Modern Warfare 4 gets open beta in August

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is getting its first major playtests next month. The latest installment in the series — which, of course, shouldn’t be mistaken for 2007’s Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare — will have an open beta on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Those who pre-order the game get to play the beta for an additional weekend.

As for what the playtest will include, it will have a “wide selection of brand-new Operators,” which are Call of Duty’s unique playable characters. It will also feature 19 unlockable weapons and a variety of modes, including 3v3 skirmishes and “tactical battles featuring tanks and more.” The fan-favorite Search & Destroy mode, a Training Mobility Course, and the main new addition, Kill Block, will also make an appearance.

“Kill Block is a modular Multiplayer battleground that reconfigures every match, challenging players to rethink routes, sightlines, and combat spaces on the fly,” the Call of Duty official blog reads. Basically, it’s a modular map that changes between rounds, using various pre-made parts that can be arranged in “more than 500 configurations.”

The pre-order exclusive early access period for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s beta goes from Aug. 21 to Aug. 25, while the open period is from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1. The Nintendo Switch 2 version won’t have an early access period. While the beta is free for everyone during its second test, a “multiplayer subscription may be required.” Considering that PlayStation Network and Xbox generally allow users to play free multiplayer games without being subscribers, this clause is probably referring to the Nintendo Switch 2 version, as Nintendo has gated free betas behind Switch Online in the past.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was announced earlier this year, and is set for an Oct. 23 release date. Those who digitally pre-order will be able to play the single-player mode a week early. The campaign is set in Korea and follows the outbreak of a new conflict between the North and South. In addition to standard PvP multiplayer, the game will also feature the extraction shooter mode DMZ, first featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022).

In recent years, the Modern Warfare subseries has drawn a lot of hate. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is one of the worst-reviewed games in series history due to its lackluster single-player mode. Meanwhile, many fans were not happy withCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) due to its much slower-paced movement. Then, there’s ongoing dissatisfaction with the “clowny” multiplayer skins the series has come to be known for. Infinity Ward has promised to fix each of these problems, but we’ll have to wait until October to find out if Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 can restore the series’ reputation.