McDonald's Just Made a Major Announcement About Its New Chicken Sandwich

McDonald's just shared a very cryptic message with its fans on social media. "Guys, my website is really coming along: CHKNdrop.com," the brief tweet reads. Clicking the link reveals a major update about the chain's upcoming Crispy Chicken Sandwich launch, which is slated for Feb. 24.

The long-awaited sandwich will now be available a day early—for those who are fast enough to secure one. Starting at noon ET on Feb. 18, fans will be able to reserve the sandwich online to pick up at participating locations for $5. They'll also gain access to limited-edition McDonald's merch, which includes a hoodie and a 7-inch vinyl with an exclusive audio track commemorating the launch. (The rest of the country will still be able to try all three versions of the Crispy Chicken Sandwich one day later.)

"We know fans can't wait for our new Crispy Chicken Sandwich to hit restaurants, so we're celebrating them and this moment with a drop like no other," David Tovar, vice president of U.S. communications, said in a news release. "We're excited to give fans early access to this sandwich and exclusive swag they can't get anywhere else to memorialize this great addition to our menu."

The new chicken sandwich will hit menus in three different versions, and McDonald's is calling this its biggest release of the year. That likely comes as no surprise, because it will mark a long overdue entry into the great Chicken Sandwich Wars. But can Mickey D's beat out Popeyes and Chick-fil-A? We'll find out more in the days ahead.

For latest on McDonald's, check out why McDonald's New Happy Meals Are Already Selling Out. And don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to get more restaurant news delivered straight to your inbox.