Modern Warfare 4 Beta: Everything You Need to Know Before August 21

Activision says players can unlock up to 19 weapons during the beta. Vault Edition owners also get access to that edition’s Operators and Signature Weapon Collection during the test.

Which maps are in the beta?

Kill Block is the clearest confirmed beta map. Infinity Ward designed it as a changing training facility, with sections that rotate between rounds. The map supports the smaller Gunfight formats and is also being used for the 10v10 version of the mode.

Weekend Two expands the test with Warzone content. The new Zodiac Resurgence map is scheduled to appear alongside additional Ground War maps. Warzone is not part of the first Early Access weekend.

The complete day-by-day beta rotation has not been published. Activision has talked about multiple multiplayer maps, but it has not provided a final list showing which map appears in which playlist. The full game will have more multiplayer content than this test can show, and the beta map count is still unconfirmed.

Launch plans include large-scale battles and the DMZ extraction mode, but DMZ has not been announced as playable during either beta weekend.

What do PC players need?

Activision has confirmed two PC security requirements for the beta: TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot must be enabled. TPM is a hardware security feature, while Secure Boot checks that trusted software loads when the computer starts. Both are intended to support Call of Duty’s anti-cheat protections.

The publisher has not released a complete public PC spec sheet for the Modern Warfare 4 beta as of August 18. That means there are no confirmed beta requirements for a specific processor, graphics card, RAM amount, or storage size yet. Players still need an internet connection, an Activision account, and a supported PC storefront.

Console players may need the platform’s online multiplayer subscription. Activision says online subscription requirements can vary by platform, so check the store page for the system you plan to use.

Do you need a beta code?

Digital preorder customers do not need to enter a code. If you preorder through the Microsoft Store, PlayStation Store, Battle.net, Steam, or the Call of Duty in-game store, Activision automatically registers your account for Early Access. The beta should be available to download when the Early Access period begins.

Physical preorder customers do need an Early Access code from the retailer. It is usually printed on the receipt or sent by email. Enter the code at callofduty.com/betaredeem while signed in to your Activision account, then select the platform you will use. One code provides access for one chosen platform, even if multiple platforms are linked to your account.

After registration, Activision will send an Early Access beta token to the email attached to your account. The token will also appear on the redemption page close to the start of the beta. If a physical retailer did not provide a code, contact that retailer rather than trying to use a digital preorder process.

What Activision has not confirmed yet

The beta schedule is official, but several practical details are still missing. Activision has not announced the final map rotation, the exact playlist schedule for each day, the download size, preload timing, or the complete PC hardware requirements. Those details could arrive during Call of Duty: NEXT or in a later support update.

For now, the important dates are August 21 for preorder Early Access and August 28 for the free Open Beta. Warzone and Nintendo Switch 2 support arrive in the second weekend, while “Entrenched” gives preorder players a short look at the campaign before the full game launches in October.