The multiplayer beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is underway this weekend, giving players their first extended hands-on time with Infinity Ward’s next entry before the full game launches on October 23. Call of Duty: NEXT opens the day with reveals and live gameplay at 9:00 AM PT today, and the Early Access portion of the beta follows immediately afterward.
Weekend One runs from 11:00 AM PT on August 21 until 10:00 AM PT on August 25. This period is limited to players who have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Modern Warfare 4, or who have redeemed a valid beta code. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Steam, and Battle.net. Nintendo Switch 2 is not part of the first weekend.
Weekend Two opens the beta to everyone from 10:00 AM PT on August 28 through 10:00 AM PT on September 1. No pre-order is required. This open period adds Nintendo Switch 2 support alongside the other platforms.
The beta is a separate download on every storefront. Open Beta pre-loading starts at 9:00 AM PT on August 26. Anyone playing both weekends only needs to download the client once. Progress and unlocked rewards carry over between the two periods. Players should sign into their Activision account so that progression and rewards stay linked to the same ID for the full launch.
On Xbox Series X/S, search the Xbox Store for the beta and install it. On Xbox on PC, use the Xbox app. PlayStation 5 players can find it in the PlayStation Store. Steam users will see the beta added to their library automatically from the Modern Warfare 4 page. Battle.net players select Call of Duty: MW4 Beta from the Game Version dropdown and install. Switch 2 players can search the eShop once the open period approaches.
PC players face a few extra steps this year. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot must both be enabled for online play. These Windows security features form part of the foundation for RICOCHET Anti-Cheat and are required across the board. Most recent systems support them, but they are not always turned on by default.
To check TPM 2.0, press Windows key + R, type tpm.msc, and confirm the status shows ready for use with version 2.0. For Secure Boot, open System Information with msinfo32 and look for BIOS Mode set to UEFI and Secure Boot State set to On. If either needs enabling, restart into the UEFI firmware settings through Advanced Startup, locate the TPM option (often labeled fTPM or PTT), turn it on, enable Secure Boot if necessary, save, and reboot.
Minimum PC requirements for the beta are Windows 10 64-bit (latest update), an AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400, 12 GB of RAM, and a Radeon RX 470, GeForce GTX 970/1060, or Intel Arc A580 with at least 3 GB of video memory. An SSD and broadband connection are required. Recommended specs call for Windows 11, a Ryzen 5 3600 or Core i7-8700, 16 GB of RAM, and a Radeon RX 6700 XT, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, or Intel Arc B580 with 8 GB of video memory. Recommended drivers are NVIDIA 610.47, AMD 26.7.1, and Intel 32.0.101.8861. These are beta-specific and may change for the full release.
Content available during Early Access includes the campaign mission Entrenched along with multiplayer maps Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, Lotus, and Kill Block. Modes cover Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, Inflation, Kill Block variants, and a Mobility Course.
The open weekend expands the pool. Additional maps arrive, including Lithium, plus Ground War locations Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium under the Combat Outpost mode. The new Warzone Resurgence map Zodiac also becomes playable. Modes expand to include Hijack and Ground War options while retaining the core list from the first weekend.
Leveling up during the beta unlocks a set of rewards that carry over into the full game. Reach level 4 for the Through the Paces Legendary Emblem. Level 8 grants the First Served Weapon Charm. Level 12 unlocks the Meonjeo Legendary Weapon Sticker. Level 16 delivers the Last Charge Legendary Calling Card. Level 20 awards the Dread Tiger Operator Skin for Reece. Level 23 adds the Field Tested Epic Spray. Level 26 provides the Beta Rights Epic Loading Screen. Level 30 unlocks the Beta Forged ISO Nightshade Weapon Blueprint. The level cap rises from 20 in the first weekend to 30 in the second, so players who start early can continue progressing toward the higher rewards.
Modern Warfare 4 is developed by Infinity Ward and continues the rebooted Modern Warfare series. The campaign is set against a North Korean invasion of the South that escalates into a wider conflict, with players experiencing the front lines through a young South Korean squad while Captain Price operates on a parallel personal mission. Multiplayer emphasizes grounded movement and precision gunplay. DMZ returns as the extraction mode. The game launches on October 23 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. It will not support last-generation consoles.
The beta gives Infinity Ward a final window of live feedback before launch. For players, it is the first chance to test the new maps, modes, and systems while earning cosmetics that stay with their account. Pre-load early, confirm the security settings on PC, and link the Activision account so everything transfers cleanly. The full game arrives in just over two months. Will you be playing it?