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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s open beta is set for next month, and will offer a chance to take on the fearsome new slaying slab mode
Activision has confirmed pre-release beta testing dates for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, giving players an early chance to try the game's multiplayer before its October launch. The betas will let participants sample new maps, weapons and modes, with particular attention on Kill Block, a new 10v10 mode built around a constantly shifting training-course map designed to keep players on edge.
A pre-order-exclusive test runs from 21 to 25 August, followed by an open beta available to all from 28 August to 1 September. Testers can expect small-scale 3v3 skirmishes and larger tank-featuring battles, up to 19 unlockable weapons, and new Operators, including Vault Edition characters for those who pre-order that version. Modern Warfare 4 launches on 23 October, with a campaign centred on a North Korea-South Korea conflict and Captain Price's return, though the game will not be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.
In short
- Modern Warfare 4 beta dates confirmed for August 2026
- Pre-order beta 21-25 August; open beta 28 August-1 September
- New Kill Block mode and October 23rd launch, no Game Pass
Explained simply
Call of Duty is one of the world's most popular video game franchises, primarily known for its multiplayer modes where millions of players compete online against each other in team-based combat. The Modern Warfare subseries has proved especially popular, combining the multiplayer action that draws most players with optional single-player campaign stories.
Modern Warfare 4 is the latest instalment in this successful series and will launch this autumn. The campaign follows a conflict between North and South Korea and features the return of Captain Price, a character from earlier Modern Warfare games, whilst the multiplayer offers competitive online matches which form the main attraction for most players.
Video game publishers commonly release beta versions ahead of a game's official launch, allowing players to test new features like multiplayer modes, maps and weapons before the full release. For a franchise as popular as Call of Duty, which has tens of millions of regular players worldwide, these beta periods attract considerable interest from the community.
Call of Duty Entertainment Gaming