warfare 4 will count down only during in-game time, and the timer will stop outside of matches. This means you'll get more out of each token, and also, all the tokens you've accrued from current Call of Duty titles will carry over.

If you've been playing regularly, you could be in a position at the start of Modern Warfare 4 where you can activate double XP tokens for hours on end from day one. This will help you level up faster and unlock more guns and equipment for multiplayer matches.

Have you always been annoyed and confused by double XP tokens counting down in real time? Celebrate the update to them in the comments below.