Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta details announced

The Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare multiplayer beta will open up for PlayStation 4 owners in a week's time. Publisher Activision today released details of what to expect when the shooter goes live.

Three out of six final game combat rigs will be available in the beta. These are described by Activision as "suits, chosen and worn by the player that provide a customized suite of tactical options," that can be switched out mid-match. The beta will feature the Warfighter, Merc and Synaptic rigs, whose payloads and traits are detailed here.

Players will also have an opportunity to try out the new Mission Teams metagame, which allows players to sign up with a crew and earn bonuses. At least three maps will be available including:

• Circular, constricted space-station corridors in Frontier.
• Vertical combat, medium pace frozen environment in Frost.
• Main Street USA 1950s fantasy in Throwback.

Standard Team Deathmatch, Domination and Kill Confirmed modes will be rotated throughout the beta as well as the new Defender mode in which players must babysit a drone.

The Infinite Warfare beta will debut Friday, Oct. 14, on PlayStation 4 at 10 a.m. PT. One week later, at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 21, Xbox One players will be able to jump into the fray. Developer Infinity Ward will conclude beta testing at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 24, which means that PlayStation 4 customers will get 10 days with the beta while Xbox One owners will only get three.

Last year, PlayStation 4 players had five days of exclusive access to the beta for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3. Sony announced at E3 2015 that it had signed a deal with Activision to secure exclusive content and early access for Call of Duty titles on PlayStation platforms.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is set for release on Nov. 4 for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Taking place in outer space, the game features zero-gravity levels as well as various new tools and weapons appropriate to the setting.