Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta announced: surprise campaign mission later this month

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’s beta is official. Later this month, players will get a chance to try the series’ first playable campaign mission.

That mission is “Entrenched,” a linear scenario focused on South Korean marines and an embedded American soldier during a fictional North Korean invasion. The beta also includes multiplayer. One of the main draws there is Kill Block, a three-part modular map that can generate more than 500 layouts, at least going by the beta announcement. On the second weekend, Call of Duty: Warzone picks up “Zodiac,” a new Resurgence map.

The schedule is split in two. Players who pre-order get early access from August 21 to 25, 2026, and then the beta opens up to everyone from August 28 to September 1, the announcement says. Call of Duty: NEXT is set for August 21, and the Nintendo Switch 2 beta is expected to arrive during that second weekend, ahead of the October 23, 2026 launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. That release also brings Call of Duty back to Nintendo hardware for the first time in more than a decade.

If you play Call of Duty regularly, this already looks worth downloading for “Entrenched” by itself, and Infinity Ward says development on Nintendo Switch 2 has gone pretty smoothly.

You’ll be able to access the beta on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Nintendo Switch 2 likely joining in during the second weekend, based on the beta announcement.