Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta: preload, PC requirements and readiness checklist
Preload opens August 26 at 9 AM PT. Check your hardware, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before the free Open Beta begins August 28.
Quick answer: preload opens today at 9 AM PT. The Open Beta is free and needs no preorder or beta code. On PC, an SSD, DirectX 12, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are required.
Official Open Beta schedule
| Event | Pacific Time | Eastern Time | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Beta preload | August 26, 9 AM PT | August 26, 12 PM ET | All players |
| Open Beta starts | August 28, 10 AM PT | August 28, 1 PM ET | All players |
| Open Beta ends | September 1, 10 AM PT | September 1, 1 PM ET | — |
The beta is a separate download from your platform storefront. If you played Weekend One, Call of Duty says you do not need to download it again and your progress carries into Weekend Two.
Minimum and recommended PC requirements
| Component | Official minimum | Official recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit (latest update) | Windows 11 64-bit (latest update) |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700 |
| RAM | 12 GB | 16 GB |
| AMD GPU | Radeon RX 470 | Radeon RX 6700 XT |
| NVIDIA GPU | GeForce GTX 970 or GTX 1060 | GeForce RTX 3060 Ti |
| Intel GPU | Arc A580 | Arc B580 |
| VRAM | 3 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | SSD required | SSD required |
| API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
Important: these specifications apply to the beta. Call of Duty says they may differ from the full PC requirements at launch.
Recommended drivers, rechecked August 26
Version listed in the official beta guide.
Version listed in the official beta guide.
Version listed in the official beta guide.
These are the versions Call of Duty currently recommends for the beta. If you use a newer release, check its official notes and keep a rollback path before playing.
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot must be enabled.
Activision says a PC without TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot enabled cannot play the beta online. Check both before preload with the Secure Attestation Wizard or the official support guide.
Press Win + R, enter tpm.msc, and confirm the module is ready with specification version 2.0. The firmware option may be called fTPM on AMD or PTT on Intel.
In System Information, check Secure Boot State. Before changing BIOS settings, confirm Windows uses UEFI mode and the system disk uses GPT, then follow the motherboard vendor’s instructions.
Five-minute PC readiness checklist
- Install Windows updates, restart, then confirm DirectX 12 is available.
- Confirm TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot before downloading the beta.
- Compare your CPU, GPU, RAM and VRAM with the official table.
- Install the recommended driver or verify the official notes for a newer driver.
- Reserve space on an SSD. Call of Duty requires an SSD but gives no capacity figure in the table.
- Install the separate beta package from your platform storefront.
- Let shader preloading finish before judging stutter.
- Close unnecessary overlays if the first launch is unstable.
How to read the GPU tiers—without invented FPS
RX 470, GTX 970/1060 or Arc A580 with 3 GB of VRAM. This is an entry requirement for the beta; it does not guarantee ray tracing, a particular resolution or a particular frame rate.
RX 6700 XT, RTX 3060 Ti or Arc B580 with 8 GB of VRAM and 16 GB of RAM. Call of Duty publishes no 1080p, 1440p, 4K or FPS target for this tier.
Start with stable base performance. Upscaling can reduce GPU load, but it cannot fix a CPU limit, shader compilation or network latency.
DLSS 4.5: what is confirmed
Do not infer that every component or mode is active. Use game updates, NVIDIA App controls and official drivers only.
Do not replace DLL files or install unofficial packages in a competitive game. Wait for official NVIDIA and game updates.
See the current DLSS 4.5 release status → · Check the verified supported-games tracker →
Continue by what you need next
FAQ
When does the Modern Warfare 4 Open Beta start?
The Open Beta starts August 28, 2026 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET) and ends September 1 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET).
When can I preload the MW4 Open Beta?
All players can begin preloading August 26 at 9 AM PT (12 PM ET). The beta is a separate download from the platform storefront.
Is the MW4 Open Beta free?
Yes. Call of Duty says Weekend Two is available to all players without a preorder or beta code.
Which GPU is recommended for the PC beta?
The official recommended tier lists a Radeon RX 6700 XT, GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or Intel Arc B580 with 8 GB of video memory. Call of Duty does not attach a specific resolution or FPS target to this list.
Are TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required?
Yes. Activision says both must be enabled to play the beta online on PC.
How much storage space does the beta need?
The official requirements specify an SSD but do not publish a capacity figure in the beta specification table.
Does the beta officially support DLSS 4.5?
Modern Warfare 4’s official PC page lists DLSS 4.5 and expanded real-time ray tracing. It does not publish a detailed Ray Reconstruction feature matrix for every beta mode.
Will these requirements apply to the final game?
Not necessarily. Call of Duty says the beta specifications may differ from the full PC requirements at launch.
Sources and evidence level
Call of Duty — Beta schedule, PC requirements and recommended drivers (official) ↗Call of Duty — Open Beta access, preload and platform instructions (official) ↗Call of Duty — Modern Warfare 4 PC features (official) ↗Activision Support — TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot (official) ↗First-party sources rechecked: August 26, 2026.
Method: Call of Duty dates, requirements, drivers, platforms and features come from official sources. No unpublished price, FPS, download size or stock status is added.