Skip to main content

Here’s when you can play the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II beta

The multiplayer open beta dates for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II have been announced, along with the Call of Duty Next showcase.

The sequel to 2019’s Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare II was announced to launch on October 28 earlier this year with various beta periods leading up to its release. Prior to the announcement, players were in the dark as to when the beta would run and only knew that PlayStation players who pre-ordered would get early access. Now Activision has revealed all the dates and times players can test out the multiplayer component of the game.

The Modern warfare II beta poster.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The first set of dates is exclusive to PS4 and PS5 players who pre-ordered the title, or received a beta code, and can start playing on September 16 at 10 a.m. PT. All other PlayStation owners can begin playing on September 18 at 10 a.m. PT, with this beta period ending on the 20th.

Recommended Videos

The second beta weekend is open to all platforms, and will include cross-play support, but begins early for those who pre-ordered on September 22 at 10 a.m. PT. The beta will open up to all players on September 24 at 10 a.m. PT and end for everyone on the 26th.

The beta will include the 6v6 Marina Bay Grand Prix map, in-game rewards exclusive to the beta, and other surprises.

More details about Modern Warfare II, as well as Warzone 2 and the upcoming mobile version of Warzone, will be revealed at the Call of Duty Next showcase scheduled for September 15. This presentation promises brand-new information drops, the Modern Warfare II multiplayer reveal, and live gameplay hosted by selected streamers.

Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox has been a writer at Digital Trends for over four years and has no plans of stopping. He covers all things…
Xbox Game Pass is getting its first Call of Duty game
A soldier with a shotgun pointing to shoot in Modern Warfare 3.

Xbox isn't waiting until Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 to get a Call of Duty game on Game Pass. The company announced Tuesday that 2023's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be added to the service on Wednesday, July 24.

The announcement was heavily rumored beforehand, with reports from outlets like Insider Gaming, but it was made official on Xbox Wire. Xbox confirmed that the game will be hitting Game Pass for Console, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Ultimate (so every old tier ahead of the upcoming price hike), and it will include most modes, including single-player and the more open-world Zombies mode. It doesn't appear to include Warzone, the series' battle royale spinoff, although that's free to play.

Read more
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’s two beta periods are on the way
A squad stands together in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is one step closer to release. Activision announced on Monday that the upcoming shooter will be hitting early access and open beta soon.

Players who preordered the game will get access to the early access open beta, which will run from August 30-September 4. That'll be followed by the regular open beta, which is open to everyone, from September 6-9. That means early access participants will have an extra day to try out the game ahead of release on October 25.

Read more
XDefiant finds a perfect middle ground between Call of Duty and Overwatch
Key art for the GSK faction for XDefiant.

When I first installed and started to play XDefiant, I didn’t think I’d like it. It looked like a random mishmash of Ubisoft IP. I didn’t think it would pull off the gameplay mix between hardcore military shooters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and hero shooters like Overwatch 2. Thankfully, XDefiant proved me very wrong, and I’ve had a hard time putting the game down since I started playing it ahead of Season 1.

The aspects of XDefiant that I thought would be weaknesses ended up being its strengths. It provides the power fantasy of a hero shooter while also delivering the engaging mission types and intricate gunplay of a military shooter. Gameplay customization doesn’t just happen on a hero or weapon level, but both at the same time. Although certain areas of XDefiant’s presentation could be much better, it’s a fun celebration of the Ubisoft franchises featured.

Read more