Modern Warfare 4 beta adds campaign and Switch 2

The First Call of Duty Beta That Feels Like a Mini Launch

The Modern Warfare 4 beta is a limited-time test of Call of Duty’s next mainline entry that, for the first time, lets players try a campaign mission alongside multiplayer content and cross-platform features such as Nintendo Switch 2 support, signaling a more ambitious and player-focused approach to pre-release testing. This is not just another multiplayer stress test. It is a small but pointed statement about how Activision now views its betas: as early access slices of the full game, not isolated lobbies. The early access weekend opens on August 21 at 2 PM ET and runs until August 25 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for players who pre-order digitally. The second weekend, starting August 28, widens the doors to all platforms, including Nintendo’s next console. The message is clear—if you care about where Call of Duty is going, this beta is meant to show you.

A Campaign Mission in the Beta Changes the Relationship with Story

The boldest change is the inclusion of a playable campaign mission in the Modern Warfare 4 beta for the first time in Call of Duty beta history. The mission, "Entrenched," drops players into snowy trench warfare as a South Korean soldier responding to a modern-day North Korean invasion, pushing the beta beyond its usual multiplayer-only boundaries. This is a deliberate pivot: Activision is inviting story-focused players into the testing phase rather than treating campaign fans as day-one customers who only show up at release. It also reveals confidence in the single-player experience—if the campaign were an afterthought, it would not be front-loaded into a beta. Like prior Call of Duty betas, multiplayer still dominates the schedule, but the presence of "Entrenched" changes expectations. From now on, players will reasonably ask why future betas shouldn’t also include campaign slices.

Switch 2 Support Signals a New Platform Strategy

The other major shift is platform strategy. Weekend one sticks to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, but weekend two explicitly adds Nintendo Switch 2 support, giving players their first glimpse of the new version and opening pre-orders when beta pre-loads start on August 26. By bringing the Switch 2 into the Call of Duty beta window instead of waiting for launch, Activision is treating Nintendo’s new console as a first-class platform from day one, not a late port. The open beta structure mirrors previous releases—early access for pre-orders, then an open window for everyone—but the content scope is wider. Two Ground War maps, a Warzone map, and two more multiplayer maps arrive alongside Switch 2 support during the second week. The clear intent is to prove that Call of Duty on Switch 2 is not an afterthought, and to let the community judge performance early.

Background Shader Compilation and Anti-Cheat Requirements Put PC Front and Center

On PC, the Modern Warfare 4 beta is quietly experimenting with quality-of-life changes that could become standard across the franchise. To cut down on the tedious wait after first boot, the beta can now compile shaders in the background, without the game being launched. After installation or an update, players receive a system tray notification with progress while the process consumes minimal resources, letting them use their PCs for other tasks. That is a practical fix for a long-standing complaint. At the same time, the RICOCHET team is tightening security: anyone joining the beta on PC must enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot as part of the anti-cheat push. The system requirements themselves remain relaxed, with support for aging GPUs like the Radeon RX 470 and GeForce GTX 970 with 3GB of VRAM, while recommended specs only call for an RX 6700 XT or RTX 3060 Ti with 8GB.

Expanded Content, Familiar Structure, and What Comes Next

Structurally, this Call of Duty beta follows a familiar pattern, but the amount and variety of content make it feel closer to a soft launch than a simple test. The first phase offers six multiplayer maps and eight modes, including Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, Inflation, Search & Destroy, Kill Block, and Mobility Course. The second phase expands with Ground War and Warzone maps and opens the doors to Switch 2 players. According to Activision, "Modern Warfare 4’s beta is playable on aging graphics cards such as the AMD Radeon RX 470 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 with as little as 3GB of VRAM." The open beta runs from August 28 at 1 PM to September 1 at 1 PM, then the full game arrives on October 23 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Battle.net, Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. The takeaway: this beta is a preview of how future Call of Duty releases will treat platforms, performance, and story as shared priorities.