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MW4 beta dates announced
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Activision launched MW4's Early Access Beta on Aug 21, 2026 at 11am PT for pre-orderers. The open beta starts Aug 28 for all players.
Background
Modern Warfare 4 is the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise. The beta is split into two weekends: an Early Access Beta for those who pre-order, and an Open Beta for everyone. The beta includes new maps, modes, and Warzone content, and the full game launches on October 23, 2026.
How it unfolded
- Aug 19, 2026Activision announced beta details, including PC specs and pre-loading info.
- Aug 20, 2026Pre-loading began at 9am PT. Call of Duty: NEXT event scheduled for the next day.
- Aug 21, 2026Early Access Beta launched at 11am PT for pre-orderers on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
- Aug 25, 2026Early Access Beta ends at 10am PT.
- Aug 28, 2026Open Beta begins at 10am PT for all players, including Nintendo Switch 2.
- Sep 1, 2026Open Beta ends at 10am PT.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Activision calls this 'Call of Duty’s biggest Beta ever' and highlights new maps and modes.
- Players
- Some PC players are pleased that the beta may have removed the long 'Compiling Shaders' wait.
Still unverified
A leak claims Xbox's 25th anniversary controller may release earlier than expected, but this is unconfirmed.