Activision and Nintendo have confirmed that an open beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will run from 28th August to 1st September 2026, giving Nintendo Switch 2 owners an early chance to try the game before its full release. Participation requires only an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription and a Nintendo Account, meaning players will not need to pre-order to take part, even though pre-orders open separately on 26th August. The beta matters because Modern Warfare 4 marks the first Call of Duty title to appear on a Nintendo platform in years, a result of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard and its subsequent 10-year commitment to bring the franchise to Nintendo systems.

Beta Early Access has also been confirmed for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, though notably not for Switch 2, and specific timings and content details for the beta had not been announced at the time of writing. Modern Warfare 4 itself is set to launch on 23rd October 2026, arriving day and date with other platforms. Attention has focused on how the game will perform on Switch 2, a console that has already handled demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Assassin's Creed Shadows, with a stable frame rate seen as essential for a fast-paced shooter.