After months of leaks and teasers, a definitive date has finally arrived: On August 21st at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET (6 PM CEST), Call of Duty NEXT will go live. This time, the focus will exclusively be on Modern Warfare 4 – not as another cinematic trailer, but as the first true gameplay show featuring live matches.
What Will Activision Show at the Call of Duty NEXT Event?
The stream is expected to showcase the multiplayer foundation of Modern Warfare 4 in action, played by real players rather than in pre-produced scenes. Among the announced features are:
- Live gameplay on several new maps in regular matches
- Introduction of new modes and weapons directly within live gameplay
- Developer commentary on design and balancing decisions
- A preview of planned post-launch multiplayer content
When Does the Modern Warfare 4 Beta Start and What's Included?
The most exciting part for fans follows directly after the broadcast: Those who have pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 will gain Early Access to the Beta starting August 21st on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S – featuring several multiplayer maps, operators, game modes, and, according to current information, approximately 19 weapons to try out. The Early Access phase runs until August 25th, followed by the Open Beta from August 28th to September 1st for all platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2. The full release of Modern Warfare 4 is currently scheduled for October 23rd, 2026.
From our perspective, the decision to focus NEXT entirely on genuine live gameplay rather than another high-gloss trailer is a vote of confidence: Activision is letting the community evaluate the game directly, instead of just promoting it. For anyone still unsure if a pre-order is worthwhile, this is a solid indicator – however, if you want to access the Early Access Beta, you must have pre-ordered before August 21st; spontaneous entry is only possible with the Open Beta starting August 28th.
Source: Call of Duty (Official Beta Page), dotesports, Sportskeeda
Will you be tuning in live on August 21st, or would you rather wait for the Open Beta? Tell us your plans in the comments!
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