Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is officially real, with a full reveal dropping alongside confirmation of an open beta before the October 23 launch. Activision hasn't locked in exact beta dates yet, but based on how previous Call of Duty betas have worked, expect the window to land sometime in September or very early October. If you want in before the general public, there's a clear path to get there.
How do you get early access to the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
Preordering Modern Warfare 4 is the direct route to early beta access. The open beta will run for at least two days, and preordering gets you in before the public phase opens. There's no mention of a platform-exclusive head start this time around, so the preorder route applies regardless of whether you're on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, or PC.
Modern Warfare 4 will not be on Game Pass at launch, which means there's no subscription shortcut to beta access. Preordering is effectively your only guaranteed early entry option.
MW4 preorder early access
After the early access window closes, the beta opens to everyone at no cost. So if you'd rather wait and skip the preorder, you can still play the beta, just not in the first wave.
What platforms will the MW4 beta run on?
The full game launches across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC, and the beta should mirror that lineup. The Switch 2 version is particularly notable because Infinity Ward has described development on that platform as going "so smooth," suggesting a native build rather than a port with compromises.
What's confirmed for Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer?
Multiplayer is getting a set of new and updated modes. The confirmed addition that stands out most is a 10-on-10 version of Gun Game, which scales the classic mode up significantly from its traditional format. Beyond that, Infinity Ward has made "key improvements to the formula" across multiplayer without specifying every change ahead of launch.
Cosmetics are also worth noting. The developers have said MW4's cosmetics will feel "authentic" to the series, which reads as a response to the more outlandish operator skins that divided the community in recent entries.
10v10 Gun Game confirmed
When does Modern Warfare 4 launch?
October 23, 2026 is the confirmed release date across all platforms. The beta will land before that, most likely in September based on Activision's historical timeline for pre-launch tests. No specific beta dates have been announced yet, so watch the official Call of Duty blog for the formal announcement.
October 23 launch confirmed
For everything else coming to the game, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare guides collection will be updated as more details surface from the beta and beyond.