Activision has confirmed that the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 open beta will run from August 28 through September 1 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. A separate early-access weekend for players who preorder begins on August 21 and ends August 25.
Read the wider context in Gears of War: E-Day Open Beta Starts August 6 in Xbox Game Pass August Wave 1.
The dates were announced in an official Call of Duty briefing. Call of Duty: NEXT will take place on August 21, with the early-access beta starting immediately after the broadcast.
Weekend one is restricted to preorder customers on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC. Weekend two is open to everyone on the supported platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2 players, without a preorder. Activision notes that Nintendo Switch Online will be required for multiplayer participation on Nintendo's console.
The beta will feature several multiplayer maps and modes, with battles ranging from 3v3 matches to larger engagements involving vehicles. Search & Destroy will return alongside Kill Block, the new 10v10 mode that recently received its first public hands-on showing at Fanatics Fest. A Training Mobility Course will also be available.
What Players Can Test
Activision says participants will be able to use as many as 19 weapons, build custom loadouts and unlock equipment, perks and killstreaks during the test. The operator selection includes new characters, while Vault Edition customers will have access to the Hostile Alliance and Special Forces operator packs during the beta.
Kill Block appears to be the most important new mode in the test. It takes place inside the West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility and is designed around a changing battlefield. The company describes it as fast, close-quarters 10v10 Gunfight, so the beta will provide the first broad test of how its shifting layout affects repeated matches.
The beta is also the first public performance test across all four launch platform groups. Modern Warfare 4 is being developed natively for Nintendo Switch 2 by Digital Legends in partnership with Infinity Ward, making the open weekend an early opportunity to compare that version with the Xbox, PlayStation and PC builds.
Switch 2 Preorders Open August 26
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders will begin on August 26, two days before the open beta. Players on the platform do not need to preorder to join the test, but Activision has not yet provided detailed technical specifications for the Switch 2 version. More information is promised closer to the preorder date.
Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to launch worldwide on October 23. Infinity Ward leads development, with Beenox working on the PC edition and several other Activision studios providing additional support.
The August schedule now gives players three distinct dates to track: Call of Duty: NEXT and early access on August 21, Switch 2 preorders on August 26, and the unrestricted open beta on August 28. The open test ends September 1, leaving almost two months between the beta and the full release.
