The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is the first time anyone outside of a show floor gets hands-on with Infinity Ward's new game, and Activision has now confirmed exactly what you'll be dropping into. Two weekends, a brand-new mode built for close-quarters chaos, up to 19 unlockable weapons, and a full slate of Operators — including the entire Vault Edition roster if you pre-ordered the top tier. This guide breaks down every confirmed map, mode, weapon, and Operator in the MW4 Beta, separates it cleanly from what's still rumored, and shows you how to be ready the second servers go live on August 21.
Quick answer (TLDR): The Modern Warfare 4 Beta runs across two weekends. Weekend One (Early Access Beta) is August 21–25 for pre-order players on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. Weekend Two (Open Beta) is August 28–September 1 and is free for everyone on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. Confirmed content: multiple maps and modes, the brand-new Kill Block (10v10 Gunfight), Search & Destroy, a Training Mobility Course, up to 19 unlockable weapons, and a wide Operator selection topped by the eight Vault Edition Operators. The beta kicks off immediately after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast on August 21 — where the full map and mode lineup gets revealed. MW4 itself launches October 23, 2026.
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When does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta start? (Both weekends confirmed)
Activision has locked in the dates. The MW4 Beta runs across two separate weekends, and for the first time ever it kicks off the moment the Call of Duty: NEXT livestream ends on August 21.
| Beta phase | Dates | Who gets in | Platforms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend One — Early Access Beta | Aug 21 → Aug 25 | Pre-order players only | Xbox Series X\ | S, PS5, PC |
| Weekend Two — Open Beta | Aug 28 → Sep 1 | Everyone, no pre-order needed | All platforms, incl. Switch 2 |
The practical read: if you've pre-ordered, you get a four-day head start to learn the maps, grind weapon unlocks, and build muscle memory before the wider player base arrives. If you haven't, Weekend Two is completely free and open — you just come in a week later against people who've already had reps.
Before either weekend, Call of Duty: NEXT airs on August 21 — a global event with live gameplay, a full briefing on the multiplayer content lineup, developer insights, and new reveals. This is where the complete map list gets shown off, so treat August 21 as the real information drop.
"Get ready to drop into multiple Multiplayer maps and modes, choosing from a wide selection of brand-new Operators… and unlocking as many as 19 different weapons before deploying into everything from small-scale 3v3 skirmishes to massive tactical battles featuring tanks and more."
— Call of Duty Blog (Infinity Ward), July 2026
New to the MW4 cluster? Our companion breakdown covers eligibility and setup in depth: Modern Warfare 4 Beta: Release Date, Early Access & How to Get In.
What modes are in the MW4 Beta? (Kill Block, Search & Destroy & more)
Three modes are officially confirmed for the beta so far, with more promised at Call of Duty: NEXT.
Kill Block — the brand-new 10v10 mode
Kill Block is the headline addition and the mode that debuted publicly at Fanatics Fest in New York. Here's what Activision has confirmed about it:
- It's set within the West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility.
- Matches are fast, aggressive 10v10 Gunfight encounters.
- The environment is an adaptive live-fire training space — an ever-changing battleground that rewards repeat play and forces you to rethink tactics from match to match.
That "ever-changing" design is the interesting part: Kill Block isn't a static map you memorize once. It's built to shift, so the meta inside it is meant to stay fresh across a session. Expect it to be the mode most streamers hammer during the beta.
Search & Destroy
The competitive staple returns. No surprises here — it's the mode most ranked players will use to test the new gunplay and movement under pressure.
Training Mobility Course
A dedicated space to learn MW4's fluid movement system before you take it into a live match. If MW4's movement has been reworked (as Infinity Ward has teased), this is where you'll feel the differences first — slide, mount, and traversal timing all count.
Beyond modes, the beta lets you build loadouts with the optional help of Gunny (MW4's loadout assistant) and level up to unlock weapons, Tacticals, Lethals, Field Upgrades, Perks, and Killstreaks — essentially a slice of the full progression sandbox.
Still rumored / TBD: the exact map count and map names have not been officially listed yet. Activision has only confirmed "multiple maps." Anyone publishing a definitive MW4 beta map list right now is working off leaks, not the official post — wait for Call of Duty: NEXT on August 21 for the confirmed lineup.
How many weapons can you unlock in the MW4 Beta?
Officially, you can unlock as many as 19 different weapons during the beta by leveling up. That's a deep pool for a beta — enough to sample multiple weapon classes and start figuring out which guns feel right before launch.
If you pre-ordered the Vault Edition, you get an immediate head start with the Signature Weapons Collection — you can test the base weapon, its Blueprint, and its Apex Attachment for all five armaments from the jump:
| Signature weapon | Class | Blueprint |
|---|---|---|
| Kastov 762 | Assault Rifle | "Voltspine" |
| ISO Nightshade | SMG | "La Sombra Venenosa" (The Poisonous Shadow) |
| Rezi 12 | Shotgun | "Shattered Code" |
| Oris 8.6 | Marksman Rifle | "Volt-Edge" |
| Combat Knife | Melee | "Sombra Besada" (Shadow's Kiss) |
For the deeper mechanics behind MW4's arsenal — including the new Gunsmith and Apex Attachment system — see our full Modern Warfare 4 Weapons & Apex Attachments guide.
The beta deliberately spans the full scale range — from tight 3v3 skirmishes all the way up to massive tactical battles featuring tanks — so you'll get a feel for how MW4 plays at both extremes before launch.
Which Operators are in the MW4 Beta?
The beta features a wide selection of brand-new Operators, and Vault Edition pre-order players get the complete premium roster — eight Operators across two packs.
Hostile Alliance Operator Pack (Vault Edition)
- Price — can be played masked or unmasked (via the emote system)
- Valeria — can be played masked or unmasked (via the emote system)
- Ghost
- Blix
Special Forces Operator Pack (Vault Edition)
Each of these ships with a Voice Pack in its local language:
- COM SFT (France)
- KSK Amphibious (Germany)
- SK Special Forces (South Korea)
- SAS (United Kingdom)
If you're on the Standard Edition or playing the free Open Beta weekend, you still get access to the base pool of brand-new Operators — you just don't get the eight Vault-exclusive skins.
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Is the MW4 Beta on Nintendo Switch 2?
Yes — but with a timing nuance. Nintendo Switch 2 players get into the Open Beta (Weekend Two, Aug 28–Sep 1), which is open to all platforms. Switch 2 is not listed for the Early Access weekend (that's Xbox, PlayStation, and PC only).
There's a second Switch-specific date to know: Modern Warfare 4 pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 begin on August 26. So the Switch 2 pre-order window opens between the two beta weekends — you can jump into the Open Beta first and decide from there. MW4 being on Switch 2 at all is notable: it's the first mainline Call of Duty on a Nintendo platform in over a decade.
For the full platform and carry-over picture, see Modern Warfare 4 Crossplay & Cross-Progression.
Does MW4 Beta progress carry over to launch? (Confirmed vs. rumored)
This is the question everyone asks, so let's be precise about what's actually confirmed.
- Confirmed: Activision has stated there will be "exclusive Beta rewards and other surprises", with details coming "in the weeks to come." So the beta will have earnable rewards.
- Not confirmed: whether your weapon XP, ranks, or unlocks from the beta carry into the full October 23 launch. The official post has not stated this.
Historically, Call of Duty betas reset all progression at the full launch — your beta levels don't transfer — but beta reward items (skins, blueprints, calling cards earned through beta challenges) do carry into the full game. That's the pattern from recent titles, not an MW4 guarantee. Treat beta-to-launch carry-over as likely-reset-for-progress, reward-items-carry until Activision confirms the MW4 specifics. We'll update this section the moment the official reward details drop.
How to be ready when the beta goes live
The beta is a rehearsal, and the players who show up already sharp get the most out of it. A few practical moves before August 21:
- Pre-order if you want Weekend One — the Early Access weekend is pre-order-locked (Xbox/PS5/PC). No pre-order? Weekend Two is free.
- Free up storage now. Betas are large downloads; clear space before NEXT ends so you're not stuck installing while friends are already queuing.
- Warm up your aim and movement in the live games. MW4's beta is short — you don't want to spend it re-learning fundamentals.
Since MW4 isn't out yet and there's no MW4 product to buy, the smartest prep is getting your current Call of Duty account and skills in shape now, so you hit the beta — and launch — ready to compete instead of grinding from zero.
Get set up before the MW4 Beta drops (via timesaver.gg):
- CoD Account & Weapon Leveling — skip the grind, level fast with pro players
- CoD Bot Lobbies — easy lobbies to warm up and pad stats
- CoD Camo Unlocks (BO7) — mastery camos, fast and secure
The community mood heading into NEXT is telling, too: a lot of players expect the August 21 broadcast to lean heavily into the reworked DMZ/extraction experience, partly on the back of how well extraction shooters have performed elsewhere this year. Whether that steals the show from multiplayer is the big open question. For where Warzone fits into all this, read Modern Warfare 4 + Warzone Integration Explained, and for the camo grind ahead, see Modern Warfare 4 Camos: How Mastery Camos Unlock.
FAQ
| When does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta start? The Early Access Beta (Weekend One) runs August 21–25 for pre-order players on Xbox Series X\ | S, PS5, and PC. The Open Beta (Weekend Two) runs August 28–September 1 and is free for everyone on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. Both kick off after the Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast on August 21. |
|---|
Do you need to pre-order to play the MW4 Beta? For Weekend One (Early Access), yes — it's limited to players who pre-ordered on Xbox, PlayStation, or PC. Weekend Two (Open Beta) requires no pre-order and is open to all players on all platforms.
How many weapons can you unlock in the MW4 Beta? Activision has confirmed you can unlock as many as 19 different weapons by leveling up during the beta. Vault Edition pre-order players also get immediate access to the five Signature Weapons (with their Blueprints and Apex Attachments).
What is Kill Block in Modern Warfare 4? Kill Block is a brand-new mode set in the West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility. It features fast, aggressive 10v10 Gunfight matches in an adaptive, ever-changing live-fire training environment designed to reward repeat play. It debuted publicly at Fanatics Fest and is confirmed for the beta.
Is the MW4 Beta on Nintendo Switch 2? Yes, for Weekend Two (the Open Beta, Aug 28–Sep 1), which is open to all platforms. Switch 2 is not part of the Early Access weekend. Separately, MW4 pre-orders for Switch 2 begin August 26.
Does MW4 Beta progress carry over to the full game? Activision has confirmed there will be exclusive beta rewards but has not confirmed whether weapon XP and unlocks carry to the October 23 launch. Based on recent Call of Duty titles, expect progression to reset while earned reward items carry over — but this is not yet officially confirmed for MW4.
