Just two days away from the biggest Call of Duty beta in history, Infinity Ward drops the final pre-load guide, confirms all 8 maps in rotation, and unveils the revolutionary Gunsmith 2.0 attachment system in full detail.
The Modern Warfare 4 early access beta is now just two days away, and Infinity Ward has released a comprehensive final guide covering everything players need to know before jumping in on July 10. From pre-load instructions across all platforms to the complete Gunsmith 2.0 attachment breakdown, here is everything confirmed ahead of the beta launch.
Pre-Load Guide: Pre-loading has been available since June 26, and Infinity Ward strongly urges all pre-order players to complete their downloads before July 10 to ensure immediate access at the 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM BST launch time. The beta client size varies by platform — approximately 52 GB on PS5, 55 GB on Xbox Series X|S, and 48 GB on PC via Battle.net and Steam. The substantial day-one beta patch — roughly 28 GB across all platforms — will also be available for pre-download starting July 9. Infinity Ward has confirmed that players on all platforms who have pre-ordered any edition of MW4 — Standard at $79.99, Cross-Gen at $89.99, or Vault Edition at $119.99 — automatically qualify for early access. Players who have not yet pre-ordered can still do so up until the beta launch and gain immediate access.
Full Map Rotation: The beta will feature 8 maps total, rolling out across the two-week period. The early access window (July 10-16) launches with 5 core maps: Highrise (remastered), Terminal (remastered), a brand-new Middle Eastern marketplace map called "Sandstorm", a close-quarters European cargo depot named "Dockyard", and the neon-lit night map "Neon Alley". When the open beta begins July 17, three additional maps will be added: the classic Rust (remastered), a new Arctic research facility map "Frostbite", and the large-scale Ground War map "Scorched Valley".
Gunsmith 2.0 Deep Dive: Infinity Ward has published the full Gunsmith 2.0 attachment system detail, describing it as the most customizable weapon platform in Call of Duty history. The system features 10 attachment slots per weapon (up from 5 in previous titles), organized into three tiers: Core Attachments (muzzle, barrel, optic, magazine, stock), Precision Attachments (underbarrel, rear grip, ammunition type), and Advanced Tuning (gas system, bolt assembly). Each weapon will ship with over 60 unique attachments, and the new "Weapon Platform" system means unlocking attachments for one weapon in a family — say the M4A1 assault rifle — automatically unlocks compatible attachments for other weapons in the same platform, such as the MK18 CQB and the M16A4. This dramatic reduction in grind has been widely praised by the community.
Beyond the weapon system, the beta will also showcase the full Omnimovement suite — omnidirectional sprint, tactical sprint in any direction, 360-degree slide, prone in any direction, and the new wall-kick mechanic for vertical traversal on select surfaces. Early preview impressions have been stellar, with content creators praising the movement fluidity and the strategic depth of Gunsmith 2.0's tuning system. Cross-play will be fully active from day one, and all progression earned during the beta will carry over to the full game on November 6.
With over 14 million pre-loads already recorded and servers under final load testing, Infinity Ward expects the July 10 beta launch to be the largest in franchise history. Check back for day-one coverage, best loadout recommendations, and meta analysis once the beta goes live. For full guides including weapon stats and map callouts, visit our COD 2026 guide section.