PlayStation owners to get early access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 beta

Of course, with Activision Blizzard now poised to fall under the Microsoft Gaming umbrella, most had assumed that the prior engagements between the two companies would no longer be honored, or, at the very least, be altered. It appears that this isn't the case for now.

Scheduled to launch officially on November 10 across a range of platforms – including PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series S/X – Modern Warfare 3 has been teased as a premium experience, bearing a slightly controversial price tag of $70. Fans will want to mark their calendars for August 17, a day when the veils will be lifted within Warzone to fully unveil this gaming marvel.

If the teasers are to be believed, Makarov, the notorious villain from the original Modern Warfare series, is set to make a sinister return.

In any case, as PlayStation players revel in their early access from October 6 to October 10, others will have to bide their time. Xbox and PC aficionados, albeit begrudgingly, will only be able to take a deep dive into the beta during its second wave, scheduled from October 12 to October 16. To soothe this wait, it's believed those who pre-order will be treated to a little head-start, while the floodgates will eventually open for the wider gaming community to partake in the beta.

Keep in mind that such beta tests aren't just about early gameplay. It serves as an entrée of what's to come, with a big selection of multiplayer modes, a taste of new maps, and exclusive rewards that serve as a testament to being an early bird in the Call of Duty universe.

Modern Warfare 3 marks a shift in the long-standing dynamics as well. Microsoft's looming acquisition of Activision Blizzard adds an element of uncertainty. Prior to this business maneuver, three more Call of Duty games were destined to be dual residents of both PlayStation and Xbox ecosystems. This year's Modern Warfare 3 title was meant to be the swan song of Sony's marketing agreement with the Call of Duty creator. However, last month saw Xbox unveiling that both Microsoft and PlayStation had inked a binding agreement, ensuring Call of Duty's continued presence on PlayStation even after the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

The waters around this acquisition have not been calm. It took months of navigating legal whirlpools and regulatory challenges for Microsoft to edge closer to finalizing the deal. May witnessed the European Commission giving a nod to Microsoft's acquisition endeavors, and more recently, a U.S. court case victory over the Federal Trade Commission set the stage for the acquisition to formally conclude.

So, what does this mean for Call of Duty enthusiasts? It's simple. While PlayStation's early access for Modern Warfare 3 might be a celebratory dance for now, it could very well be the finale. The shifting sands of corporate ownership could reshape the terrain of how Call of Duty games are rolled out in the future.

Fr now, as the world gears up to experience the electrifying skirmishes of Modern Warfare 3, it's a time for celebration, anticipation, and perhaps, for some, a bit of patient waiting.