The paid early-access weekend is over, but the biggest one is still coming: Beta Weekend 2 is a fully open, free Modern Warfare 4 beta — no pre-order, no code, every platform, including Nintendo Switch 2. It runs August 28 through September 1, 2026, and you can start pre-loading it days before.
If you skipped Weekend 1 because it was locked behind a pre-order, this is your window to try MW4 for free before it launches on October 23, 2026. Below is exactly when it starts on your platform, how to download it, what's new in Weekend 2, and which rewards carry into the full game — all verified against Activision's official beta details.
⚡ TL;DR — MW4 Open Beta Weekend 2, the quick answer
- It's free and open to everyone. Weekend 2 requires no pre-order and is available on all platforms — Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC (Battle.net and Steam), and Nintendo Switch 2 (Activision Support).
- When: August 28 (10:00 AM PT) through September 1 (10:00 AM PT), 2026.
- Pre-load: Starts 9:00 AM PT on Wednesday, August 26 on all platforms — download early so you're playing the second it goes live.
- What's new vs Weekend 1: A higher level cap (up to Level 30), all 8 beta rewards unlockable, the Ground War: Combat Outpost mode, and the new Zodiac Resurgence map in Warzone.
- Rewards carry over: Beta reward unlocks (an operator skin and a weapon blueprint) transfer to the full game; your beta rank progress does not.
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When is the MW4 Open Beta (Weekend 2)?
Weekend 2 is the Open Beta — the free, no-strings phase. Here's how the two weekends compare, straight from Activision's official schedule:
| Phase | Dates | Start / end time (PT) | Access | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend 1 — Early Access | Aug 21–25, 2026 | 11:00 AM PT Aug 21 → 10:00 AM PT Aug 25 | Pre-order required | Xbox, PS5, PC |
| Weekend 2 — Open Beta | Aug 28 – Sep 1, 2026 | 10:00 AM PT Aug 28 → 10:00 AM PT Sep 1 | Free, no pre-order | Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch 2 |
To convert the start time to your zone: 10:00 AM PT = 1:00 PM ET = 6:00 PM BST = 7:00 PM CEST on Friday, August 28. The beta then runs continuously — you don't have to log in at a specific hour, just anytime before the Tuesday-morning cutoff.
For a deeper breakdown of the early-access phase and how the two weekends differ, see our MW4 beta release date and early access guide.
Do you need to pre-order to play the Weekend 2 beta?
No. This is the single most important thing to know: Weekend 1 was locked to players who pre-ordered, but Weekend 2 is open to everyone at no cost. Activision's official beta page states it plainly: "No preorder required. Open to all players on all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2." (Activision Support)
That means:
- No purchase, no beta code, no sign-up gate. Just download and play.
- All platforms are in, including the first-ever Call of Duty beta on Nintendo Switch 2. (Switch 2 players — our MW4 on Switch 2 breakdown covers what to expect on the handheld.)
- PC gets two storefronts: the beta is available on both Battle.net and Steam.
You will need a free Activision Account to play and to keep your progression synced across platforms — more on that below.
How do you download and pre-load the MW4 open beta?
The smart move is to pre-load so you're not stuck downloading a ~20 GB file while everyone else is already playing. Pre-load for Weekend 2 opens at 9:00 AM PT on Wednesday, August 26 on every platform.
Here's where to grab it per platform:
- PlayStation 5: Search "Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta" on the PS Store, or find the beta tile on the MW4 store page, and select Download.
| - **Xbox Series X | S:** Find the MW4 Open Beta in the Microsoft Store (or the MW4 game hub) and install it. |
|---|
- PC (Battle.net): Open Battle.net, select Call of Duty, choose the Beta version from the dropdown, and install.
- PC (Steam): Search the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta in your Steam library/store and install.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Download the Open Beta from the Nintendo eShop.
If the beta doesn't appear yet, it's because pre-load hasn't gone live in your region — it unlocks at 9:00 AM PT on Aug 26. Our full MW4 beta preload and download guide walks through the exact steps and file sizes if you hit a snag, and our MW4 beta not working fixes post covers the common install and launch errors.
What's new in Weekend 2 compared to Weekend 1?
Weekend 2 isn't just Weekend 1 reopened for free — Infinity Ward is adding content and raising the ceiling. Three things change:
- A higher level cap and every reward. Weekend 1 capped progression lower and gated the top rewards. In Weekend 2, the cap rises to Level 30 and all 8 beta rewards become unlockable — including the headline "Beta Forged" Han 86 assault rifle blueprint at Level 30.
- Ground War: Combat Outpost. The large-scale mode joins the rotation, played across purpose-built maps (reported as Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium) — vehicles, big teams, and objective-based combat, a very different feel from the tight 6v6 maps.
- The new Zodiac Resurgence map in Warzone. Weekend 2 introduces Zodiac, a fresh Resurgence map, giving battle-royale players something new to test. We broke down what's known about it in our MW4 beta Warzone and Zodiac map guide.
For the complete map-and-mode rundown across both weekends, see our MW4 beta maps, modes and weapons guide.
What can you actually play in the open beta?
The MW4 beta is unusually stacked — Activision's own line is that it's the first time all three pillars appear together: "For the first time ever: Multiplayer. Campaign. Call of Duty: Warzone. All in one Beta." Here's what's on the menu in Weekend 2:
- Core 6v6 Multiplayer — the beta's map rotation features maps reported as Transit 213, Rooftops, Silkworm, Cachette, Lotus, and Lithium, across modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Search & Destroy.
- Kill Block — MW4's new mode built on a procedurally assembled "Slab" map that reshapes each match.
- Gunfight — classic 3v3 rounds plus a new 10v10 variant.
- Ground War: Combat Outpost — the large-scale, vehicle-driven mode (new to Weekend 2).
- Warzone — including the new Zodiac Resurgence map.
- Campaign — the single Entrenched story mission, playable in both weekends. It's the first campaign content ever in a CoD beta; we covered it in our MW4 Entrenched campaign mission guide.
That's five game types plus a campaign mission — genuinely a lot to test in one weekend, which is exactly why pre-loading matters.
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What rewards can you unlock, and do they carry over?
Playing the beta earns 8 in-game rewards tied to your beta Player Level. In Weekend 2, with the cap raised to Level 30, all of them are obtainable. The confirmed headline unlocks include the "Dread Tiger" operator skin for Reece and the "Beta Forged" weapon blueprint for the Han 86 assault rifle, with smaller cosmetics (emblems, stickers, charms, and XP tokens) filling the lower tiers.
Two rules on carry-over that trip people up:
- Reward unlocks transfer to the full game. The skin, blueprint, and cosmetics you earn in the beta will be waiting in your MW4 inventory at launch on October 23.
- Your beta rank does not. All beta progression (your Player Level, unlocked attachments in-beta) is wiped before launch — you start the full game from scratch. For the bigger picture on what does and doesn't survive, read does your progress carry over to Modern Warfare 4.
Because the reward unlocks stick, hitting Level 30 in Weekend 2 is the most efficient use of the free weekend. Our MW4 beta how to level up fast guide has the fastest XP routes.
Is the MW4 open beta worth playing?
Short answer: yes, if you're even considering buying MW4 — it's free, it's the most content-rich CoD beta yet, and it's your only pre-launch shot at the game. A few honest caveats from the Weekend 1 community feedback: some players felt the time-to-kill is fast and PC optimization was rough on certain rigs, so treat it as a genuine test rather than the finished product. That's what a beta is for — and Infinity Ward tunes based on exactly this weekend.
If your goal is to hit the ground running on launch day, October 23, the beta is also the perfect time to plan your grind. Beta rank resets, but your muscle memory, settings, and a locked-in pre-order and edition plan don't.
Get your MW4 setup ready before October 23
The beta resets, but launch day doesn't wait. If you want to skip the grind and hit the ground running when MW4 goes live, our done-for-you services are ready day one — bot lobbies first for the fastest, safest XP:
Lock in your MW4 setup before launch:
- MW4 Bot Lobbies — private, low-resistance lobbies to farm XP, weapon levels, and camo progress on easy mode. From $5.90. Start here.
- MW4 Weapon Leveling — max any gun and unlock every attachment without the grind.
- MW4 Account Leveling — skip the rank grind with pro players.
- MW4 Mastery Camo Bundle — all mastery camos, fast and secure.
- All MW4 services — the full Modern Warfare 4 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to pre-order to play the MW4 open beta? No. Weekend 2 (August 28 – September 1) is a fully open beta — free, no pre-order and no code required, on all platforms including Nintendo Switch 2. Only Weekend 1 (August 21–25) was gated behind a pre-order.
When does the MW4 open beta start and end? Weekend 2 begins at 10:00 AM PT on Friday, August 28, 2026, and ends at 10:00 AM PT on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. That start time is 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST / 7:00 PM CEST.
When can I pre-load the MW4 open beta? Pre-load opens at 9:00 AM PT on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, on all platforms. Download it early so you can play the moment the beta goes live on August 28.
| What platforms is the MW4 open beta on? Xbox Series X | S, PlayStation 5, PC (via both Battle.net and Steam), and Nintendo Switch 2. It's the first Call of Duty beta ever available on Switch 2. |
|---|
Do MW4 beta rewards carry over to the full game? The reward unlocks — the Dread Tiger operator skin, the Beta Forged Han 86 blueprint, and the other cosmetics — transfer to the full game at launch. Your beta rank and in-beta progression are wiped; only the reward unlocks stick.
Is the MW4 open beta the last chance to play before launch? Yes. Weekend 2 is the final beta period before Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, 2026. After the open beta closes on September 1, the next time you play is the full release.
