DICE and Electronic Arts have taken us to many places and times in the Battlefield series, and now we’re heading back to the future in Battlefield 2042. Set in the near future (or if you’re reading this in 2043, the recent past), making it the first time we’ve gone to a futuristic setting since 2006’s Battlefield 2142.
With the focus firmly back on colossal multiplayer action – spiced up with sci-fi tech like advanced drones and turrets – it’s looking like it may be a breath of fresh air for the series. To make sure you’re ready to dive into its post-climate change world of gigantic battles, here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming Battlefield 2042 open beta.
Update – 28 September 2021
Time to lock and load as DICE and EA have announced the dates for the Battlefield 2042 open beta, along with a tonne of other information about the beta.
Firstly, you’ll be able to pre-load the beta from 5th October at 07:00 UTC. Anyone who has pre-ordered the game will have two days of early access, between 6th-7th October, starting at 07:00 UTC on the 6th. If you’re waiting to try the beta before pre-ordering, the full open beta will start at 07:00 UTC on 8th October and run until 9th October.
In addition to the dates, DICE have confirmed that you’ll be able to play Conquest Mode on the Orbital map, with a staggering 128 players able to dive into the action. Some details regarding how XP and progression will work in the beta has also been released on the official blog.
Finally, the minimum and recommended specifications have been released, meaning you can check if your system is capable of handling everything Battlefield 2042 will throw at it, along with default controls.
Battlefield 2042 Open Beta Release Date
Battlefield 2042 was originally scheduled for a 22nd October 2021 release date; however, an update posted on the official Battlefield Twitter account has announced that this has been pushed back. The new release date for Battlefield 2042 is now 19th November.
Now that we know of the change in the game’s release date, what does that mean for the open beta? Well, it means that at the moment, all bets are off for a release date for the beta test. Originally rumours circulated that the Battlefield 2042 open beta release date would be 22nd September, with players able to preload the beta from the 20th. While we stress that these are only rumours at this time, they do come from noted Battlefield community insider Tom Henderson, who has a track record of confirming Battlefield-related rumours.
EA and DICE, in their statement regarding the game release date, have mentioned that there will be updates on the open beta coming later in September. Whether or not this means they’ll hold to the original schedule for the beta, or if this means that – similar to the main game – there’ll be a delay, is yet to be seen.
No matter what the decision is regarding the beta test, as soon as there’s official information available we will update this article to reflect the latest in Battlefield 2042 open beta news.
Early Access Beta for Battlefield 2042 Pre-Orders
If you are planning on diving into the Battlefield 2042 open beta and are concerned that you want to hit the ground running, DICE and EA have announced that Battlefield 2042 pre-orders will grant early access to the test.
The amount of early access time that pre-orderers will receive is yet to be confirmed, but if we look to similar offers for earlier Battlefield games such as the Battlefield V beta, then usually two days is the standard. This should be enough time to get your hands on the beta, get used to all the new and updated specialists, and be ready to give your friends who haven’t pre-ordered a good thrashing when they do log on.
Overall, there’s a lot of rumours swimming around the internet with few details to pin down about the Battlefield 2042 beta just yet, though we should know more towards the end of the month.
Whilst we all wait for the updated Battlefield 2042 beta release, why not check out Everything you need to know about Battlefield 2042? You can also head over to our community forum and let us know what you’re looking forward to most in this next entry in the long-running series!
