Modern Warfare 4 Beta Goes Live This Week With Call of Duty NEXT, New Gameplay and Exclusive Rewards

Players who do not have Early Access will not have to wait long either. The Open Beta begins on August 28 and will be available to everyone across the supported platforms.

Activision has also confirmed the PC requirements, Beta rewards, Twitch Drops and a separate installation process for the test.

For Call of Duty fans, this is one of the biggest opportunities yet to experience Modern Warfare 4 before its full release.

When Does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta Start?

The Modern Warfare 4 Beta will run across two scheduled weekends.

The first weekend is the Early Access period, beginning at 11:00 a.m. PT on Friday, August 21.

Early Access is available to players who have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Modern Warfare 4 on supported platforms, as well as players who have a qualifying Beta code.

The first Beta weekend is scheduled to end at 10:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, August 25.

The second weekend is the Open Beta.

It begins at 10:00 a.m. PT on Friday, August 28, and runs until 10:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, September 1.

Unlike Early Access, the Open Beta does not require a pre-order or Beta code.

That means players who simply want to try Modern Warfare 4 before launch will have a chance to play during the second weekend.

Call of Duty: NEXT Takes Place Before the Beta

One of the biggest events surrounding the Beta is Call of Duty: NEXT.

Activision has scheduled the event for 9:00 a.m. PT on Friday, August 21.

The event will act as a major information hub for Modern Warfare 4 and is expected to feature gameplay, developer insights, reveals and creator broadcasts.

The Early Access Beta follows at 11:00 a.m. PT.

This creates an important sequence for fans.

Players will first receive new information about Modern Warfare 4 through Call of Duty: NEXT and can then jump into the Beta shortly afterward.

For anyone planning to follow the entire rollout, August 21 is therefore the most important day of the first Beta weekend.

Modern Warfare 4 Beta Preload Begins Today

Players who want to get into the Beta as quickly as possible should pay attention to the preload schedule.

Activision says Early Access Beta preload begins at 9:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, August 20.

The preload is available across the supported platforms participating in Weekend One, with Nintendo Switch 2 excluded from the first Early Access weekend.

Players participating in the Open Beta can begin preloading from 9:00 a.m. PT on Wednesday, August 26.

This is particularly useful for players with slower internet connections.

Instead of waiting for the Beta to become playable before starting the download, players can prepare their systems in advance and be ready when the servers open.

The Beta Is a Separate Download

Activision is changing the installation experience for Modern Warfare 4.

The Beta is being distributed as a separate installation rather than automatically becoming part of the existing Call of Duty installation.

That means players need to find and download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta separately through their platform's digital storefront.

This applies to Xbox, PlayStation and PC players.

The change could make the Beta easier to manage because players will not need to launch it through the main Call of Duty application.

Activision says the full Modern Warfare 4 experience will remain connected to the broader Call of Duty ecosystem when the game launches later this year.

Modern Warfare 4 PC Requirements Revealed

Activision has also published the minimum and recommended PC specifications for the Beta.

The minimum configuration requires:

  • Windows 10 64-bit
  • AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400
  • 12GB RAM
  • AMD Radeon RX 470
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or GTX 1060
  • Intel Arc A580
  • At least 3GB of video memory
  • SSD storage
  • Broadband internet
  • DirectX 12-compatible hardware

The recommended configuration is more demanding.

Players looking for the recommended experience should have:

  • Windows 11 64-bit
  • AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700
  • 16GB RAM
  • AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
  • Intel Arc B580
  • 8GB of video memory
  • SSD storage
  • Broadband internet
  • DirectX 12-compatible hardware

Activision also requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot for PC players.

The company says these security features are part of its efforts to establish a more trusted environment for RICOCHET Anti-Cheat.

Shader Preloading Is Coming to PC

Modern Warfare 4 is also introducing shader preloading for the Beta.

The goal is straightforward: reduce the amount of waiting players experience after launching the game.

Shader compilation has become an important part of modern PC gaming because poorly prepared shaders can contribute to stuttering or extended loading.

Activision says shader preloading will prepare the PC's shaders before players begin playing, helping reduce the time between launching the Beta and entering a match.

That could be particularly useful for players using mid-range gaming PCs.

What Happens to Beta Progress?

Players should understand that Beta progression does not carry over completely.

Player levels, weapon unlocks and other Beta progression will reset after the testing period.

However, eligible Beta rewards earned during the event will carry over to the full game.

This gives players a reason to participate beyond simply testing the multiplayer experience.

During Weekend One, the maximum player level is 20 and players can unlock the first five Beta rewards.

Weekend Two increases the maximum level to 30 and gives players access to all eight rewards.

Among the announced rewards is the Dread Tiger Operator Skin for Reece, while the final reward includes the Beta Forged Weapon Blueprint for the ISO Nightshade SMG.

These rewards will not remain available once the Beta ends, so players who want them need to earn them during the scheduled test.

Twitch Drops Add More Rewards

Activision is also using Twitch Drops during the Modern Warfare 4 Beta.

Players can earn cosmetic items by watching Call of Duty: NEXT and participating Modern Warfare 4 Beta streams after connecting their Activision and Twitch accounts.

The currently announced viewing rewards include:

15 minutes: Get Tactical Emblem

30 minutes: Clearing House Calling Card

45 minutes: Action Ready Charm

This provides another way for players to earn content connected to the Beta without necessarily spending the entire day playing.

Modern Warfare 4 Launch Date

The Beta is only the beginning.

Activision has confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches globally on October 23, 2026.

The game is being developed under the leadership of Infinity Ward and is planned for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

On PC, the game will be available through Battle.net, Xbox on PC and Steam.

The Beta therefore gives players an important preview of a game arriving only a few months after the testing period.

What Players Should Do Before the Beta

Players planning to participate should prepare before August 21.

First, make sure the appropriate Beta installation is available for the platform.

PC players should also verify TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before the Beta begins.

Checking storage space is equally important because the Beta requires an SSD.

Players who have pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 should also make sure they are signed into the correct Activision account.

This is important because progression and eligible rewards are tied to the Activision account.

For PC users, checking the hardware requirements before the Beta begins can also prevent unnecessary frustration.

Why This Beta Matters for Modern Warfare 4

The Beta represents more than a promotional trial.

It gives Infinity Ward and Activision an opportunity to see how the game's multiplayer systems perform under a much larger player population.

Players will be able to test weapons, movement, maps and other multiplayer mechanics before the full October release.

The public response could also influence the conversation surrounding Modern Warfare 4.

Call of Duty launches are judged heavily on multiplayer quality, and the Beta is where players will begin forming their first serious opinions about the new entry.

That makes the next two weeks particularly important for Activision.

Conclusion

The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is about to begin, and Activision has now provided almost everything players need to prepare.

Early Access starts on August 21, following Call of Duty: NEXT, while the Open Beta begins on August 28 and is available to everyone on supported platforms.

PC players should check the newly published hardware requirements, including the TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot requirements, while everyone should remember that the Beta is a separate download.

The test also offers permanent rewards, including Operator cosmetics and weapon blueprints, while Twitch viewers can earn additional items.

With Modern Warfare 4 scheduled to launch on October 23, the Beta is the first major opportunity for the community to decide whether this new entry can deliver the multiplayer experience Call of Duty fans are expecting.

For players interested in the game, the countdown is effectively over.

The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is here.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta start?

Early Access begins at 11:00 a.m. PT on August 21, 2026. The Open Beta begins at 10:00 a.m. PT on August 28.

Is the Modern Warfare 4 Beta free?

The Open Beta is available to everyone and does not require a pre-order or Beta code. Early Access requires a pre-order, pre-purchase or qualifying Beta code.