Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta preload begins today, August 20, giving Early Access players time to download the game before servers go live on August 21. Activision has also confirmed new Beta rewards, Twitch Drops, PC requirements and important changes to how the MW4 Beta is installed.
The Modern Warfare 4 Beta is almost here, and Activision has now released its most detailed preparation guide yet. Players with Early Access can begin preloading the MW4 Beta from 9:00 AM PT on Thursday, August 20 — 5:00 PM BST in the UK. The Early Access Beta itself begins at 11:00 AM PT on Friday, August 21, which is 7:00 PM BST.
For anyone planning to play from the moment servers open, preloading is worth doing in advance. This year there is also an important change: the MW4 Beta is a separate installation from the normal Call of Duty application, so players should not expect it to arrive automatically through a standard Call of Duty update.
When Can You Preload the MW4 Beta?
Early Access players can begin downloading the Beta at 9:00 AM PT on August 20 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox on PC, Steam and Battle.net. Nintendo Switch 2 is not included in Weekend One.
Players waiting for the completely free Open Beta can preload from August 26 at 9:00 AM PT. The Open Beta then starts August 28 at 10:00 AM PT and runs until September 1. Nintendo Switch 2 joins the Beta during this second weekend, and no preorder or Beta Code is required for Weekend Two.
If you participate in both weekends, Activision says you only need to download the Beta once. Progress made during Weekend One carries into Weekend Two, although normal player rank and weapon progression will not transfer into the finished game.
How to Download the Modern Warfare 4 Beta
Because MW4's Beta now has its own standalone installation, players need to locate it through their platform's storefront.
On Xbox Series X|S, search the Microsoft Store for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta and select Install. PlayStation 5 users should do the same through the PlayStation Store. Steam users can locate Modern Warfare 4 in the Steam Store, while Battle.net players should select Call of Duty: MW4 Beta from the game's version dropdown.
One unusual detail applies to Xbox on PC. Activision says an initial smaller portion can be downloaded first, with the bulk of that download becoming available at 7:00 AM PT on August 21.
MW4 Beta Codes and Early Access
There are two main ways to play during Weekend One: preorder or prepurchase Modern Warfare 4 on an eligible platform, or redeem an MW4 Early Access Beta Code. Activision confirms that Beta Codes are specifically useful for the Early Access weekend.
Retail Beta Codes are redeemed through Call of Duty's Beta redemption system using an Activision account. After a valid code has been redeemed, Activision provides the relevant platform token. Activision says these Early Access tokens are being distributed shortly after the preload period begins on August 20.
For players looking for Early Access without waiting until the free Open Beta, this is also the ideal place in the article to link directly to the CODSKINS MW4 Beta Access Code product page.
MW4 Beta Rewards Confirmed
Activision has now revealed the core progression rewards that players can carry into the full version of Modern Warfare 4.
The eight confirmed rewards are: Level 4 – Through the Paces Legendary Emblem; Level 8 – First Served Weapon Charm; Level 12 – Meonjeo Legendary Weapon Sticker; Level 16 – Last Charge Legendary Calling Card; Level 20 – Dread Tiger Operator Skin for Reece; Level 23 – Field Tested Epic Spray; Level 26 – Beta Rights Epic Loading Screen; and Level 30 – Beta Forged ISO Nightshade Weapon Blueprint.
Weekend One has a maximum player level of 20, meaning the Dread Tiger Operator Skin is the highest core progression reward available during Early Access. Weekend Two raises the maximum level to 30, allowing players to unlock the complete reward set. These Beta cosmetics will no longer be earnable once the Beta finishes, but anything successfully unlocked will become available again when Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23.
Activision is also teasing additional challenge and Combat Record rewards that remain classified for now, so there may still be further MW4 Beta cosmetics to discover once players get in-game.
Free MW4 Twitch Drops Revealed
Another important announcement is a new set of Modern Warfare 4 Twitch Drops.
Players who link their Activision and Twitch accounts can earn rewards by watching Call of Duty: NEXT and eligible MW4 Beta streams. During Call of Duty: NEXT, 15 minutes unlocks the Gas Ready Emblem, 30 minutes unlocks the Rapple Repel Calling Card, and 45 minutes unlocks the Ghost Helmet Charm.
Beta streams have their own set: the Get Tactical Emblem, Clearing House Calling Card and Action Ready Charm, again requiring up to 45 minutes of viewing for the full set. These rewards are intended for use when Modern Warfare 4 officially launches.
For CODSKINS customers interested in rare Call of Duty promotional cosmetics, these are worth claiming because the viewing requirement is relatively small and the campaign is limited to the Beta period.
MW4 Beta PC Requirements
Activision has also published the official Beta PC specifications.
At minimum, players need Windows 10 64-bit, 12GB RAM, an SSD and hardware around a Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel i5-8400 paired with an RX 470, GTX 970/1060 or Intel Arc A580. Recommended specifications rise to Windows 11, 16GB RAM, a Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel i7-8700 and an RX 6700 XT, RTX 3060 Ti or Intel Arc B580.
More importantly, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory for online play on PC during the MW4 Beta. Activision says players without those Windows security features enabled will not be able to play the Beta online.
The Beta will also test a new PC shader-preloading system designed to prepare shaders before players launch the game, reducing some of the waiting and shader compilation normally encountered after updates.
Call of Duty: NEXT Takes Place Tomorrow
Call of Duty: NEXT begins at 9:00 AM PT on August 21, two hours before the Early Access Beta starts. Activision says the event will feature Modern Warfare 4 reveals, developer information and live gameplay.
That makes the next 24 hours one of the biggest MW4 information windows so far. CODSKINS will continue tracking Beta Codes, promotional rewards, Twitch Drops, Monster Energy content and other limited Modern Warfare 4 cosmetics as new information becomes available.
Everything covered in this article is based on confirmed Activision information published August 19–20; no leaks or unverified rumours have been used.
