Activision has confirmed the complete testing schedule for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, revealing two separate beta periods that will give players early access to multiplayer, a campaign mission and an integrated Call of Duty: Warzone experience for the first time in the franchise’s history. The announcement positions this as a notably expanded beta structure compared to previous entries in the series, combining elements that have traditionally been kept separate during pre launch testing windows.
Modern Warfare 4 serves as a direct sequel to 2023’s Modern Warfare 3, with its storyline centered on a war breaking out between North and South Korea. The full game is officially set to launch on October 23, though players eager to test the title early will be able to do so for free starting next week. Before the first beta period begins, Activision will host its annual Call of Duty NEXT showcase, an event expected to feature more than 1,000 creators broadcasting globally and offering fans a detailed first look at what Modern Warfare 4 has to offer just ahead of the servers going live.
The Early Access Beta is scheduled to run from August 21 through August 25, immediately following the NEXT showcase, though participation requires pre ordering the game on PC, PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X and S. During this exclusive weekend, players will have access to nine distinct multiplayer modes, including established franchise staples such as Team Deathmatch and Domination alongside a new mode called Kill Block. The Early Access period will also include six multiplayer maps, five of which are entirely new to the franchise, while the sixth carries over from an earlier title under the name Lotus. In a significant departure from past Call of Duty beta releases, Activision is also granting beta participants hands on access to a single player campaign mission titled Entrenched throughout both testing weekends, marking the first time campaign content has been made available during a beta period in the franchise’s history.
The second phase, known as the Open Beta, runs from August 28 through September 1 and will be open to all players rather than limited to those who pre ordered the title. This phase introduces Nintendo Switch 2 as an additional supported platform alongside PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, expanding the beta’s reach beyond the initial testing window. Players across all platforms will retain access to most content carried over from the Early Access period, including the Entrenched campaign mission, though the Lotus multiplayer map will be swapped out for a new map named Lithium. The Open Beta will also introduce two additional multiplayer modes, Hijack and Combat Outpost, along with a new Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence map named Zodiac, which will debut exclusively during this second testing weekend for battle royale fans.
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