Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is adding more options for how your operators appear in-game.
The recently released Modern Warfare 4 beta has given players their first look at a ton of features, maps, and other content that will be available in the final game. Some of these things were heavily advertised before launch, such as the fluidity of movement and a new system that randomly generates gun builds for you.
One feature that was kept under wraps, however, allows players to equip different cosmetic items on the fly in-game. Ghost, for instance, can remove his mask (which comically reveals another cloth mask underneath) and put it back on. Valeria can equip a hockey mask. And Captain Price can smoke a cigar, which will appear on-screen in first-person at all times unless you take it out.
You Can Remove Ghost’s Mask in Modern Warfare 4 using the NEW ‘Operator Variant’ Feature in the Emote Wheel: pic.twitter.com/ABJma6tvsy
— DETONATED (@DETONATEDcom) August 23, 2026
this is the best MW4 mastercraft the cigar actually stays in ur mouth until you respawn lol pic.twitter.com/sFWQUrV02k
— B23 (@B23COD) August 21, 2026
It’s a fun touch and one that will almost certainly be taken advantage of in premium skins. As of right now, we’re not sure what skins to expect in MW4, but Call of Duty has promised to keep things more grounded after fan backlash to previous games. Specifically, they said there will be “no Lady Gaga. No Omni-Man. No Teletubbies. No SpongeBob.”
The fan reception on Modern Warfare 4’s beta has been fairly divisive so far. Some fear that the game is a bit too fast, especially for having relatively small maps. The time-to-kill is extremely rapid, but Infinity Ward has addressed much of this feedback from fans so far. The studio has released patches for the beta addressing TTK, spawns, and is also looking to make improvements to the gunsmith system for launch.
IGN spoke with some of MW4’s multiplayer leads last week ahead of the beta, and they made it clear this playtest is essential in helping shape the final game. “To me, this beta feels like the start of the conversation with the public, you know what I mean? We’re excited to basically put that out there and we’ll see what happens next. We want to just keep talking and keep learning and trying to find out what we can do better,” said Jackie Reynolds, Modern Warfare 4’s multiplayer design lead.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
