Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 marks the first time that Infinity Ward has served as the lead developer on a Call of Duty game since 2022’s Modern Warfare 2. While I had a great time with the 2019 Modern Warfare from Infinity Ward, I found the follow-up to be rather lackluster, with one of the worst campaigns in series history and underwhelming multiplayer (it eventually came into its own but took its sweet time getting there). With how disappointed I was with Modern Warfare 2, I have been skeptical about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but after playing the game over its early access beta weekend, I’ve come away more optimistic about CoD than I’ve been in years.
Modern Warfare 4 is CoD Multiplayer Mayhem At Its Finest
No matter if the newest game is set in World War 2 or far-future space, the core Call of Duty experience remains the same. That holds true for Modern Warfare 4, offering familiar multiplayer action that’s already plenty polished and feels great months away from launch.
During the beta weekend, Modern Warfare 4 featured tried-and-true game modes like Search and Destroy and Domination, but it also had some new modes on offer. The one I had most fun with was the 10v0 Gunfight variant set on the Kill Block map, which cobbles together chunks of three different maps to create unique battlefields. 10v10 Gunfight doesn’t lose the tense, tactical feel that has made the mode a favorite of mine since it debuted in the 2019 game, and it is certain to be one of my most-played modes come Modern Warfare 4‘s launch on October 23.
Another new game mode featured in the MW4 early access beta weekend was Inflation, which is a fresh take on the Kill Confirmed concept. Whereas Kill Confirmed has enemies dropping dogtags upon death, Inflation has them dropping cash instead. The player on each team with the most cash is marked, and the goal is to steal cash from the opposition. Marking the wealthiest players creates an interesting dynamic where cooperation is encouraged more than it is in many of the other multiplayer modes, which can oftentimes reward “Lone Wolf” play above working together.
Based on what I’ve played so far, Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer is set to offer something familiar with a few new tricks, and that’s definitely not a bad thing when the formula is as solid as the one is for CoD PvP. The maps were great, and the return to more traditional movement instead of the omnimovement system, while hard to get used to at first, fits the game perfectly. I did experience some connectivity issues during the beta, and there were people kicked out of nearly every match I played, but I imagine these issues will be ironed out in time for release.
Entrenched Has Me Hyped for the MW4 Campaign
Call of Duty campaigns have been a mixed bag over the years. Some stick out as adrenaline-fueled stories full of jaw-dropping set-pieces and iconic moments; others leave absolutely zero impression. With the Modern Warfare 4 beta, Activision decided to give players a sneak peek at the campaign as well as the multiplayer, and if the rest of the campaign is as solid as “Entrenched,” CoD fans who play the campaigns are in for a real treat in October.
Entrenched takes place in Hajin City, South Korea, with players put in the role of Pvt Park Hyun Jin. A lot of context is missing as to what exactly is going on, but the mission starts in trenches, offering classic Call of Duty gunplay before transitioning to a fun vehicle segment that leads to a nuclear power plant.
The shootouts outside the power planet are accentuated by bright blue sparks as bullets fly into generators, and the action inside the power plant is just as intense. Ultimately, the mission goes south. The meltdown can’t be stopped, but it can be delayed. Following a harrowing underwater section, MW4 takes a surprise pivot to platforming of all things, with players and their squadmates hopping across platforms in the crumbling power plant, climbing poles, and shimmying along ledges like they’re Nathan Drake.
I could never get the Mobility Course working in the MW4 beta, but it’s coming back for the second weekend.
While the Modern Warfare 4 beta doesn’t have everyone convinced, it left me wanting more in a way that few CoD betas have done before. Luckily, we don’t have to wait for release to play MW4 again. The next Modern Warfare 4 beta weekend (August 28 – September 1) will be open to everyone, and it will add Ground War and a new Warzone map to the mix.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23 for PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. GameRant was provided with an Xbox code to play the early access beta.
