Players eager to jump into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will have two opportunities to do so via upcoming beta weekends. The first is an early access beta for those who pre-order the game, followed by an open beta available to all.
The early access beta is scheduled to begin on Friday, August 21, at 11 a.m. PDT and will conclude on Tuesday, August 25, at 10 a.m. PDT. Regional start times for the early access beta on August 21 include 2 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. BST, and 8 p.m. CEST, with later times on August 22 in AEST and NZST.
Following the early access period, the open beta will commence on Friday, August 28, at 10 a.m. PDT, running until Tuesday, September 1, at 10 a.m. PDT. This open beta starts at 1 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. BST, and 7 p.m. CEST on August 28, also with later start times on August 29 in AEST and NZST.
Access to the early access beta requires a pre-order of Modern Warfare 4. Players who pre-order physical or digital copies through third-party retailers will need to redeem a beta code on the official Call of Duty website. However, those who pre-order directly through the in-game store or platform storefronts like Steam or PlayStation Network will gain automatic access without needing a code. Beta code giveaways may also be available through platforms like Reddit and social media, and during the Call of Duty: Next Showcase event starting August 21 at 9 a.m. PDT.
The open beta, beginning August 28, does not require a pre-order or a beta code. It will be available for download and play by anyone on Steam, Battle.net, or consoles.
Both beta weekends will feature a variety of maps and modes. The campaign mission "Entrenched" and modes such as Domination, Hardpoint, Inflation, Kill Block, Kill Confirmed, Mobility Course, and Search & Destroy will be available in both beta periods. However, "Ground War: Combat Outpost" and "Hijack" will only be accessible during the open beta. Some maps, like Cachette, Kill Block, Lotus, Rooftops, and Silkworm, will appear in both weekends. Maps like Lithium, Imjin Farmland (Ground War), Wolves Stadium (Ground War), and the Warzone map "Resurgence Zodiac" will be exclusive to the open beta, while Lotus will be limited to the early access beta.
Players can earn in-game rewards for participating in the betas. The early access beta offers rewards up to Level 20, including emblems, weapon charms, stickers, calling cards, and the "Dread Tiger Operator Skin – Reece." The open beta extends these rewards, adding an "Epic Spray" at Level 23, an "Epic Loading Screen" at Level 26, and the "Beta Forged ISO Nightshade Weapon Blueprint" at Level 30. Additional general rewards, challenge rewards, and combat record rewards are also detailed, alongside Twitch Drop incentives such as emblems, calling cards, and charms offered during the CoD Next event and throughout the beta periods.
Pre-loading for the early access beta is available now on Steam and Battle.net, as well as for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S users. Pre-loading for the open beta begins on Wednesday, August 26, at 9 a.m. PDT. Players who participated in the first beta may only need to download updates for the second weekend.
