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Modern Warfare 4 beta dates and access: Entrenched, Warzone and Switch 2
August 15, 2026The two Modern Warfare 4 beta periods have different access rules and content.
Modern Warfare 4’s beta is set to go beyond multiplayer. GameSpot, reporting on Activision’s August 14 lineup announcement, says the campaign mission Entrenched will be available during both beta periods. The publication also says Warzone content named Resurgence Zodiac is planned for the later open-beta weekend.
The access rules differ between the two 2026 windows. The August 21–25 period requires an eligible preorder on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or PC. The August 28–September 1 Open Beta requires no preorder and adds Nintendo Switch 2, so players can wait for that weekend if they only want to try the reported campaign or Warzone content.
Modern Warfare 4 beta dates and access at a glance
| Beta period | Who can play | Reported content |
|---|---|---|
| Early Access: August 21–25 | Players with eligible preorders on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC | Multiplayer and the Entrenched campaign mission |
| Open Beta: August 28–September 1 | All players on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2; no preorder required | Multiplayer, Entrenched and Warzone content named Resurgence Zodiac |
The campaign and Warzone entries in the table reflect GameSpot’s account of Activision’s August 14 announcement. The identified Call of Duty social post was not text-readable in the material available for this report, so those details remain explicitly attributed rather than presented as independently verified from a readable Activision page.
Early Access runs from August 21 to August 25
- Early Access is available to eligible Modern Warfare 4 preorder customers on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
- The beta begins immediately after the August 21 Call of Duty: NEXT broadcast, according to Activision’s official announcement.
- GameSpot says the Entrenched campaign mission is included during this period.
- Nintendo Switch 2 is not eligible for Early Access.
The Open Beta runs from August 28 to September 1
- The second period is open to all players on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2, with no preorder required, according to Activision Support’s beta FAQ.
- Entrenched remains part of the lineup reported by GameSpot.
- GameSpot’s Activision-attributed report places Resurgence Zodiac in this later window.
The available sources do not define exactly how Resurgence Zodiac will work during the beta. It should therefore be treated as the named Warzone content planned for the open weekend, not as confirmation of a complete Warzone release or of any particular progression and reward systems.
When can Switch 2 players join?
Switch 2 access starts with the Open Beta on August 28, not with Early Access on August 21. Activision says Switch 2 preorders begin on August 26, but no preorder is required to enter the beta two days later. Nintendo Switch Online is required for Switch 2 beta players. There is no Switch 2 early-access route in the announced schedule. The open weekend is the first announced opportunity to participate on that platform.
Do you need to preorder Modern Warfare 4?
You need an eligible preorder only if you want to play from August 21 to August 25 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S or PC. Digital preorders are registered for Early Access automatically. Physical preorders require a retailer-provided code, and Activision’s FAQ says the redeemed code applies to the one platform selected during redemption. If you only want to try Entrenched or the announced Resurgence Zodiac content, the August 28 Open Beta is the no-preorder option. Activision notes that beta availability, timing and platform support may change, so players should check the official beta pages again after Call of Duty: NEXT.
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