COD: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Dates Confirmed: Aug 21-25 Early Access, Aug 28-Sept 1 Open

Activision has confirmed the full schedule for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer beta, splitting the test into two distinct weekends before the game’s October 23 launch. According to the official Activision support FAQ, an Early Access Beta for players who have pre-ordered runs from August 21 through August 25 on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, followed by a fully open beta for everyone: including Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time, from August 28 to September 1.

Early Access Beta Runs August 21-25, Tied to Call of Duty: NEXT

Weekend One kicks off immediately after this year’s Call of Duty: NEXT showcase. Activision’s own blog states that the Modern Warfare 4 Beta begins on August 21, kicking off immediately after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast for the first time ever. That early access window is reserved for players who have pre-ordered on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 or PC, as Weekend One begins on August 21 and ends on August 25, with the Early Access Beta available to players who have pre-ordered the game across those platforms.

Notably, Nintendo Switch 2 owners are locked out of this first weekend. As GameSpot reported, the early access period is not available on Switch 2 because Switch 2 preorders don’t begin until August 26, a day after Weekend One has already started.

Open Beta Adds Switch 2 From August 28, No Pre-Order Required

Weekend Two removes the pre-order requirement entirely. Per Activision’s support page, Weekend Two, the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta, requires no preorder and is open to all players on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2, scheduled to begin August 28 and end on September 1. It marks the first time the Modern Warfare franchise has been playable on a Nintendo console.

Nintendo Life, which covers the Switch 2 side of the release closely, confirmed the same window independently, noting the open beta will get underway on 28th August 2026 and runs until 1st September 2026. Infinity Ward is developing the Switch 2 version natively alongside Digital Legends Entertainment, a detail Activision spelled out in its own July blog post.

Weekend One Includes First-Ever Campaign Mission “Entrenched”

Beyond multiplayer, Activision is trying something new with this beta cycle by opening up a slice of the single-player campaign. Nintendo Life reported that Activision and Infinity Ward announced the beta will allow players to experience a campaign mission called “Entrenched”, calling it the first time a Call of Duty beta has given players access to a campaign mission.

Read also: COD: Modern Warfare 4 Beta to Let Players Try Campaign Mission “Entrenched”

On the multiplayer side, testers will get access to five core maps: Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette and Lotus: plus the dynamic Kill Block mode, alongside returning staples like Search and Destroy and a new Training Mobility Course, according to details gathered by Boosting Factory and Dot Esports and corroborated across both outlets’ beta breakdowns.

Vault Edition Buyers Get Extra Operators and Weapons in the Test

Players who pre-order the Vault Edition specifically will be able to use its bundled operators and weapons during the beta itself. GameSpot confirmed that people who preorder the Vault Edition of Modern Warfare 4 can use the operators and weapons included in that version of the game during the beta. Activision has also flagged that an online multiplayer subscription may be required to join on console.

The full game arrives worldwide on October 23, 2026, and for the first time in the series’ history it skips PlayStation 4 and Xbox One entirely, launching only on current-generation hardware: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Switch 2. The story centres on a North Korean invasion of the Korean Peninsula, with Captain Price running a shadow campaign as the conflict spirals beyond anyone’s control.

What Australian and Kiwi Players Should Watch For

Exact regional start times for Call of Duty: NEXT and the beta’s opening hour hadn’t been locked in publicly at the time of writing, with outlets noting the clock times remain subject to confirmation closer to August 21. Australian and New Zealand players eyeing Weekend One should factor in the usual late-night or early-morning kickoff that has accompanied past North American-timed CoD reveals, while Switch 2 owners locally will need to wait for the August 26 pre-order window before jumping into Weekend Two’s open beta on August 28.