The countdown to playing the Modern Warfare 4 beta is almost over. Here’s your initial intel on how to watch Call of Duty: Next, along with pre-loading the Early Access Beta right now, and the Weekend One content waiting when the Call of Duty Beta begins this Friday.
I’ll be actually playing among the creators and journalists at Call of Duty: Next, a virtual show this year starting at 9 a.m. Pacific on Friday, August 21. And no, I’m not going to stream my gameplay because it’s going to be very hard competing against all those awesome creators who make a living playing Call of Duty.
Serving as the central command center for Modern Warfare 4, Call of Duty: Next brings together reveals, developer insights, live gameplay, and creator broadcasts from around the world into one global event.
Then, at 11 a.m. Pacific time, the Modern Warfare 4 Beta officially launches. Deploy alongside players worldwide and be among the first to experience everything Weekend One has to offer in Call of Duty’s biggest Beta ever. (I’ve been handing out codes for it on Twitter (deantak) and LinkedIn. Follow me there to request a code.
Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta: Getting Started
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Schedule
Weekend One (Early Access): August 21 at 11:00 AM PT – August 25 at 10:00 AM PT
Weekend Two (Open Beta): August 28 at 10:00 AM PT – September 1 at 10:00 AM PT
Pre-load the Early Access Beta Now
Pre-loading for the Early Access (Weekend One) Beta is now live on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation®5, Steam, and Battle.net. If you’re joining both Beta weekends, you only need to install the Beta once, as any updates and progression will carry over into Weekend Two.
Before you deploy, sign in with your Activision Account to ensure your eligible Beta Rewards are tied to your profile and ready when Modern Warfare 4 launches.
Early Access Eligibility: The Modern Warfare 4 Early Access (Weekend One) Beta is available to players who have redeemed a Beta Code or who have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare 4, either the Standard Edition or the Vault Edition.
Note: A Beta Code is not needed to play the Early Access Beta if you’ve already pre-ordered a digital version of the game. If you’ve pre-ordered a physical edition of the game, the Beta code will be printed on the retail receipt or sent to you via email on an online receipt.
Redeeming Your Beta Code: If you’ve acquired a Beta Code, click here and follow the
instructions to redeem it and access the Beta. Beta codes for Early Access can be acquired through various promotions prior to the Beta.
How to Access and Launch the Beta
Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC
Pre-load (Available Now): Open the XBOX Store and search for Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare 4 Beta, then select Install.
Launch (Available at 11:00 a.m. Pacific on Friday, August 21): Open My Games & Apps, select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta, and choose Play once the Beta is live.
Xbox on PC: During pre-load, a small portion of the Beta will then be downloaded. The
bulk of the download will be available to download on August 21 at 7 a.m. Pacific.
PlayStation 5
Preload (Available Now): Open PlayStation Store, search for Call of Duty: Modern
Warfare 4 Beta and choose Download.
Launch (Available at 11:00 a.m. Pacific on Friday, August 21): Open the Beta from your Home screen or Game Library once it’s live.
Steam (PC)
Preload (Available Now): Open the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Store page, select
Play Now, and Steam will automatically add the Beta to your Library and begin
downloading.
Launch (Available at 11:00 a.m. Pacific on Friday, August 21): Open your Steam Library and select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta when the Beta goes live.
Battle.net (PC)
Preload (Available Now): Open Battle.net, select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4,
choose the Beta version if prompted, and click Install.
Launch (Available at 11:00 a.m. Pacific on Friday, August 21): Press Play once the Beta is live.
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Rewards
Progress through both Weekends of the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, rank up, and unlock cosmetic rewards along the way.
Weekend One: Reach Level 20 to unlock the first five Beta Rewards, culminating with
the “Dread Tiger” Operator Skin for Reece.
Weekend Two: Return to continue progressing to Level 30, unlocking all eight Beta
Rewards, including the “Beta Forged” Weapon Blueprint for the Han 86 Assault Rifle.
These rewards can only be earned during the Modern Warfare 4 Beta and will be available in the full game at launch for players who unlock them.
Beta Rewards
Player Level 4: “Through the Paces” Legendary Emblem
Player Level 8: “First Served” Weapon Charm
Player Level 12: “Meonjeo” Legendary Weapon Sticker
Player Level 16: “Last Charge” Legendary Calling Card
Player Level 20: “Dread Tiger” Operator Skin – Reece
Player Level 23: “Field Tested” Epic Spray
Player Level 26: “Beta Rights” Epic Loading Screen
Player Level 30: “Beta Forged” Weapon Blueprint – Han 86
Additional Rewards
There’s even more to unlock throughout the Modern Warfare 4 Beta. Keep an eye out for
additional cosmetic rewards earned through a variety of activities, including:
Default Items (immediately available): 3 Emblems, 3 Calling Cards, 1 Spray, and 3
Loading Screens
Mobility Course Challenge Reward: Clockwork Charm.
Combat Record Rewards: [CLASSIFIED] Weapon Blueprint, Emblem, and Charm.
[CLASSIFIED] Challenge Reward: [CLASSIFIED].
Twitch Drops
Link your Activision account with Twitch to earn additional rewards by watching your favorite creators during Call of Duty: NEXT and throughout the Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Call of Duty: NEXT Twitch Drops
These rewards are available for watching the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast.
“Gas Ready” Emblem (for watching 15 minutes)
“Rapple Repel” Calling Card (for watching 30 minutes)
“Ghost Helmet” Charm (for watching 45 minutes)
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Twitch Drops
These rewards are available for watching your favorite creator throughout the Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
“Get Tactical” Emblem (for watching 15 minutes)
“Clearing House” Calling Card (for watching 30 minutes)
“Action Ready” Charm (for watching 45 minutes)
For further details on linking your Twitch account, click here.
Modern Warfare 4: Early Access Beta (Weekend One) Content
Intel
Everything below is available during Weekend One, giving you an early look at the Multiplayer, Campaign, and gameplay systems featured in the Modern Warfare 4 Beta.
Looking for a deeper dive? Tomorrow, August 21, Activision will publish a Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta: Everything You Need to Know blog, featuring comprehensive breakdowns of every map, mode, weapon, gameplay system, progression unlock, and more.
Campaign Mission: “Entrenched”
QUICK INTEL:
NEW: For the first time in a Call of Duty Beta, play a Campaign mission.
Join a large-scale assault to prevent the destruction of a vital nuclear power station.
Continue the fight with Campaign Early Access starting October 16 for digital pre-orders, ahead of the full game launch on October 23.
For the first time in Call of Duty Beta history, deploy into a complete Campaign mission before launch. In “Entrenched,” fight alongside friendly infantry and armored vehicles as you battle to prevent a strategically vital nuclear power station from falling into enemy hands.
Mobility Course
Flex your expertise in mobility and make your way through the course as fast as possible.
QUICK INTEL:
NEW: Enter a dedicated training facility built to teach Modern Warfare 4’s expanded
movement and combat systems.
Learn every new maneuver through guided Tutorials before putting your skills to the test in timed Courses.
Return throughout the Beta to improve your ratings, refine your movement, weapon
handling, and marksmanship, and build confidence before your next Multiplayer match.
Whether you’re a new recruit or a returning veteran, the Mobility Course is your proving
ground for Modern Warfare 4’s expanded movement and combat systems. Master new
traversal techniques, sharpen your gunplay, chase faster completion times, and revisit the Courses whenever you want to fine-tune your skills between Multiplayer matches.
Player Progression (Multiplayer)
QUICK INTEL:
Earn XP in Multiplayer matches to increase your Player Level and unlock new gameplay content.
Weekend One: Progress from Levels 1-20, unlocking new weapons, Equipment, Perks, Field Upgrades, Killstreaks, and the first five Beta Rewards.
Weekend Two: The level cap increases to 30, unlocking the remainder of the Beta’s
weapons, Equipment, Perks, and the final three Beta Rewards.
Beta Rewards earned during the Open Beta carry over to the full game at launch.
Every Multiplayer match brings you closer to your next player level and new unlock. Climb through the ranks to expand your arsenal, customize your loadouts, and unlock Create a Class at Level 4. Continue earning XP throughout Weekend One, then return for Weekend Two to complete your progression and unlock even more weapons, Equipment, Perks, and Beta Rewards.
Create a Class and Operators
QUICK INTEL:
Build up to 12 Custom Loadouts, each with its own Operator, Weapons, Equipment,
Perks, Field Upgrade, and Killstreaks.
NEW: Operators are now assigned on a per-loadout basis, giving every Custom Loadout its own identity.
Choose from 21 Operators during the Beta, including military specialists, iconic
characters, and additional Operators available with the Vault Edition.
Unlock Create a Class at Player Level 4 and expand your customization options as you progress.
Modern Warfare 4 streamlines Create a Class by bringing every major loadout choice together into a single menu, making it faster than ever to build specialized loadouts for every combat role. Pair a unique Operator with each Custom Loadout, customize your weapons, Equipment, Perks, Field Upgrade, and Killstreaks, then fine-tune your setup before every deployment.
Operators are now fully integrated into Create a Class, allowing each loadout to feature its own distinctive look, voice, and interchangeable Finishing Move. The Beta includes 21 Operators to choose from, including Operators available through the Vault Edition, with more arriving at launch.
Weapons, Gunsmith, Apex Attachments, Gunny, and Firing Range
QUICK INTEL:
Deploy with 19 weapons spanning nine weapon classes during Weekend One, with three additional weapons becoming available through Campaign or Default Loadouts.
Some Multiplayer weapons unlock at Player Levels 21–30 and therefore become
available during Weekend Two.
Customize your arsenal using the returning Gunsmith, then test every build in the Firing Range before deployment.
NEW: Unlock powerful Apex Attachments by fully leveling supported weapons, adding
unique gameplay effects without using an attachment slot.
NEW: Need a starting point? Gunny can instantly recommend a wide variety of Weapon builds using Attachments you’ve already unlocked.
Additional Weapons arrive with the full game at launch.
The Beta features 19 Multiplayer weapons spanning nine weapon classes. Weekend One gives you access to 14 of those weapons, with the remaining five unlocking as the Player Level cap increases to 30 during Weekend Two. Three additional weapons are accessible through specific Default Loadouts or the Campaign mission, bringing the total number of weapons available across the Beta to 22. Customize supported weapons with Gunsmith, unlock game-changing Apex Attachments by mastering supported weapons, use Gunny to recommend optimized builds, and put every setup through its paces in the Firing Range.
Note: Looking for the complete arsenal? Tomorrow, August 21, our Modern Warfare 4 Beta: Everything You Need to Know blog goes live with the full Beta weapon roster, Gunsmith and Apex Attachment breakdowns, Gunny tips, and complete weapon intel.
Equipment: Tacticals, Lethals, Field Upgrades
QUICK INTEL:
Build every loadout with 9 Tactical Equipment items, 11 Lethals, and 11 Field Upgrades, including new equipment in every category.
Weekend One provides access to the majority of your equipment, with 2 additional
Tacticals, 3 additional Lethals, and 2 additional Field Upgrades unlocking through Player
Levels 21–30 during Weekend Two.
Gather intelligence, breach defended positions, deny enemy movement, defend
objectives, and support your squad with equipment tailored to every combat role.
Additional equipment arrives with the full game at launch.
Every loadout is more than just your Primary and Secondary weapons. Choose Tactical
Equipment to gather intel, disrupt enemy movement, or recover in the heat of battle; Lethal Equipment to clear defenders, deny routes, and secure eliminations; and rechargeable Field Upgrades to support your squad, defend objectives, and create new tactical opportunities.
Continue ranking up throughout the Beta to unlock additional equipment during Weekend Two, expanding your tactical options as the Player Level cap increases.
Killstreaks
QUICK INTEL:
Equip up to three Killstreaks to every Custom Loadout before deploying into Multiplayer.
Earn Killstreaks by achieving consecutive eliminations without being eliminated.
The Beta features 17 Killstreaks, with 8 available during Weekend One and 2 additional Killstreaks unlocking through Player Levels 21–30 in Weekend Two.
Additional Killstreaks arrive when Modern Warfare 4 launches.
From reconnaissance and support to devastating offensive firepower, Killstreaks are powerful combat rewards earned through aggressive play and survival. Choose from new and returning Killstreaks to build your preferred combination for each Custom Loadout, then progress throughout the Beta to unlock additional options as the Player Level cap increases to 30 during Weekend Two.
Perks
QUICK INTEL:
Customize your Operator with the Pick 3 Perk System, equipping one Perk from each of three Perk slots.
Choose from 18 Perks during the Beta, with 17 available during Weekend One and 3
additional Perks unlocking through Player Levels 21–30 in Weekend Two.
Mix and match Perks to support aggressive assaults, stealth, survivability, mobility,
objective play, and tactical awareness.
Additional Perks arrive when Modern Warfare 4 launches.
Perks are passive abilities that define how your Operator performs in combat. Modern Warfare 4’s Pick 3 system enables you to build combinations that complement your preferred weapons, Equipment, and overall playstyle, whether you’re leading the charge, staying off enemy radar, or supporting your squad. Continue progressing throughout the Beta to unlock additional Perks during Weekend Two to complete your available Beta loadout options.
Multiplayer Modes
QUICK INTEL:
Deploy into six Core 6v6 Multiplayer modes during Weekend One.
Play Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, and NEW: Inflation.
From classic objective modes to tactical one-life competition, every mode supports full
Create a Class functionality.
Additional Multiplayer modes become available as the Beta continues, with more modes at launch.
Weekend One brings together Call of Duty’s signature Multiplayer experiences with an all-new way to play. Alongside Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Search and Destroy, jump into Inflation, where every elimination builds your fortune while turning you into an increasingly valuable target. Each mode rewards a different style of play, from coordinated objective control to tactical, one-life precision.
Multiplayer Core 6v6 Maps
QUICK INTEL:
Deploy across five Core 6v6 maps during Weekend One, each offering its own layout,
engagement ranges, and tactical opportunities.
Fight across snow-covered rooftops, dense shopping districts, coastal villages, rail
terminals, and an overgrown bus depot.
Learn every route, flank, and vantage point before additional maps become available
later in the Beta.
More Core Multiplayer maps arrive when Modern Warfare 4 launches.
Every Modern Warfare 4 Beta map delivers a distinct combat experience:
Rooftops: Traverse the snow-covered rooftops of New York’s Hotel Times West using
elevated walkways and multiple routes to outmaneuver the opposition.
Silkworm: Push through a dense South Korean shopping district where storefronts,
alleyways, and apartments keep engagements fast and unpredictable.
Transit 213: Navigate an overgrown Indian bus depot divided by rusting buses,
concealed routes, and long sightlines.
Cachette: Fight through a secret hideout next to a French rail terminal packed with
shipping containers, rooftops, and compact interiors built for constant flanking.
Lotus: Deploy into a battle-scarred Korean fishing village where narrow streets, burning buildings, and abandoned armor create varied engagements from close quarters to long sightlines.
Kill Block and Gunfight
QUICK INTEL:
NEW: Fight across Kill Block, a dynamic combat space that reconfigures every two
rounds into a new Combo of three interconnected Slabs.
Experience Gunfight in both classic 3v3 and the NEW 10v10 variant, exclusive to Kill
Block.
Every map Combo introduces a new randomized shared Loadout, keeping every round fresh.
Eliminate the opposing team or capture the Overtime Flag to secure victory.
Kill Block reimagines Gunfight with an ever-changing combat space built from interconnected Slabs. Every two rounds, a new Combo and randomized shared Loadout transform the flow of the match, demanding constant adaptation. Jump into the classic intensity of 3v3 Gunfight or the new 10v10 variant, where larger teams bring an entirely different dynamic—and considerably more mayhem—to Kill Block’s evolving arenas.
Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence — Coming in Weekend Two
BREAKING INTEL: Call of Duty: Warzone joins the Modern Warfare 4 Beta in Weekend Two, bringing Resurgence to the all-new Zodiac map.
Battle across the DRC Advanced Systems drone assembly and manufacturing headquarters, fighting through offices, rooftops, tunnels, and the surrounding shoreline. Deploy with a choice of default loadout, each tailored to Call of Duty: Warzone, try to stay alive while teammates redeploy, eliminate enemies and complete Contracts to shorten their return timer, and outlast every opposing squad to secure the win.
Warzone Resurgence and Zodiac will be available during Weekend Two of the Modern Warfare 4 Beta. More intel to follow.
Tomorrow, return to the Call of Duty Blog for the complete Modern Warfare 4 Beta:
Everything You Need to Know blog, with detailed coverage of every map, mode, weapon,
gameplay system, progression unlock, and more, across both Weekends of the Beta. Designed as your definitive Beta reference, these overviews and tips will remain available throughout the Beta—and beyond.
It’s worth noting there are 13 studios that worked on the game. They include Infinity Ward as the lead studio. On top of that, other studios were Blizzard Entertainment, Digital Legends, Activision Central Design, Activision Central Technology, Activision QA, Activision Shanghai, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, and Treyarch.