The Modern Warfare 4 beta is way more than a multiplayer test
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta is not shaping up to be your usual pre-launch multiplayer test. This time, Activision is throwing something genuinely unexpected into the mix: a playable single-player campaign mission. For the first time in Call of Duty history, players will be able to jump into part of the campaign before the full game launches, while also getting hands-on time with multiplayer maps, classic modes, new experiments, Ground War, and even an upcoming Warzone Resurgence map.
The beta will run across two separate weekends in August and September 2026. The first session is aimed at players with early access, while the second opens the doors to everyone on supported platforms. And yes, that includes Nintendo Switch 2, which joins the action during the open beta.
So, if you’re wondering exactly when you can play, what platforms are supported, which maps and modes are coming, and why everyone is talking about the campaign, here’s the full breakdown of the Modern Warfare 4 beta.
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When does the Modern Warfare 4 beta start?
There are two beta periods to keep track of.
The early access beta runs from August 21 through August 25, 2026. To get into this first session, you’ll need to have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Modern Warfare 4 on an eligible platform.
Then comes the open beta from August 28 through September 1, 2026. This is the big one for players who haven’t pre-ordered because the second session doesn’t require a pre-order.
| Beta period | Dates | Access |
| Early Access | August 21โ25, 2026 | Pre-order/pre-purchase required |
| Open Beta | August 28โSeptember 1, 2026 | Open to all players |
Activision also makes it clear that this is a limited-time test, meaning the dates and exact platform availability can still change.
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Which platforms can play the beta?
The first beta weekend is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The second weekend expands the lineup with Nintendo Switch 2, giving the console its first opportunity to enter the Modern Warfare 4 beta.
That also means Switch 2 owners don’t need to worry about getting into the pre-order-only first weekend. Their beta access begins with the open session on August 28.
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The biggest surprise: a playable campaign mission
Here’s where things get seriously interesting.
Call of Duty beta tests have traditionally been about multiplayer. You jump into maps, test weapons, movement, matchmaking, modes, and other systems while developers collect feedback before launch.
Modern Warfare 4 is changing that formula.
The beta includes Entrenched, a playable single-player campaign mission.
Activision and Xbox have already shown footage from the mission, so players have received an early glimpse of the game’s single-player experience. But the beta goes one step further: instead of simply watching the footage, players can actually play the mission themselves.
That is a pretty major shift for Call of Duty. Campaign content is normally kept relatively protected before launch. Trailers and selected gameplay demonstrations are common, but giving players access to a playable campaign mission before release is a notable change to the series’ pre-launch strategy.
And before anyone gets too excited about playing the whole story early, there’s an important distinction: the entire campaign is not confirmed to be playable in the beta. The specific campaign content confirmed for the test is Entrenched.
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What is the Entrenched mission?
Entrenched is one of the campaign missions in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it has already received an official gameplay showcase. The beta will let players experience it for themselves.
There isn’t yet a complete confirmed breakdown of the mission’s story, objectives, length, or gameplay mechanics in the supplied information. So those details shouldn’t be treated as confirmed until Activision or Infinity Ward provides them.
Even without those specifics, Entrenched gives this beta a completely different vibe from previous Call of Duty tests. You’re not just stress-testing multiplayerโyou are getting an early taste of the single-player side of Modern Warfare 4 too.
The first batch of Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer maps
The first beta weekend comes loaded with several 6v6 multiplayer maps:
- Rooftops
- Silkworm
- Transit 213
- Cachette
- Lotus
These maps make up the core of the first weekend’s standard multiplayer experience.
The second weekend adds more content, including Lithium, while Lotus is reportedly replaced during the open beta period. The supplied information doesn’t provide detailed layouts or gameplay descriptions for the individual maps, so those specifics remain separate from the confirmed lineup.
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Classic modes return, but new experiments are joining them
The beta isn’t abandoning the familiar Call of Duty formula.
Confirmed multiplayer modes include:
- Team Deathmatch
- Domination
- Hardpoint
- Kill Confirmed
- Search & Destroy
- Inflation
On top of those, Modern Warfare 4 introduces Kill Block, which will be available in both 3v3 and 10v10 variants during the first session.
That gives the early access weekend a mix of classic objective-based gameplay, team deathmatch-style combat, and newer experimental ideas.
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What exactly is Inflation?
Inflation is one of the new multiplayer modes coming to the beta, but there is a catch: the supplied sources identify it as a new and previously unrevealed mode without providing its complete rules or gameplay structure.
So, for now, there’s no point pretending we know exactly how Inflation works. More details are expected as Activision continues rolling out the beta and showcasing additional gameplay.
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Kill Block gets its own spotlight
Another new addition is Kill Block, and players get two versions to experiment with:
- 3v3 Kill Block
- 10v10 Kill Block
The mode is included in the first beta session, giving players a chance to try the new format before Modern Warfare 4 officially launches. Unlike established staples such as Team Deathmatch and Domination, Kill Block is designed as one of the newer additions expanding the multiplayer lineup.
Ground War, Zodiac and Nintendo Switch 2 change the open beta
If the first weekend is already looking packed, the August 28โSeptember 1 open beta takes things even further.
This is where Modern Warfare 4 starts throwing its larger-scale content into the mix.
Ground War finally arrives
The second beta weekend introduces Ground War, the large-scale combined-arms mode that originally debuted with the 2019 Modern Warfare reboot.
Two Ground War maps are confirmed:
- Imjin Farmland
- Wolves Stadium
Ground War is built around much larger-scale multiplayer combat than the standard 6v6 experience, so its arrival gives the open beta a noticeably different feel.
If you’re only playing during the first weekend, you won’t get the full range of the large-scale multiplayer content. Ground War is specifically part of the second session.
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Zodiac is playable before Modern Warfare 4 launches
The open beta is also giving players their first playable look at Zodiac, an upcoming Warzone Resurgence map.
Zodiac has already been teased, but the beta provides a much more substantial look at the map by allowing players to actually experience it.
And this is where things get interesting beyond the beta itself.
Zodiac raises questions about the timing of the updated Warzone experience. At this point, it has not been confirmed whether the updated Warzone Resurgence experience will launch alongside Modern Warfare 4 in October or arrive later.
Players will get another look at Zodiac during the returning Call of Duty: Next event on August 21, just before the first beta session begins.
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The two beta weekends aren’t identical
This is important because the beta isn’t simply the same test repeated twice.
The first weekend is designed around early access for players who pre-ordered, while the second weekend opens the experience to everyone and adds more content.
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Weekend 1: August 21โ25
The first session includes:
- Early access for eligible pre-order customers
- PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
- Entrenched campaign mission
- Rooftops
- Silkworm
- Transit 213
- Cachette
- Lotus
- Team Deathmatch
- Domination
- Hardpoint
- Kill Confirmed
- Search & Destroy
- Inflation
- Kill Block in 3v3 and 10v10
Weekend 2: August 28โSeptember 1
The open beta adds:
- Access for all players
- Nintendo Switch 2 support
- Zodiac Warzone Resurgence map
- Ground War
- Imjin Farmland
- Wolves Stadium
- Additional multiplayer content, including Lithium
There is one important wrinkle regarding Entrenched. The supplied reporting isn’t completely consistent about whether the campaign mission is available during both weekends. Eurogamer’s breakdown places Entrenched within the first session, while IGN reports that the mission will be available across both beta periods. Activision’s public beta page confirms the two weekend dates and access requirements but doesn’t provide a complete mission-by-mission schedule.
So if you’re specifically waiting to play Entrenched during the open beta, the safest move is to check Activision’s final beta content schedule when it is available.
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When does Modern Warfare 4 release?
The wait for the full game isn’t especially long after the beta.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is currently scheduled to launch on October 23, 2026.
The game is confirmed for:
- PC
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch 2
That puts the beta roughly two months before launch, giving players an opportunity to test the multiplayer experience and provide feedback before the full release.
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Yes, Nintendo Switch 2 players are getting in
If you’re playing on Nintendo Switch 2, you’re not being left outside the lobby.
Switch 2 support begins with the open beta on August 28. The console isn’t included in the first early access weekend listed by Activision, but players on Switch 2 can still get their hands on Modern Warfare 4 before its October 23 launch.
And because the open beta doesn’t require a pre-order, Switch 2 players can join without needing access to the pre-order-only first weekend.
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Do you actually need to pre-order?
Noโnot if you’re willing to wait for the open beta.
A qualifying pre-order or pre-purchase is required for early access beginning August 21 on the eligible platforms. But the August 28โSeptember 1 open beta is available without a pre-order.
That makes the second weekend the obvious opportunity for players who want to test Modern Warfare 4 before deciding whether they actually want to buy it.
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Call of Duty: Next, the complete beta lineup and what players should expect
Before the first beta session even kicks off, Activision has another major event planned.
When is Call of Duty: Next?
The Call of Duty: Next event is scheduled for August 21, 2026, just hours before the first beta session begins.
The event is being held remotely this year, and one of its major attractions will be another closer look at Zodiac, the upcoming Warzone Resurgence map that becomes playable during the open beta.
That makes Call of Duty: Next a pretty important stop for anyone who wants more information about what they’re about to play. It is expected to provide additional details about content that players will soon experience in the beta.
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So, what should players actually expect from the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
Honestly, this is shaping up to be a much broader beta than the standard Call of Duty multiplayer test.
You’ve got the familiar stuff: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Search & Destroy. Those modes should give traditional multiplayer fans plenty of recognizable action.
But Activision is also using the beta to introduce newer ideas through Inflation and Kill Block, with Kill Block available in both 3v3 and 10v10 formats.
Then the open weekend turns the scale up again with Ground War, featuring Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium, while Zodiac gives players an early playable look at the upcoming Warzone Resurgence experience.
Nintendo Switch 2 players also get their first opportunity to join the test during the open weekend.
But let’s be realโthe feature that stands out above everything else is still the campaign.
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Entrenched could be the beta’s biggest moment
Having Entrenched as a playable single-player mission marks the first time a Call of Duty beta has included campaign content, according to the supplied reporting.
That’s a major change because Call of Duty campaigns are usually something players experience at or close to launch, not something they get to jump into during a multiplayer beta.
This time, players can get an early look at the single-player side of Modern Warfare 4 before October 23.
And because only Entrenched is confirmed, players shouldn’t assume the entire campaign will suddenly become available. The available information specifically identifies Entrenched as the campaign mission included in the beta.
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Modern Warfare 4 beta: everything confirmed at a glance
| Feature | Confirmed details |
| Early Access Beta | August 21โ25, 2026 |
| Open Beta | August 28โSeptember 1, 2026 |
| Full game release | October 23, 2026 |
| Early access requirement | Pre-order/pre-purchase |
| Open beta requirement | No pre-order required |
| Early access platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S |
| Open beta platforms | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Campaign mission | Entrenched |
| 6v6 maps | Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, Lotus |
| Additional map | Lithium |
| Standard modes | Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Search & Destroy |
| New mode | Inflation |
| Kill Block | 3v3 and 10v10 |
| Ground War | Imjin Farmland, Wolves Stadium |
| Warzone content | Zodiac Resurgence map |
| Call of Duty: Next | August 21, 2026 |
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Modern Warfare 4 beta FAQs
When does the Modern Warfare 4 beta start?
The early access beta begins August 21, 2026, and runs through August 25. The open beta begins August 28 and ends September 1.
Is the Modern Warfare 4 beta free?
The open beta is available without a pre-order from August 28. Early access beginning August 21 requires a qualifying pre-order or pre-purchase.
Is the Modern Warfare 4 campaign in the beta?
Yes. The beta includes the Entrenched single-player campaign mission. It marks the first time a Call of Duty beta has included a playable campaign mission.
What maps are in the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
The first weekend includes Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, and Lotus. The open beta adds more content, including Lithium, while Ground War uses Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium.
Is Zodiac playable in the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
Yes. The Zodiac Warzone Resurgence map is scheduled to be playable during the open beta weekend.
Is Ground War in the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
Yes. Ground War arrives during the second beta weekend and includes Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium.
Can Nintendo Switch 2 players play the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
Yes. Nintendo Switch 2 support begins with the open beta on August 28.
When does Modern Warfare 4 release?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch on October 23, 2026, for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
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Final thoughts: this beta is bringing a lot more than multiplayer
The Modern Warfare 4 beta is clearly taking a different route from previous Call of Duty tests.
Instead of giving players nothing but traditional multiplayer, Activision is packing the beta with familiar 6v6 modes, experimental additions like Kill Block and Inflation, large-scale Ground War, and an early playable look at the Zodiac Warzone Resurgence map. Nintendo Switch 2 players also get their chance to join the action during the open weekend.
But Entrenched is the part that’s hardest to ignore.
A playable campaign mission gives players an early opportunity to experience the single-player side of Modern Warfare 4 before launchโsomething Call of Duty betas haven’t previously offered.
With the first beta session beginning August 21, the open beta following on August 28, and the full game currently scheduled for October 23, 2026, players won’t have to wait much longer to see whether all these new pieces actually come together.
For Call of Duty fans, this beta isn’t just a warm-up. It’s the first real chance to see what Modern Warfare 4 is bringing to the battlefield.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information from Activision, Infinity Ward, and the official Call of Duty channels as of mid-to-late August 2026. Beta dates, platform availability, maps, modes, and content (including the โEntrenchedโ campaign mission) are subject to change at Activisionโs discretion. Actual start/end times, exact content per weekend, and platform support may differ from what is currently announced. Always verify the latest details on the official Call of Duty website and accounts before participating.
List of official sources
- Official Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta page
- Official Call of Duty blog post (July 20, 2026)
- Related official Kill Block multiplayer intel post
Image Credit: Infinity Ward
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