Modern Warfare 4's beta is nearly here, with two weekends of testing and a few important checks for PC players.
The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta is almost ready to go, and there is quite a bit to sort out before jumping into the first match. Call of Duty: NEXT kicks things off on 21 August, followed immediately by the start of Weekend One. The beta will run across two weekends, with Early Access followed by an Open Beta available to everyone, while pre-loading begins ahead of each testing period.
PC players have a few extra things to check. TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory for online play as part of the security measures supporting RICOCHET Anti-Cheat, while a new Shader Preloading feature is being tested to cut down the wait before getting into a match.
Here's everything players need to know before the Modern Warfare 4 beta begins.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
Release date: 23 October, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC
Developer: Infinity Ward
When is the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 beta taking place?
Call of Duty: NEXT begins at 9:00 AM PT on Friday, 21 August, collecting Modern Warfare 4 reveals, developer insights, live gameplay, and creator broadcasts in one global showcase.
Weekend One begins immediately afterwards at 11:00 AM PT on 21 August, and runs until 10:00 AM PT on 25 August. This first weekend is Early Access and is available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam and Battle.net. Players will need to have pre-ordered or pre-purchased Modern Warfare 4, or redeemed a Beta Code to participate. Nintendo Switch 2 is not included in Weekend One.
Beta Codes are only valid for Early Access, with further information on redeeming a Modern Warfare 4 Beta Code available through Call of Duty support. Weekend Two opens the beta to everyone from 10:00 AM PT on 28 August until 10:00 AM PT on 1 September. The Open Beta will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch 2, with no pre-order or Beta Code required.
How to pre-load and download the Modern Warfare 4 beta
The Modern Warfare 4 beta is a separate download through each platform's digital storefront. Eligible Early Access players can pre-load from 9:00 AM PT on 20 August, while Open Beta preloading begins at 9:00 AM PT on 26 August across all platforms.
Anyone participating in both weekends only needs to download the beta once, as content and progression carry over from Weekend One to Weekend Two. Players should also sign into their Activision Account before playing. This allows beta progression to carry across supported platforms, and keeps eligible rewards tied to the same Activision ID for Modern Warfare 4's launch.
Where to download the beta on each platform:
- Xbox Series X|S: Search for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta through the Xbox Store and install it.
- Xbox on PC: Find the beta through the Xbox app. Only a small portion will initially download, with the bulk becoming available at 7:00 AM PT on 21 August.
- PlayStation 5: Search for the beta through the PlayStation Store and select Download.
- Steam: Find Modern Warfare 4 through the Steam Store page. The beta will automatically be added to the player's Library and begin downloading.
- Battle.net: Open the Call of Duty page and select Call of Duty: MW4 Beta from the Game Version dropdown, then click Install.
- Nintendo Switch 2: Search for the beta through the Nintendo eShop and preload from 26 August ahead of Weekend Two. No Modern Warfare 4 pre-order is required for the Open Beta.
If the beta does not appear, players should check that it is live for their platform, region and access window. Early Access players should also confirm that their pre-order, pre-purchase or Beta Code is eligible. If the beta is installed but will not launch, check for updates, restart the console or PC and confirm that the relevant beta window has begun before relaunching it.
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 beta PC requirements
PC players will also want to check whether their hardware meets the minimum or recommended specifications.
Minimum PC Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64 Bit, latest update
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400
- RAM: 12GB
- AMD GPU: Radeon RX 470
- NVIDIA GPU: GeForce GTX 970 / 1060
- Intel GPU: Intel Arc A580
- Video memory: 3GB
- Storage: SSD required
- Network: Broadband internet connection
- Sound card: DirectX compatible
Recommended PC requirements:
- OS: Windows 11 64 Bit, latest update
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700
- RAM: 16GB
- AMD GPU: Radeon RX 6700 XT
- NVIDIA GPU: GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
- Intel GPU: Intel Arc B580
- Video memory: 8GB
- Storage: SSD required
- Network: Broadband internet connection
- Sound card: DirectX compatible
The recommended drivers are NVIDIA 610.47, AMD 26.7.1, and Intel 32.0.101.8861.
All PC configurations also require broadband internet and a DirectX 12-compatible system. More unusually, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are mandatory across the board. These specifications apply specifically to the Modern Warfare 4 beta, and may differ from the final PC requirements at launch.
Modern Warfare 4 requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot on PC
Having the right hardware is only part of the check this time around. Modern Warfare 4 also requires PC players to have both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled to play the beta online.
The two Windows security features are being used as part of the protections supporting RICOCHET Anti-Cheat. According to the announcement, they "help establish a trusted foundation for RICOCHET Anti-Cheat" while making system-level tampering more difficult.
Most modern PCs already support TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, although that does not necessarily mean both are currently enabled. Call of Duty has released a step-by-step video guide covering how to check and enable both features.
How to check TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before the Modern Warfare 4 beta
Before heading into the BIOS, players can check both requirements directly through Windows and find out whether anything actually needs changing.
For TPM 2.0:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type tpm.msc into the Run window.
- Check the TPM status and specification version.
- If the status says the TPM is ready for use and lists version 2.0, TPM is already set up correctly. The same information can also be found through Windows Security under Device Security and Security Processor Details.
Secure Boot can be checked separately:
- Press Windows key + R.
- Type msinfo32.
- Find BIOS Mode and check that it is listed as UEFI.
- Find Secure Boot State and check that it says On.
- If TPM 2.0 is ready, BIOS Mode is UEFI and Secure Boot is On, no further changes are required.
How to enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
If TPM 2.0 isn't enabled, players will need to enter their PC's BIOS. One way to do this through Windows is via Advanced Restart, then UEFI Firmware Settings under Troubleshoot and Advanced Options.
From there:
- Find the TPM setting. This may be called fTPM on AMD systems or PTT on Intel systems.
- Enable it, save the changes and reboot.
- Run tpm.msc again to confirm TPM 2.0 is active.
To enable Secure Boot, return to the BIOS and look under the Boot or Security tab.
- Enable Secure Boot, save and reboot.
- Run msinfo32 and check that Secure Boot State says On.
Players whose BIOS Mode says Legacy need to be more careful. The Windows drive may need to be converted from MBR to GPT before switching to UEFI, otherwise Windows may not start. CSM or Legacy Boot may also need to be disabled.
Before changing BIOS settings, save the BitLocker recovery key and back up important files. The tutorial also specifically warns: “Do not clear, reset, or delete TPM keys.” BIOS menus differ between manufacturers, so players should check their motherboard manual for the exact settings. Some options may also be unavailable on PCs managed by a school or workplace.
Call of Duty Secure Attestation Wizard can check your PC
Players can also use the Call of Duty Secure Attestation Wizard to check whether their PC meets the security requirements. The tool scans BIOS information and reports whether TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are ready. After downloading and extracting the ZIP file, players can launch the wizard, accept the terms and run the scan. Administrator permission may be required.
If the system passes, no further action is needed. If it does not, the wizard identifies what needs to be updated and provides instructions for the next steps. Players still seeing a TPM or Secure Boot warning are advised to update their BIOS, make sure their OS drive uses GPT before switching from Legacy to UEFI, and check their motherboard manual for system-specific instructions.
More information is available on the Call of Duty TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot support page.
What is Shader Preloading in the Modern Warfare 4 beta?
PC players may find themselves waiting less for shaders when they launch the Modern Warfare 4 beta. A new Shader Preloading feature will let the game prepare them in the background before players even boot it up.
Shaders handle how the GPU renders things like lighting, shadows, surfaces, and visual effects. Since PC hardware varies from one machine to another, some need to be prepared specifically for each setup. Doing more of that work ahead of time should cut down processing after launch and help minimise stutters during gameplay.
Players may see Modern Warfare 4 appear in the Windows system tray with a "Shader Pre-Loading Will Start" notification after installing or updating the beta. That's normal and means the process is running in the background.
Shader Preloading will use some system resources, but players can continue using their PC while it runs. It's also optional: it can be disabled in the settings or interrupted by right-clicking the process, with any remaining preparation resuming once the game launches.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta rewards
There are eight main cosmetic rewards to earn by levelling up during the beta. Weekend One has a maximum Player Level of 20, allowing players to unlock the first five rewards:
- 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
Weekend Two raises the maximum Player Level to 30, opening up the remaining three rewards:
- Level 23: "Field Tested" Epic Spray
- Level 26: "Beta Rights" Epic Loading Screen
- Level 30: "Beta Forged" ISO Nightshade SMG Weapon Blueprint
These rewards can no longer be earned once the beta ends. Anything unlocked will remain tied to the player's Activision Account and become available in the full game when Modern Warfare 4 launches on 23 October. Player Rank, weapon unlocks, and other progression earned during the beta will not carry over to the full game.
There will also be additional cosmetics available through other beta activities. Three Emblems, three Calling Cards, one Spray, and three Loading Screens will be available by default, while several Challenge and Combat Record rewards are still listed as classified.
