Modern Warfare 4 beta begins on August 21

Activision has confirmed the beta dates for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, giving players their first scheduled hands-on window before launch. The Early Access Beta begins on August 21 and runs through August 25 for players who preorder the game on supported platforms.

The full Open Beta follows one week later. It begins on August 28 and ends on September 1, with no preorder required. That second weekend will be open to all players on supported platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2.

Weekend One is the Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta. It will be available to players who preorder or prepurchase any edition of the game on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net or Steam.

Digital preorders do not need a separate code. Players who buy through supported platform stores or the Call of Duty in-game store will be automatically registered for early access. Once the beta begins, they should be able to download it directly.

Physical preorder players will need an Early Access code from their retailer. That code must be redeemed through the Call of Duty beta redemption page, and players will need to choose the platform where they want to play.

Weekend Two is the wider Open Beta. It is scheduled to run from August 28 to September 1, and Activision says no preorder is required for that window.

The Open Beta will also include Nintendo Switch 2, which is important because Modern Warfare 4 is bringing the Modern Warfare series back to Nintendo hardware after more than a decade. Activision has not yet shared full Switch 2 preorder details, but the platform is included in the open beta window.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches globally on October 23, 2026. Development is led by Infinity Ward, with additional support from several Activision studios.

The game is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Battle.net, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2. It will also support Xbox Play Anywhere for players who buy through the Xbox ecosystem, letting them access the game across Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.

Activision has confirmed the beta dates and access rules, but it has not fully detailed the beta content yet. The beta will let players preview Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer and provide feedback before launch.

That means maps, modes, weapons, progression rules and preload timing are still waiting for a fuller breakdown. Players should also expect some details to change before the beta begins, since Activision notes that platform availability and launch timing can vary by region and retailer.

Modern Warfare 4 preorders also include up to one week of early access to the campaign, with that window currently tied to October 16. That gives campaign players time to finish the story before multiplayer and Warzone integration dominate launch week.

For now, the beta schedule is the key date players need. Early access runs from August 21 to August 25, the Open Beta runs from August 28 to September 1, and the full game launches on October 23.