Battlefield 2042 beta: What's happening, when, and how to join

Battlefield 2042
(Image credit: EA)

The Battlefield 2042 beta is still et to happen before the game's launch, but what does the recent delay mean for it? 

After August's Technical Playtests, which saw select players get a behind-the-scenes chance to try Battlefield 2042 early, all eyes have moved to when the beta is set to take place. 

Here's everything you need to know about both of the Battlefield 2042 beta opportunities, and how to get involved. 

Battlefield 2042 open beta

As part of its official FAQ page for the game, EA has confirmed that there will be a Battlefield 2042 open beta "in the months leading up to launch". 

"In the months leading up to launch, we will host an Open Beta* available to all players across all platforms. If you pre-order any of the editions of Battlefield 2042, you will get early access to the Open Beta. Stay tuned for more Open Beta details."

However, as part of the EA Play event in June, the publisher previously confirmed that the open Battlefield 2042 beta will take place in September. Specific dates have yet to be revealed, and it's likely that the Battlefield 2042 delay will have seen that September beta window slip. 

While less reliable than EA's official word, a beta date was rumored by Tom Henderson, who has proven to be broadly accurate on Battlefield 2042 information. His tweet claims that Battlefield 2042 beta will now take place in October, from Otcober 6 for early access and October 8 for open access.

You can get access to the open beta if you pre-order the game, but if you're an EA Play subscriber (or Xbox Game Pass), you'll get early access to the beta too. It's not clear how early you'll be able to play, but we'll update here if we hear more. 

Battlefield 2042 launches on October 22, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, GamesRadar+

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.