'Battlefield 2042' Open Beta: Release Date, How to Sign Up, Preload Time and More

After being delayed for nearly a month, the open beta for Battlefield 2042 now has a new launch date.

Battlefield 2042's open beta was originally scheduled for September, but when it was announced that the game itself was being pushed back to November 19, the preview was inevitably postponed.

Unfortunately, there was no indication of a new date. As such, fans of DICE's first-person shooter franchise have spent the last fortnight wondering when they will finally be able to get some hands-on time with the new installment and its Conquest mode.

Having remained quiet on the subject for a couple of weeks, the official Battlefield Twitter account has now unveiled when the Beta will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

When Is the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta Release Date?

The Battlefield 2042 open beta will commence at 3 a.m. ET on Friday, October 8 and will be available until October 10.

Much like with the recent FIFA 22 early access period, EA Play members will be able to get a head start with a different beta window. Their exclusive period will start at 3 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 6.

For those who are not aware, EA Play is a premium subscription service (payable in monthly or annual installments) that grants you access to an extensive library of games published by Electronic Arts. For instance, the platform currently includes things like Knockout City, The Sims 4, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Anthem.

EA Play members are also entitled to a few extra benefits throughout the year, like discounts on DLC items and early access to certain releases. For instance, subscribers will be able to preview the upcoming NHL 22 a full week early on October 7.

If you are not EA Play member, you can still access the earlier beta for Battlefield 2042 by pre-ordering the game itself from the official website.

How to Sign Up for the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta

Regardless of which version of the open beta you are joining, you will be able to start preloading the experience from October 5.

It will be available to download from the Xbox Marketplace, the PlayStation Store, the Epic Games Store, Origin and Steam. You will not need to sign up in advance in order to install the beta.

What Does the Battlefield 2042 Open Beta Include?

The Battlefield 2042 open beta will give you a taste of the game's near-future warfare.

Participants will get to sample the fan-favorite Conquest mode (which has been a staple of this franchise since the very beginning) by playing in the Orbital map. For those who have not been following all of the Battlefield 2042 updates, this arena is situated in an operating rocket station and will showcase the extreme weather effects that have been developed for the game, as well as the ability to join 128-player matches (on next-gen consoles and PC).

While you will get to see some of the new weapons, vehicles and specialists in the beta, certain aspects are clearly being saved for the full release. For instance, you will not get to try out the "Battlefield Portal" mode that lets you customize your own unique game types.

One other thing that is worth noting is that any progress you make in the Battlefield 2042 open beta will not carry over into the full game at launch.

Does Battlefield 2042 Support Crossplay?

Battlefield 2042 supports crossplay between PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Due to technical limitations, those who own the game on PS4 or Xbox One will only be able to join matches with each other.