Battlefield 6 open beta early access has started – here’s how to join

The open beta for Battlefield 6 has begun and EA has tried to make it as easy as possible for you to get access.

After private gameplay sessions and numerous leaks, EA formally revealed Battlefield 6 with a proper trailer last week, followed by a multiplayer showcase on Thursday evening.

Given the poor reception to 2021’s Battlefield 2042, EA is pulling out all the stops with Battlefield 6, with no less than four whole studios working on it and alleged plans to reach 100 million players.

With multiplayer gameplay streams and videos everywhere online, EA has also opened up pre-orders and, surprisingly, there are only two versions to choose from.

What special editions are there for Battlefield 6?

Aside from a standard edition of Battlefield 6, EA is offering a special edition of the game dubbed the Phantom Edition.

The standard edition is £59.99 on PC and £69.99 on consoles, although you can get a 10% discount if you have an EA Play membership.

As for what’s included, the standard edition obviously only comes with the game, but pre-orders do net you a Tombstone Pack that includes the following items:

• Gravedigger Soldier Skin
• Fallen Heroes Player Card
• Bandolier Weapon Charm
• Express Delivery Weapon Sticker
• Hatchet L110 Weapon Package
• Doomsayer Soldier Patch
• Tombstone XP Boost Set

The Tombstone Pack is also included with pre-orders for the Phantom Edition, which costs £89.99 on PC and £99.99 on consoles. Again, there’s a 10% discount for EA Play members. For the extra £30, you’ll receive:

• Battlefield Pro Token
• Phantom Squad: 4 Soldier Skins
• ‎2 Weapon Packages
• ‎Melee Knife Weapon Skin
• ‎Vehicle Skin
• ‎Weapon Sticker
• ‎Weapon Charm
• ‎Dog Tag
• Phantom XP Boost Set

What platforms is Battlefield 6 available for?

Battlefield 6 is slated to launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, Windows, and the EA App.

In case you’re wondering, EA’s executive vice president Vince Zampella has explicitly said there are no plans for a Nintendo Switch 2 version, telling Eurogamer that the core Battlefield audience is on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

It sounds like handhelds in general aren’t a priority. Battlefield 6’s specs on PC are quite demanding, meaning even the strongest handheld PCs would struggle to get it running, with Zampella confirming the game won’t work on Valve’s Steam Deck.

‘It does not work on Steam Deck. I think there are some non-Steam Deck handheld platforms that it will work on, probably, right? But I don’t think, you know, it’s probably not the best way to play the game,’ Zampella told PCGamesN.

How can you join the Battlefield 6 beta?

EA is running two open beta sessions across PC and consoles for Battlefield 6, with the first scheduled for August 9 to August 10. However, Battlefield Lab members can join early access on August 7.

Lab registration has since closed, but but there’s still a chance to gain access to the standard open beta starting on Saturday, August 9. All you need is an open beta code and then you can play on the format of your choice.

To get a code you need to find a streamer on Twitch that is giving them away or keep an eye on EA’s official Battlefield 6 X account, where they’re often offered up for free, as in the example above.

The second open beta starts on Thursday, August 14 and runs until August 17. That should be particularly easy to pick up a code for, as EA wants as many people playing as possible. Full details can be found on EA’s website.

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