Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is getting its biggest pre-launch test yet. Activision has confirmed a two-weekend Beta that brings Multiplayer, Campaign content and Call of Duty: Warzone together for the first time in the franchise, with the Beta beginning immediately after Call of Duty: NEXT and running across two weekends.
The Early Access Beta starts August 21, right after the NEXT broadcast wraps up, and runs through August 25. The Open Beta then picks up on August 28 and closes out September 1, opening the whole thing to everyone on supported platforms.
Call of Duty: NEXT Sets the Stage on August 21
Call of Duty: NEXT airs August 21 and gives fans a proper look at Modern Warfare 4 before the Beta goes live. Activision says the event covers live gameplay, a deeper briefing on the Multiplayer content, developer insights and new reveals, along with a first look at Zodiac, a new Resurgence map headed to Warzone.
The broadcast will run through Core 6v6 Multiplayer gameplay and Kill Block gameplay, plus Warzone intel, launch maps and modes, reward drops and more from the development team. Activision is also bringing in more than 1,000 creators and community players, along with a Mobility Course competition and Beta code giveaways.
The important part for anyone planning to jump in is timing. The Beta begins the moment NEXT ends, so players can go straight from watching the show to playing the game.
Early Access Beta Runs August 21 to 25
The first Beta weekend is reserved for players who have pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox on PC, Battle.net or Steam.
Five new 6v6 Multiplayer maps launch during this window, alongside the new Kill Block mode. The lineup is Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette and Lotus, with Kill Block treated as its own separate addition rather than a standard map.
Mode selection for the weekend is broad. Players get Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Inflation, Search & Destroy, Kill Block, 10v10 and 3v3 Gunfight, plus access to the Mobility Course for testing Modern Warfare 4's movement.
A Campaign Mission Joins the Beta for the First Time
Modern Warfare 4's Beta is not just about Multiplayer this time. Activision confirms players will also get hands-on access to the Campaign mission Entrenched during the Beta.
That is a genuine change of pace for a Call of Duty Beta, which has traditionally stuck to competitive Multiplayer. Activision is pitching this one around all three pillars of the game at once: Multiplayer, Campaign and Warzone. For anyone mainly curious about how the story side of Modern Warfare 4 plays, Entrenched gives players an early look at the Campaign ahead of launch.
Open Beta Expands the Lineup on August 28
The second weekend runs August 28 through September 1 and drops the pre-order requirement entirely. Everyone gets in, and Nintendo Switch 2 joins the list of supported platforms for the first time, with Switch 2 pre-orders for Modern Warfare 4 opening August 26.
The Open Beta keeps four of the five original maps (Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213 and Cachette) and swaps in Lithium in place of Lotus, alongside Kill Block. Ground War also enters the rotation with Combat Outpost, IMJIN Farmland and Wolves Stadium, pushing the Beta beyond 6v6 into larger-scale battles.
Modes expand to match. On top of the original list, the Open Beta adds Hijack and Combat Outpost, and the Mobility Course carries over from the first weekend.
Zodiac Arrives in Call of Duty: Warzone
The other headline addition to the Open Beta is Zodiac, a new Resurgence map for Call of Duty: Warzone. Activision already teased it as part of the Call of Duty: NEXT lineup, with the August 21 broadcast set to give fans their first proper look before it goes live in the Beta a week later.
That gives Warzone players a reason to care about the second weekend even if the traditional 6v6 modes are not their thing.
Vault Edition Pre-Order Players Get Extra Content
Anyone who pre-orders the Vault Edition gets additional material to test during the Beta. That includes four Operators from the Hostile Alliance Operator Pack (Price, Valeria, Ghost and Blix) and four more from the Special Forces Operator Pack, representing France, Germany, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Vault Edition owners can also try weapons from the Signature Weapons Collection, which covers the Kastov 762 Assault Rifle, ISO Nightshade Submachine Gun, Rezi 12 Shotgun, Oris 8.6 Marksman Rifle and Combat Knife, along with the corresponding Blueprint and Apex Attachment for each weapon. Activision says more Beta details, including exclusive rewards, are still to come.
| Beta Weekend | Dates | Access | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Access Beta | August 21 to 25 | Pre-order required | Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam |
| Open Beta | August 28 to September 1 | Open to all players | Adds Nintendo Switch 2 |
Activision notes that platform availability and Beta dates are subject to change, and that an internet connection is required to take part. Depending on platform, an online multiplayer subscription may also be needed.
Modern Warfare 4 Launches October 23
Activision currently has Modern Warfare 4 slated for an October 23 release. That puts the Beta roughly two months out from launch, giving players plenty of runway to test Multiplayer, get a taste of the Entrenched Campaign mission and check out the next stage of Warzone before deciding whether to commit.
Pre-order players get the earlier start on August 21, right after Call of Duty: NEXT. Everyone else, including the first wave of Nintendo Switch 2 players, joins on August 28.
The Bottom Line
Modern Warfare 4's Beta runs across two weekends, August 21 to 25 for pre-order players and August 28 to September 1 for everyone else, and for the first time combines Multiplayer, a Campaign mission and Warzone in one test. Expect five new 6v6 maps, Kill Block, the Entrenched Campaign mission, Ground War, and a first look at the Zodiac Resurgence map in Warzone.
Vault Edition pre-order players get extra Operators and weapons to try during the Beta, and Nintendo Switch 2 owners get their first hands-on with the game starting August 28. Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23.
