Call of Duty hits Switch 2, but no early beta access

Nintendo and Activision have confirmed that the next Call of Duty is coming to Switch 2. The open beta for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 starts on August 28 and runs through September 1, 2026. Preorders open on August 26.

To join the test on Switch 2, players will need a Nintendo account and an active Nintendo Switch Online subscription. What Switch 2 users apparently will not get is early access to the beta. According to the announcement, that perk is reserved for Sony and Microsoft consoles.

That makes the release notable for reasons beyond the beta schedule. The original Switch never received a mainline Call of Duty, while earlier Nintendo systems often got separate handheld versions rather than the same full franchise presence seen on PlayStation and Xbox.

This time, Nintendo has publicly confirmed support for its new console almost alongside testing on other platforms. For Activision, that is more than a routine platform checkbox: Call of Duty remains one of the defining franchises for mass-market gaming hardware, and Nintendo is once again trying to bring a major multiplatform shooter back to its ecosystem.

The bigger question is how close the Switch 2 version will be to the PlayStation and Xbox releases in timing and access. If Nintendo gets full support without caveats, this could become one of the most visible third-party launches early in the new console’s lifecycle.

Recommended reading

Hallmark’s $28.99 PlayStation ornament nails the nostalgia