How to Get Early Access to Call of Duty: A Complete Guide
Getting your hands on the newest Call of Duty title before its official release date is a dream for many gamers. Early access provides the opportunity to dive into the game’s campaign or beta, explore the new features, and gain a competitive edge ahead of the crowds. So, how do you get early access to Call of Duty? The primary method is to pre-order a digital edition of the game. This grants you early access to different aspects of the game, such as the campaign and sometimes an open beta, depending on the specific title and the pre-order period. Let’s break down exactly what this entails and how to make sure you’re playing before everyone else.
Pre-Ordering for Early Access
The most consistent method for securing early access to Call of Duty games is to pre-order the digital version through official platforms like the PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Battle.net, or Steam. Typically, it doesn’t matter which edition you pre-order, whether it’s the standard or a more premium version. The crucial factor is that the pre-order must be digital. The primary reward for this is usually early access to the game’s campaign. For example, pre-ordering Modern Warfare 3 granted early access to the campaign starting November 2nd, a week before the official release.
Campaign Early Access
Campaign early access usually becomes available a week prior to the full game launch. This allows you to experience the single-player story and narrative elements early on. This access is granted to all digital pre-orders regardless of the edition chosen. For example, the Modern Warfare 3 campaign was accessible on November 2nd, offering a direct continuation of the Modern Warfare II story, featuring the return of Captain Price and Task Force 141.
Beta Early Access
In addition to campaign early access, pre-ordering often grants early access to the game’s beta. Unlike the campaign, early access codes to betas are usually for a limited time period and are often linked to specific retailers. When pre-ordering through a participating retailer, you’ll often receive a 13-character early access Beta code, sent via email from the retailer. This code is then redeemed at the official callofduty.com/betaredeem website. This was seen with the Modern Warfare 3 open beta where Xbox and PC users who pre-ordered could play on specific dates, like October 12-13th. Note that early access beta codes are usually only for pre-orders through participating retailers.
Key Steps for Early Access
To summarise, here are the key steps to ensure you get early access:
- Pre-order the digital edition of the game through your preferred platform’s store (PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Battle.net, or Steam).
- If you want beta early access make sure to pre-order the game through a participating retailer, and look out for the email with the early access code.
- Redeem your beta code (if you have one) at callofduty.com/betaredeem.
- Download the game once it is available for pre-load.
- Launch the game when early access begins, typically for the campaign a week before release date, and the beta before that.
Navigating the Early Access Timeline
It’s crucial to understand that early access usually comes in two phases: beta and campaign. The beta provides a taste of the game’s multiplayer mechanics and helps developers test the game’s infrastructure before the final release. The campaign allows players to dive into the narrative and single-player experience ahead of the official multiplayer launch. Note that early access usually involves a specific launch time. In the case of Modern Warfare 3, the campaign went live on November 2nd at 10 AM Pacific on all platforms.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Call of Duty Early Access
Here are 15 Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate the world of Call of Duty early access:
1. What is the main way to get early access to Call of Duty?
The primary way to get early access is by pre-ordering a digital version of the game.
2. Does the edition I pre-order matter for early access?
Usually no. Early access to the campaign is typically granted regardless of which digital edition you pre-order (standard or premium).
3. What does early access to the campaign entail?
Campaign early access allows you to play the single-player campaign mode a week before the official release of the full game.
4. How do I get early access to the game’s beta?
Beta early access is often granted through pre-ordering from participating retailers. You’ll receive a code to redeem.
5. Where do I redeem my beta early access code?
You can redeem your beta code at callofduty.com/betaredeem.
6. Is the beta early access always granted for pre-orders?
No, beta early access codes are typically only required for pre-orders through specific participating retailers.
7. When does the campaign early access typically start?
Campaign early access usually starts a week before the official release date of the full game.
8. If I pre-order digitally, do I automatically get the early access code for the beta?
Not always. Beta access codes are often specific to pre-orders from participating retailers. Digital pre-orders directly through the platform store might not always come with a beta code, but will always grant campaign early access.
9. Can I play multiplayer early if I pre-order?
While pre-ordering grants campaign early access, multiplayer is typically not available until the official release date, or in the form of a beta. However, there are ways to access the full game early by changing your Activision account location, such as to New Zealand, to play at 12 BST on launch day.
10. Does early access have a specific time of day when it becomes available?
Yes, early access phases have a specific time of day when they go live. For instance, the Modern Warfare 3 campaign went live at 10 AM Pacific on November 2nd.
11. Is the Modern Warfare 3 beta free?
Yes, the Modern Warfare III beta is free and open to everyone, but pre-orders receive early access to it.
12. What is the difference between early access and open beta?
Early access requires a pre-order or code, while an open beta is free and available to all players, usually after the early access period.
13. Will I get early access if I pre-order a physical copy of the game?
No, early access is typically a benefit of digital pre-orders.
14. Do I need a specific platform to play early?
Early access is typically available on all platforms that the game is released on, including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, however you should check if your selected retailer is participating for the beta early access.
15. Can I access the campaign if I pre-order after early access is already live?
Yes, you can still gain access to the campaign early access if you pre-order digitally even after the early access period has begun. This will allow you to jump in before the main game release.
Final Thoughts
Gaining early access to Call of Duty is all about understanding the pre-order system and the specific benefits offered. By ensuring you pre-order a digital copy of the game and keeping an eye out for retailer-specific beta codes, you can dive into the newest Call of Duty experience ahead of the masses. Remember to pay attention to the dates and times specified for early access start times, and enjoy the extra playtime!