Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Beta - When it Starts & How to Play

Treyarch's Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta launches later this week - and we have all the information on how to get in. The private beta will be the first public test to see how the new game feels and operates on a large scale prior to the game's launch this October on consoles and PC.

The upcoming beta test will be multiplayer only - though that doesn't mean much considering there isn't a single-player story, to begin with - and focus on the traditional multiplayer maps and modes, with the Blackout beta launching sometime in September (focusing on the Battle Royale mode).

When Is The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Beta?

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta is over two weekends in August. Due to Activision's marketing deal with Sony PlayStation (for games like Destiny and Call of Duty), the Black Ops 4 beta will first launch exclusively on the PlayStation 4 on Friday, August 3 at 10 am PT and end Monday, August 6 at 10 am PT. (Be sure to check back on Screen Rant closer to the beta's launch! We'll be giving away free Black Ops 4 beta codes for the PS4.)

Then the Black Ops 4 beta will start up again on Friday, August 10 at 10 am PT for the PS4 and Xbox One. It will conclude on Monday, August 13 at 10 am PT. That will mark the end of the console beta test for the game. PC players who preorder the game will get access to the Black Ops 4 beta on August 10 as well. All other PC players who have a Battle.net account can join in on the fun on August 11 at 10 am PT.

How to Get Into the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Beta

Gamers can only get into the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta by preordering the game at an authorized retailer, including digital copies through the PlayStation Store, Microsoft/Xbox Store, or Battle.net. Consumers who preorder a physical copy at a retailer will receive a beta code on their receipt, which they can redeem on the official Call of Duty website. People who preorder digitally through one of the aforementioned stores don't need a code in order to get into the beta. It's worth mentioning that Xfinity customers can also request beta codes directly from Comcast without preordering the game, thanks to an agreement with Activision.

Around the time the beta starts, players who've redeemed their codes will receive a beta token via email, which will allow them to finally start playing Black Ops 4. PC players need to have a Battle.net account in order to play the beta. Right now, there aren't any plans to hold an open beta on consoles for Black Ops 4, at least not that Activision has revealed. The purpose of the private beta is not only to get people to try out the game and see if it works but also to get people to preorder it.

What Maps & Modes Are in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta?

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta will consist of five modes played across six maps, two of which have yet to be revealed. While the specific maps haven't been announced, the five modes are as follows: Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Search & Destroy, and Control. Most of these are standard multiplayer modes for Call of Duty games, which is what makes them the perfect candidates to see how well the game runs in the beta.

Control is the only mode that's new to the franchise for Black Ops 4. In it, each team alternates between attacking and defending the two objectives on the map. The first team to win three rounds wins the match. Although it's not an elimination mode, each team has a limited number of respawns, so implementing a sound strategy is the key to winning.

Furthermore, Activision has revealed details regarding the equipment/gear in the Black Ops 4 beta:

We’ve brought the Pick 10 system back to Create-a-Class to give players complete customization over their loadout, and with its return comes a few new changes.
Load out with Special Issue Equipment that’s designed exclusively for each Specialist without costing a point against Pick 10.
Gear is an all new slot designed to up the ante on your style of gameplay. Need cheaper Scorestreaks? COMSEC Device. Heal faster? Stim Shot. Gain an advantage in situational awareness? Acoustic Sensor. Only one piece of Gear can be used per loadout, so choose wisely.
Weapons now have unique sets of attachments, including a new class of powerful attachments called Operator Mods, to really focus each gun on its individual role in combat.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Beta Rewards

While no progress made in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 beta will carry over into the final release (as is standard for most multiplayer betas for games), players who participate in the beta will receive an exclusive calling card at launch. And players who end up completing the multiplayer beta - by unlocking everything and progressing all the way through - will receive a Permanent Unlock Token at launch, which will allow them to immediately unlock any equipment or weapon in the create-a-class system.