The open beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 failed to surpass the peak concurrent player count established during its early access phase, according to data from Steam. Despite expanding accessibility and adding new content, the beta’s all-time peak of 115,145 concurrent players—reached during the first day of the early access period between August 21 and August 25—remained unbeaten.
During the second and final session of the beta, the closest the player count came to that record was slightly over 113,000 on Friday, a surge attributed to interest in Warzone. While Steam serves as a common barometer for major titles, there is no available visibility on player numbers for PlayStation 5, Xbox, or the newly supported Nintendo Switch 2.
Major Gameplay Overhauls and Patch Changes
In response to feedback from the first weekend, developer Infinity Ward implemented a transformative patch to slow the pace of combat and address movement concerns. Many players felt the movement speed and abilities created an uncontrollable pace, leading the developer to make several experimental changes.
Key adjustments to movement and combat include:
- Tactical Sprint: This feature was removed by default and is now tied to the Blood Rush Perk. Infinity Ward made this change because players were sliding out of the sprint to eliminate the delay in raising their weapons.
- Sliding: The speed and distance of slides were reduced, and the delay between sliding and jumping was increased.
- Time to Kill (TTK): To address concerns that the game felt too fast, the damage of every gun in the beta was reduced, increasing the time required to kill an opponent.
- Spawns: The patch modified spawn logic to move players to more predictable spots at map edges, reducing the chaos seen in the first weekend where players spawned randomly next to teammates.
- Killstreaks: To prevent spam, the number of kills required to earn Killstreaks was increased by one across the board.
Beta Content and Platform Availability
The open beta ran from August 28 to September 1 across PC, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2. Unlike the early access period, the open beta did not require a pre-order or special code for entry.
The final session expanded the available content to include two Ground War maps and a sampler of the next Resurgence map for Warzone, in addition to the maps and modes available during the first weekend. For those playing on PC, the beta required Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 to be enabled for online play. PC players were also warned that using recording software like NVIDIA ShadowPlay or using Quick Draw attachments could cause hitching or frame rate drops during ADS.
Weaponry and Progression
The first weekend of the beta provided access to 14 weapons, with the level cap set at Level 20. During the second weekend, the level cap increased to Level 30, granting players access to additional perks, equipment, weapons, and Killstreaks. A Mobility Course
was also included to allow players to experiment with the game’s movement systems.
Among the available arsenal, the M4 Assault Rifle has been highlighted as a top-tier weapon due to its versatility in both close-quarters and long-range engagements. Recommended high-performance builds for the M4 include the FSS IS300 Muzzle for damage range and sound suppression, the FSS Fireline Grip for recoil control, and the SZ Gen.6 PEQ laser to improve ADS speed.
Upcoming Release Schedule
The full release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is scheduled for October 23. Ahead of the launch, Activision will hold a Campaign Early Access event on October 16 for those who have digital pre-orders, allowing them an early look at the single-player experience.
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