Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta lets you play a campaign mission — a series first
For the first time in Call of Duty history, the upcoming beta for Modern Warfare 4 will let you play a campaign mission — not just multiplayer. Activision and Infinity Ward are including a solo story mission called "Entrenched" in the test build, a move designed to pull in pre-orders before the October 23 launch. Pre-ordering also gets you campaign early access a full week ahead of everyone else, from October 16.
The beta, broken down
The Call of Duty NEXT showcase kicks off on August 21, immediately followed by an early-access beta phase running August 21–25. That window is open to pre-order customers and invited press and creators. The open beta — free for anyone — runs August 28 through September 1, per Windows Central beta detail.
"Entrenched" is the campaign mission on offer. Details are thin, but a trailer shows a snow-covered battlefield and what looks like large-scale trench warfare — set, according to the Official CoD announcement, on the Korean Peninsula, where a North Korean invasion triggers a global crisis with Captain Price caught in the middle.
Multiplayer and what's new
On the multiplayer side, the beta includes nine modes: the usual 6v6 formats like Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, and Kill Confirmed, plus 10v10 and 3v3 variants. The standout addition is Kill Block — a new mode where the map layout is generated procedurally, meaning no two matches play out on the same terrain.
For the first time ever: Multiplayer. Campaign. Call of Duty: Warzone. All in one Beta.
— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 14, 2026
Be there to see it first at NEXT. Be there to play it first, pre-order Modern Warfare 4 for Beta Early Access: https://t.co/oyl7FeW4X9 pic.twitter.com/HznqgGElMI
Release and platforms
Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam, Battle.net, and Microsoft Store), and Nintendo Switch 2. Pre-ordering locks in campaign early access from October 16. Game Pass subscribers will have to wait — the title won't hit the service until Season 1.
One caveat for PC players: the game requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support, which rules out a number of older rigs. If your machine is a few years old, it's worth checking compatibility before you commit.