Activision Blizzard and Infinity Ward have confirmed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will host an Open Beta Weekend on Nintendo Switch 2, running from Friday 28 August 2026.
The developer-publisher duo announced the beta in a blog update and reiterated that no pre-order is required to participate, providing a wide audience of Switch 2 owners an early look at Multiplayer, DMZ, and the game’s core systems.
According to Activision Blizzard’s briefing, the Open Beta Weekend will let players access multiple Multiplayer maps and modes, select from a roster of new Operators (including Vault Edition Operators for those who pre-order the Vault Edition), and unlock up to 19 weapons before full launch.
The publisher also highlighted a range of game systems available in the beta, from focused small-scale 3v3 skirmishes to larger tactical battles featuring vehicles such as tanks.
Infinity Ward describes Modern Warfare 4 as a tonal shift for the series that drives long-running storylines to an emotionally intense conclusion.
The single-player Campaign will include diverse theatres of combat, with trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters fighting in New York, high-speed chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and large-scale urban assaults to reclaim occupied territory.
Multiplayer aims for grounded, precise combat and introduces Ballistic Authority, a weapons-first innovation intended to refine gunplay.
At launch the game will include 12 Core maps and a new mode called Kill Block, a dynamic battleground that reconfigures its layout between rounds with more than 500 possible configurations.
Additional multiplayer features promoted for the beta and launch include a Training Mobility Course, optional assistance from “Gunny” for loadout building, and the full suite of weapons, Tacticals, Lethals, Field Upgrades, Perks, and Killstreaks.
DMZ returns as an extraction-style experience in which solo players or squads deploy into a shifting combat zone, with each insertion playing out differently.
Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to release at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide on 23 October 2026.
Author note: Alex Seedhouse has specialized in Nintendo coverage for 16 years, leading reporting across multiple console generations and attending major industry events to cover hardware and software launches.
The developer-publisher duo announced the beta in a blog update and reiterated that no pre-order is required to participate, providing a wide audience of Switch 2 owners an early look at Multiplayer, DMZ, and the game’s core systems.
According to Activision Blizzard’s briefing, the Open Beta Weekend will let players access multiple Multiplayer maps and modes, select from a roster of new Operators (including Vault Edition Operators for those who pre-order the Vault Edition), and unlock up to 19 weapons before full launch.
The publisher also highlighted a range of game systems available in the beta, from focused small-scale 3v3 skirmishes to larger tactical battles featuring vehicles such as tanks.
Infinity Ward describes Modern Warfare 4 as a tonal shift for the series that drives long-running storylines to an emotionally intense conclusion.
The single-player Campaign will include diverse theatres of combat, with trench warfare in Korea, close-quarters fighting in New York, high-speed chases through Paris, SAS night raids in Mumbai, and large-scale urban assaults to reclaim occupied territory.
Multiplayer aims for grounded, precise combat and introduces Ballistic Authority, a weapons-first innovation intended to refine gunplay.
At launch the game will include 12 Core maps and a new mode called Kill Block, a dynamic battleground that reconfigures its layout between rounds with more than 500 possible configurations.
Additional multiplayer features promoted for the beta and launch include a Training Mobility Course, optional assistance from “Gunny” for loadout building, and the full suite of weapons, Tacticals, Lethals, Field Upgrades, Perks, and Killstreaks.
DMZ returns as an extraction-style experience in which solo players or squads deploy into a shifting combat zone, with each insertion playing out differently.
Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled to release at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 worldwide on 23 October 2026.
Author note: Alex Seedhouse has specialized in Nintendo coverage for 16 years, leading reporting across multiple console generations and attending major industry events to cover hardware and software launches.
