Playing the multiplayer beta for Modern Warfare 4 naturally brings a four-character idiom to mind: "Baekbyeokmiha," or "a minor flaw in an otherwise flawless jade." The core fundamentals of a shooter—visuals, gunplay, movement—have improved leaps and bounds, but other elements end up dampening those positive points. While these issues are by no means fatal, minor flaws can stack up and derail what could otherwise be a great game. Here is a breakdown of what stood out in the beta and what should be refined before launch.

The Good: A Great Blend of Modern Warfare 2019 and 2023

Summing up the best part of this beta in one phrase: "a great blend of Modern Warfare 2019 and 2023." Previously, when Modern Warfare 4 was first revealed, Call of Duty fans' biggest concern was whether this title would also feature the heavy gunplay and sluggish movement of Modern Warfare 2 (2022). Developer Infinity Ward acknowledged this and promptly released footage demonstrating Modern Warfare 4's gunplay feel and movement, but most players remained cautious, taking a "wait and see" stance.

Once the beta went live, playing it firsthand confirmed that the game successfully merges what fans loved most—the gunplay of Modern Warfare 2019 and the movement mechanics of Modern Warfare 2023. Gone is the frustratingly sluggish movement from Modern Warfare 2 (2022), replaced by remarkably smooth and snappy combat.

Maps can easily become a major source of fatigue if designed poorly, but in this beta, the game sticks to Call of Duty's traditional three-lane map layouts. As a result, learning map layouts and engaging in run-and-gun gameplay felt seamless and intuitive.

In terms of gunplay, bullets hit precisely where aimed, just as Infinity Ward had promised, while the sound design and impact feel provided an audio-visual treat, true to the developer's reputation.

For Korean players in particular, discovering the level of detail Infinity Ward has poured into multiplayer is a joy in itself. Unlike characters in other games that claim to be South Korean military personnel, Private Park Hyun-jun and Min-hee actually look like genuine South Korean soldiers. Meanwhile, the Silkworm map—which feels as if a slice of downtown Seoul were directly transposed into the game—gives Korean gamers a profound sense of how far game design has come. Visually and detail-wise, it truly makes one say, "That's Infinity Ward for you."

The Bad: A Vastly Improved Foundation, Shaken by Certain Elements

The core foundation is solidly crafted, fitting for a Call of Duty title. What players expect from the franchise—exhilarating run-and-gun gameplay, satisfying gunplay impact, and intuitive map layouts—performed significantly better than feared. The disappointment lies in the scatter of minor issues that threaten to undermine this well-built core.

A prime example is sprint-to-fire speed (or sprint-out time). While movement and combat feel generally solid, sprint-to-fire transitions felt slightly sluggish. While not a fatal flaw, highly skilled run-and-gun players become increasingly sensitive to response times, making it worth considering a faster transition time for the official launch following the beta.

Another area of concern for launch is the high maximum weapon levels. This raises worries on two fronts: first, widening the gap between early starters and latecomers; second, attachment penalties undermining the sense of reward.

First, given Call of Duty's system where raising weapon levels unlocks attachments, setting maximum weapon levels too high naturally widens the gap between early adopters and latecomers. While skilled players can still perform well with stock weapons, the feeling of unfairness remains undeniable.

Another issue is that even after grinding weapon levels to unlock attachments, heavy penalties attached to them make players hesitate to equip them. While weapon attachments inherently require penalties for balance, Modern Warfare 4's current attachment system balances pros and cons roughly 50-50, which sometimes makes equipping attachments feel riskier than using a stock weapon.

Additionally, due to the current lack of distinct faction models, enemy identification can occasionally prove difficult if one loses focus for even a second. While enemy nameplates help mitigate this, it remains a point of frustration for players seeking clearer visual distinction.

It is also disappointing that recurring Call of Duty issues—namely SBMM (Skill-Based Matchmaking, where matches grow progressively sweaty like ranked play) and Aim Assist—have surfaced once again. These complaints persisted in previous titles, and despite developers promising active solutions, the same issues have recurred. The silver lining is that since this is still a beta, there is still room for adjustment based on user feedback.

Time to Show the True Purpose of a Beta Test

In summary, compared to other shooter games, Modern Warfare 4's underlying foundation is vastly improved and undeniably "top-notch." However, the concern is that scattered minor issues might drag down an otherwise solid base. Fortunately, the noted drawbacks are elements Infinity Ward can easily tweak prior to full release if they choose to do so. In other words, now is the time to deliver on the true purpose of a beta test.

Published by Activision and developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will launch worldwide on October 23, 2026, and will be playable on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam & Battle.net), and Nintendo Switch 2.