Summary
- Activision confirms dates for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer beta, offering early access as a pre-order bonus.
- The beta will take place in two parts: October 6-10 exclusively for PlayStation users, and October 12-16 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC gamers.
- Participating in the beta is free for PlayStation and PC users, but Xbox users need Xbox Game Pass Core or higher tier for early access.
Activision confirmed the dates for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer beta test, which will take place in two parts this October. While the game will have an open beta period across all platforms, Activision is also offering early access to the test as part of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 pre-order bonuses.
Multiplayer betas are a standard industry practice for AAA games, with the Call of Duty series being no exception. The franchise historically held such tests about a month ahead of each new installment's release.
Activision today confirmed that the initial Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer beta for PS4 and PS5 owners will run from October 6 through October 10. The first two days will be reserved for PlayStation users who pre-ordered the shooter, while the remaining period will serve as the game's introductory open beta on Sony's consoles. The developers are then planning another test from October 12 through October 16. The second beta will also be available to all PlayStation users, as well as Xbox and PC gamers. The early access period for the latter group will run until October 13, while the final three days of the test will be open to all users across every target platform.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Beta Dates
- October 6-7 (PlayStation early access)
- October 8-10 (PlayStation open beta)
- October 12-13 (Xbox and PC early access, PlayStation open beta)
- October 14-16 (open beta for all platforms)
As was the case with last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 beta, participating in the Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer try-out will be a relatively straightforward experience; getting into the free-for-all portion of the test will hence be as simple as downloading the experimental build of the game from Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Store during the open beta period. Those who become eligible for early access by pre-ordering the game will either be enrolled into the test automatically on their platform of choice, or receive a beta code that they'll have to redeem on CallOfDuty.com in case they purchased a physical copy of Modern Warfare 3.
Participating in the Modern Warfare 3 beta on PlayStation consoles and PC won't warrant any additional expenses. Xbox console owners will also be able to partake in the test free of charge during the three-day multi-platform open beta period ending October 16. However, participating in the early access portion of the test for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S will require a membership with Xbox Game Pass Core or a higher tier of Microsoft's subscription-based gaming service.
Call of Duty betas have historically been limited to a handful of maps, though Activision has yet to clarify on the scope of the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer tests. The company is likely to do so on October 5, which will be a huge day for Call of Duty fans.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 launches November 10 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.