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An image of a MW3 operator looking at a wall of guns.
Image via Activision

When does the MW3 beta come out for PC and Xbox?

Prepare your gaming rigs.

The hype is real for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, especially now that the beta will soon be available on all platforms.

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The newest CoD looks and feels like a faster-paced, more exciting game than Modern Warfare 2. And the fact it’s bringing back 16 classic maps from MW2 2009 is enough to excite series veterans and newcomers who may have never had the chance to play them in the past.

Since the original MW2 maps are now 14 years old, some younger gamers likely either never played the maps themselves or were too young to remember them. Now, they’ve been remastered in all their glory.

CoD players looking to try out the maps, weapons, and modes in the MW3 beta have to wait a bit longer to try them out if they play on PC or Xbox and not PlayStation. But the wait is nearly over.

Here’s how to play the MW3 beta on PC and Xbox.

How to play MW3 beta on PC and Xbox

An image of MW3's open beta schedule
Clear your schedule. Image via Activision

The MW3 beta comes to PlayStation first, as part of the final year of Activision’s exclusivity deal with Sony. The wait to play the MW3 beta on PC and Xbox takes a bit longer.

This is the full schedule for the MW3 beta on all platforms:

  • Oct. 6 and 7: Early access for PlayStation
  • Oct. 8 to 10: Open beta on PlayStation
  • Oct. 12 and 13: Early access on Xbox and PC, open beta on PlayStation
  • Oct. 14 to 16: Open beta on all platforms

To play the MW3 beta on PC or Xbox early, players need to pre-order the game on their platform of choice (PC via Battle.net, Steam, or the Xbox Store). The only other way to play early is to get a beta code from a giveaway or from a friend.

How to play the MW3 beta on Steam

On Steam, if you’ve pre-ordered, MW3 beta will appear in your game library. For the open beta, search MW3 on the Steam store once the open beta is live and you will be able to download it for free.

How to play the MW3 beta on Battle.net

On Battle.net, once you’ve pre-ordered or redeemed a code, navigate to the Call of Duty app in your library. Select “Manage Content” and then select the MW3 beta to install it. This operation is the same once the beta is in open beta.

MW3 beta PC and Xbox countdown

Here’s exactly how long players have to wait for the MW3 beta to begin on PC and Xbox. Thankfully, it’s not that much longer after the PS5 and PS4 beta began.

When does the MW3 beta start on PC and Xbox?

Art for open beta weekend two of MW3, now joining PC and Xbox.
Highrise makes its glorious return. Image via Activision

The MW3 beta begins in early access for PC and Xbox on Oct. 12 at 12pm CT and will last through Oct. 13.

When is the free open beta for MW3?

The MW3 open beta for all players on all platforms begins on Oct. 14 at 12pm CT and will last through the end of the beta on Oct. 16.


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Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.