Modern Warfare 4 beta dates: Early access starts Aug. 21

Activision confirmed the beta schedule for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, with early access for players who preorder running Aug. 21–25 and an open beta available Aug. 28–Sept. 1. The beta will run on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

Call of Duty: NEXT on Aug. 21 will present live gameplay and additional multiplayer details ahead of the early access window. Players who preorder on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 or PC will be able to join the first beta weekend immediately after that showcase. The open beta the following week will be available to all players without a preorder.

Activision released a partial list of beta content, including 19 weapons and a selection of multiplayer maps. Confirmed modes include Search & Destroy, Kill Block, a Training Mobility Course, large-scale vehicle combat with tanks and smaller 3v3 team battles. Developers have not published a complete map or operator list for the beta.

The full game is scheduled to launch Oct. 23, 2026, and will include Campaign, Multiplayer and DMZ modes across the same platforms as the beta.

Activision said the beta will allow development teams to collect player feedback on matchmaking, server stability and weapon balance. The staggered windows provide preorder players early access to test those systems before the open weekend.