For the first time in more than two decades of Call of Duty betas, you can play a slice of the single-player campaign before the game launches. That slice is Entrenched — the one story mission Infinity Ward dropped into the Modern Warfare 4 beta, and it's playable across both beta weekends right now.
If you're wondering whether the campaign is really in the beta, how to load Entrenched, whether it's co-op, and what it tells us about the full MW4 story landing October 23, this guide answers all of it — verified against Activision's official beta details, with the sources cited.
⚡ TL;DR — MW4 Entrenched, the quick answer
- Yes, the campaign is in the beta. One playable single-player mission — Entrenched — is included alongside Multiplayer and Warzone. This is the first time a Call of Duty beta has ever included a campaign mission (Call of Duty official blog).
- When: Playable in both beta weekends — Early Access Aug 21–25 and the free Open Beta Aug 28–Sep 1, 2026.
- What it is: A large-scale ground assault — you fight as part of a South Korean marine squad pushing through trench warfare to hold a strategically vital nuclear power station, backed by friendly infantry and armored vehicles.
- Solo only: Entrenched is a single-player experience in the beta — no co-op, no matchmaking required.
- Full campaign release: The complete MW4 campaign arrives with the full game on October 23, 2026.
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Is the campaign really in the MW4 beta?
Yes — and it's genuinely a series first. Every prior Call of Duty beta let you test multiplayer (and, in some years, Zombies or a mode preview), but never a campaign mission. Activision and Infinity Ward broke that tradition for Modern Warfare 4.
The official Call of Duty account put it plainly: "For the first time ever: Multiplayer. Campaign. Call of Duty: Warzone. All in one Beta." Activision's own blog framed the campaign slice the same way — "For the first time in Call of Duty Beta history, deploy into a complete Campaign mission before launch."
So the MW4 beta is unusually stacked. You're testing three pillars at once:
- Multiplayer — five 6v6 maps, six game modes, 19 weapons, and a redesigned Create a Class system in Weekend One.
- Campaign — the single Entrenched mission, available both weekends.
- Warzone — the first time the battle royale has ever appeared in a CoD beta.
Entrenched sits apart from the multiplayer content. It's not tied to Kill Block, Ground War, or the Warzone map — it's a standalone story mission you launch from the campaign tile in the beta menu.
What is the Entrenched mission about?
Entrenched is a set-piece ground battle. You play as part of a South Korean marine unit fighting an uphill offensive through trench lines as an invasion intensifies, defending a strategically important nuclear power station (TechTimes). It's built to show off scale: you push objectives alongside friendly infantry and get armored personnel carrier / vehicle support rather than fighting as a lone operator.
That framing is a deliberate signal. Modern Warfare 4's campaign leans into large-unit, war-movie combat — trenches, armor, and squad-scale firefights — rather than the tight stealth corridors of some past entries. Entrenched is the developer's chosen shop-window for that tone, which is why they're showing it so aggressively ahead of launch.
If you want the wider story context — the confirmed operators, factions, and campaign structure heading into October 23 — read our full MW4 campaign and early-access story breakdown.
How to play Entrenched in the MW4 beta
Getting into Entrenched is straightforward once you're in the beta. Here's the exact path:
| 1. Get beta access. Weekend One (Early Access, Aug 21–25) required a pre-order or a beta code on PS5, Xbox Series X | S, or PC (Steam / Battle.net). Weekend Two (Open Beta, Aug 28–Sep 1) is free for everyone on all platforms, including Switch 2 — no pre-order needed. |
|---|
- Preload and launch the beta client. If you haven't downloaded yet, follow our MW4 beta preload and download guide to be ready before your window opens.
- Open the Campaign tile. From the beta main menu you'll see Multiplayer, Campaign, and Warzone. Select Campaign to load Entrenched — it does not require you to reach any multiplayer level first.
- Play solo. Entrenched runs as a single-player mission. There's no lobby to fill and no co-op partner slot; you drop straight into the mission.
Because it's available in both weekends, there's no rush to squeeze it in during Early Access. If you miss it Aug 21–25, you can play it free from Aug 28.
Is Entrenched co-op or single-player?
Single-player only. Despite the large-scale battlefield and the squad of friendly marines around you, those allies are AI — Entrenched is not a co-op mission and doesn't support split-screen or matchmaking in the beta. The "fight alongside infantry and armored vehicles" framing refers to scripted teammates, not other players.
This matches how the full MW4 campaign is structured: a traditional single-player story experience, releasing with the complete game on October 23, 2026.
Does Entrenched progress carry over to the full game?
No — beta progress, including anything you do in Entrenched, does not carry into the retail release. Beta levels, unlocks, and campaign progress are wiped when the beta ends; the mission exists as a preview, not a save you continue. (The beta rewards you earn by leveling up — an operator skin and a weapon blueprint — do transfer to the full game.) For the exact reward tiers and how to unlock them, see our MW4 beta rewards guide.
If you're wondering about your existing Modern Warfare progression carrying forward to MW4 at launch, that's a separate question we cover in the MW4 carry-over and cross-progression breakdown.
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How long is the Entrenched mission?
Activision hasn't published an official runtime, and mission length varies with difficulty and how thoroughly you push objectives. Based on how the beta slice is structured — a single, contained set-piece rather than a full act — expect a focused session in the 15–30 minute range for one playthrough on a standard difficulty. Because it's the same mission both weekends, it's less about length and more about being your first hands-on read of MW4's campaign feel, gunplay, and the new movement system.
Speaking of feel: Entrenched is also a clean way to test the reworked traversal without multiplayer pressure. If the movement feels different to you, our MW4 omnimovement explainer covers exactly what changed.
Entrenched vs the rest of the MW4 beta: what to prioritize
With three pillars live and limited time, here's a practical order of attack for the beta weekends:
| Content | Why play it | Time value |
|---|---|---|
| Entrenched (Campaign) | Series-first, both weekends, best read on story tone + gunplay | Play once — it doesn't change |
| Multiplayer (5 maps, 6 modes) | Where most of your launch hours go; maps rotate between weekends | Highest — grind and test loadouts |
| Kill Block (new mode) | Brand-new procedural mode; see our Kill Block explainer | Medium — novelty + rewards |
| Warzone | First BR in a beta; test the Zodiac Resurgence map | Medium-high if you're a WZ main |
The multiplayer grind is where your beta level (cap 20 in Weekend One, 30 in Weekend Two) and reward unlocks come from — Entrenched itself doesn't feed that progression. If you want those level-gated rewards, spend most of your time in MP and lean on our beta level-up guide.
Get your MW4 setup locked before October 23
Entrenched is a taste — the real grind starts when the full game unlocks on October 23, and the players who dominate week one are the ones who don't burn the launch window grinding levels and camos. Our MW4 services are live and pre-orderable now, so your account is ready to compete on day one:
Lock in your MW4 setup before launch:
- MW4 Bot Lobbies — the fastest, safest way to farm XP, weapon levels, and camo progress in low-resistance lobbies. Start here.
- MW4 Account Leveling — hit your target military rank and prestige without the launch-week grind.
- MW4 Weapon Leveling — unlock every attachment on your favorite guns before the meta settles.
- MW4 Mastery Camo Unlock — skip straight to the mastery camo grind and flex from launch day.
Explore everything at the timesaver.gg MW4 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the campaign in the Modern Warfare 4 beta? Yes. One playable single-player campaign mission — Entrenched — is included alongside Multiplayer and Warzone. It's the first time a Call of Duty beta has ever included a campaign mission.
Is Entrenched co-op or single-player? Single-player only. The friendly marines and armored vehicles around you are AI teammates — there's no co-op, split-screen, or matchmaking for the mission in the beta.
Can I play Entrenched in the free open beta? Yes. Entrenched is available in both the Early Access weekend (Aug 21–25) and the free Open Beta (Aug 28–Sep 1), so you don't need a pre-order to try it — just jump in during Weekend Two.
Does Entrenched progress carry over to the full game? No. All beta progress is wiped before launch, and Entrenched is a preview mission, not a continuing save. However, the beta reward unlocks you earn (an operator skin and a weapon blueprint) do transfer to the full game.
How long is the Entrenched mission? Activision hasn't given an official runtime, but as a single contained set-piece expect roughly 15–30 minutes for one playthrough on standard difficulty. It's the same mission in both weekends.
When does the full MW4 campaign release? The complete Modern Warfare 4 campaign launches with the full game on October 23, 2026. Entrenched is the only campaign content available during the beta.
