Written by Andy….
Wildstar Gaming First Look
There’s a surprising amount packed into the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta.
The usual Multiplayer test is only part of the package this time around. Between six-player Multiplayer, 24v24 Ground War, Gunfight, the Entrenched Campaign mission and Warzone Resurgence on Zodiac, Weekend Two gives players a much broader look at what this year’s Call of Duty is offering.
The introduction of Apex Attachments also gives weapon progression something new to experiment with, while the increased Level 30 cap provides plenty to unlock over the four-day Open Beta.
Most importantly, it’s completely free to try. No pre-order and no Beta code are required for Weekend Two.
Having played on the first weekend we’ll be keeping an eye on Modern Warfare 4 as the Open Beta unfolds and as Activision continues to make changes ahead of the full launch on October 23!
Following the Early Access weekend, the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta begins on Friday, August 28, giving everyone the opportunity to jump in for free across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, Battle.net and Nintendo Switch 2!
No pre-order is required for Weekend Two, and there’s considerably more here than a handful of multiplayer matches. The Beta includes traditional 6v6 Multiplayer, larger-scale Ground War battles, Gunfight, a Campaign mission and even Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence.
If you’re planning to play this weekend, here’s everything you need to know.
When Does the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta Start?
The second weekend of the Beta is completely open and available to all players.
Open Beta:
Friday, August 28 at 10:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM BST
Open Beta ends:
Tuesday, September 1 at 10:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM BST
Pre-loading opened on Wednesday, August 26 at 9:00 AM PT / 5:00 PM BST across supported platforms.
There is no pre-order or Beta code required to participate in Weekend Two.
Players who took part in the Early Access weekend can continue their progression rather than starting again.
Which Platforms Can Play?
The Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta will be available on:
- Xbox Series X|S
- Xbox on PC
- PlayStation 5
- Steam
- Battle.net
- Nintendo Switch 2
Cross-platform progression is supported through your Activision Account, allowing eligible progression and Beta rewards to remain connected to your profile when playing across supported platforms.
How to Download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta
Xbox Series X|S
Open the Xbox Store, search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta and select Install.
Once the Beta goes live, it can be launched through My Games & Apps.
Xbox on PC
Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta through the Xbox app and begin the installation.
A smaller portion of the Beta is initially downloaded during pre-load, with the bulk of the PC download becoming available from 7:00 AM PT / 3:00 PM BST on August 28.
PlayStation 5
Open the PlayStation Store, search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta and select Download.
When the Open Beta begins, launch it through the PS5 Home screen or Game Library.
Steam
Find the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta through Steam and select Play Now.
The Beta will be added to your Steam Library and can be launched once the servers go live.
Battle.net
Open Battle.net, select Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, choose the Beta version if prompted and select Install.
Once the Open Beta begins, select Play.
Nintendo Switch 2
Open the Nintendo eShop, search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta, select it and choose Download.
Once installed, return to the HOME Menu and launch the Beta when it becomes available.
Full-game pre-orders for Modern Warfare 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 also begin on August 26, although a pre-order is not required to access the Open Beta.
Nintendo Switch 2 players will also be able to experience support for features including Joy-Con 2 mouse controls, gyro controls, the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, HDR and handheld play.
What Can You Play?
This isn’t just a small multiplayer sampler.
Across the Modern Warfare 4 Beta, Activision is giving players access to several different parts of the game, including traditional Multiplayer, Gunfight, large-scale combat and Campaign content.
Weekend Two also introduces Warzone Resurgence into the Beta.
Multiplayer Modes
The Multiplayer offering includes both established Call of Duty modes and some new additions.
Confirmed modes include:
- Team Deathmatch
- Domination
- Hardpoint
- Kill Confirmed
- Search and Destroy
- Hijack
- Inflation
There is also 3v3 Gunfight played on Kill Block, while larger battles are available through the Combat Outpost Ground War experience.
Activision has also confirmed the return of 10v10 Gunfight on Kill Block during Weekend Two.
Core 6v6 Maps
The Beta includes a selection of the 12 Core 6v6 maps planned for the full game.
Maps featured across the Beta include:
- Cachette
- Lithium
- Lotus
- Rooftops
- Silkworm
- Transit 213
The locations cover a mixture of environments and engagement ranges, from urban streets and rooftops to industrial facilities, rail terminals and damaged coastal locations.
Not every piece of Beta content is necessarily available simultaneously, with maps, modes and playlists being introduced and adjusted as the Beta progresses.
Ground War: Combat Outpost
For players after something bigger than traditional 6v6 combat, Modern Warfare 4 also features 24v24 Ground War through its Combat Outpost mode.
Two large-scale battlegrounds have been confirmed:
- Imjin Farmlands
- Wolves Stadium
These maps combine infantry combat with vehicles and large objectives.
Combat Outpost revolves around capturing positions and then reinforcing them. Continuing to reinforce captured areas can provide team rewards including local UAV coverage, JLTV vehicle drops and even Light Tanks.
Warzone Comes to the Beta
Weekend Two marks the first time Warzone has featured as part of a Call of Duty Beta.
Players will be able to try Warzone Resurgence on the new Zodiac map.
This makes the Open Beta substantially broader than a conventional multiplayer test, with Multiplayer, Campaign and Warzone content all represented during Weekend Two.
There’s a Campaign Mission Too
The Beta also includes a playable Campaign mission called Entrenched.
It provides an early look at the story, characters and world of Modern Warfare 4 ahead of the full game’s launch.
That means players who aren’t solely interested in competitive multiplayer still have something to explore during the Beta period.
Weapons
There are 22 weapons available across the Beta, taken from nine different weapon classes.
The confirmed arsenal includes:
Assault Rifles
- Han 86
- M4
- Hyeon Burst
- Kastov 762
- Patriot XMR
- Axion
Submachine Guns
- ISO Nightshade
- PPSh-41
- X-58 Nyx
- Wz. 55 Striga
Shotguns
- Rezi 12
Light Machine Guns
- FiNN LMG
- Type 73
Marksman Rifles
- MAR-9
- Oris 8.6
Sniper Rifles
- KG-7 Vulcan
- Signal .50
Pistols
- Krait P68
- .50 GS
- Sang 9mm
Launcher
- PILA
Melee
- Combat Knife
There are a couple of restrictions within that list. The Axion and Sang 9mm are available through Default Loadouts, while the Wz. 55 Striga is exclusive to the Campaign mission.
Create a Class and Weapon Customisation
Custom loadouts aren’t immediately available when you first start.
Create a Class unlocks at Player Level 4, with Default Loadouts available until then.
Weapons can then be customised through the Gunsmith system, while Modern Warfare 4 introduces a new feature called Apex Attachments.
Apex Attachments are unlocked by fully levelling supported weapons. They sit separately from standard Gunsmith attachments and don’t consume a normal attachment slot.
Rather than simply changing standard weapon statistics, Apex Attachments can alter how individual weapons function, including different behaviours, fire modes and specialised capabilities.
Each supported Beta weapon has its own Apex Attachment.
Open Beta Progression
Weekend Two raises the maximum Player Level from 20 to 30.
Every Multiplayer match provides XP towards your Player Level, with progression unlocking additional:
- Weapons
- Equipment
- Perks
- Field Upgrades
- Killstreaks
- Beta rewards
Players returning from Weekend One can continue from their existing level.
New players joining for the Open Beta begin at Level 1 and can work their way through the entire progression path up to Level 30.
Daily Challenges also provide additional opportunities to earn XP.
It’s worth noting that Player Level and normal gameplay unlocks will reset once the Beta ends. Eligible cosmetic Beta rewards, however, remain tied to your Activision Account and will be available in the full game.
Modern Warfare 4 Beta Rewards
There are eight main cosmetic rewards available through Beta progression.
Level 4
“Through the Paces” Legendary Emblem
Level 8
“First Served” Weapon Charm
Level 12
“Meonjeo” Legendary Weapon Sticker
Level 16
“Last Charge” Legendary Calling Card
Level 20
“Dread Tiger” Operator Skin for Reece
Level 23
“Field Tested” Epic Spray
Level 26
“Beta Rights” Epic Loading Screen
Level 30
“Beta Forged” Epic Han 86 Weapon Blueprint
These rewards can only be earned during the Beta period.
Players who unlock them will be able to access the eligible rewards in the full version of Modern Warfare 4 when it launches.
Additional Beta Rewards
There are several other cosmetic items available beyond the standard progression rewards.
Immediately available default items include:
- 3 Emblems
- 3 Calling Cards
- 1 Spray
- 3 Loading Screens
Completing the Mobility Course Challenge also rewards the Clockwork Charm.
Activision has additionally listed several currently classified rewards, including a Weapon Blueprint, Emblem and Charm connected to the Combat Record, as well as another classified challenge reward.
Exactly what those rewards are remains under wraps for now.
Twitch Drops
You don’t even have to be playing to start collecting some of the Beta extras.
Players who link their Activision and Twitch accounts can earn rewards by watching participating Modern Warfare 4 Beta streams.
The Beta Twitch Drops include:
- 15 minutes: “Get Tactical” Emblem
- 30 minutes: “Clearing House” Calling Card
- 45 minutes: “Action Ready” Charm
Eligible Twitch Drop rewards will also carry across to the full game.
Changes Following Weekend One
Activision has already been making adjustments based on data and feedback collected during the Early Access Beta.
Updates have included changes to weapon balance and time-to-kill, alongside work on spawning, audio, attachments and bug fixes.
Spawn logic has been adjusted across several modes, with Hardpoint receiving its own dedicated spawn tuning for Weekend Two.
Further adjustments may continue throughout the Open Beta as more players enter the game.
When Does Modern Warfare 4 Release?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is currently scheduled to launch on October 23, 2026.
The Open Beta runs from August 28 until September 1, making this the first opportunity for everyone to try the game without needing to pre-order.