Activision has announced that the betas for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will be stacked with modes, as it tries to win back players. The game's launch is set for October 23, 2026, and developer Infinity Ward is staging several beta tests ahead of that date.
Beta Details and Modes
For the first time ever, the beta will contain a campaign mission entitled Entrenched, Warzone's new Zodiac Resurgence map, along with the multiplayer suite. The first beta, running from August 21 to August 25, will be open to players who pre-order any edition of the game. It includes access to the campaign mission, along with multiplayer maps Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, Lotus, and Kill Block. The latter is tied to a specific mode where you play on a modular map that reconfigures its layout between matches.
This beta contains multiplayer modes Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Inflation, Search & Destroy, Kill Block, and the Mobility Course. Starting from August 28, anyone can dive into the open beta, which includes all the aforementioned modes and maps, along with the new Warzone Resurgence map, Zodiac. Players will also get access to Ground War and the multiplayer mode Hijack. This beta concludes on September 1, 2026.
Context and Reception
Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 saw the franchise take its biggest knock in years, as Battlefield 6 stole the spotlight in both sales and critical acclaim. Activision doesn't have to worry about competition from another Battlefield this year, but with all the negativity around Black Ops 7 (the publisher even sort of apologised for it), it has a lot to prove with this year's Modern Warfare 4. The beta is missing the DMZ mode, which is the game's equivalent of an extraction shooter.
Modern Warfare 4 is in an awkward position, as it's been in development for years prior to Black Ops 7, so it can't implement any drastic changes it perhaps needs. It's also coming off the success of the Black Ops 1 and 2 ports on PlayStation 5 – so in many ways it's competing against itself. Modern Warfare 4 does have some things going for it though, with a new Korean setting, expanded movement options, and improved gunplay.
Platforms and Next Steps
The open beta will be playable on the Nintendo Switch 2, with Modern Warfare 4 being the first Call Of Duty to simultaneously launch on the console, alongside the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Activision is set to show off more from Modern Warfare 4 at the Call Of Duty Next on August 21, including a first look at the Zodiac map and gameplay from Kill Block.
