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PlayStation 5 owners can enlist in a free, limited Squad alpha preview from October 16 through October 25, 2026. Registration on the official alpha page is required. The preview offers a first look at Offworld Industries’ 100-player tactical shooter before the full console edition is planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027.
What the PS5 alpha includes
Offworld Industries announced the console version on October 15, 2026, with Secret Mode as its publishing partner. The alpha scenario places players in a battle between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the People’s Liberation Army over a strategic rail line on Gorodok.
The official preview description emphasizes combined-arms warfare on real-world terrain. Infantry can advance behind armored vehicles, helicopters can move troops, and logistics crews keep ammunition and supplies flowing. Squad leaders, riflemen, medics, pilots and crewmen each have different responsibilities, so choosing a role affects how the entire team operates.
The preview’s central message is simple: the squad that communicates and moves together takes the objective. This is not a short, solo-oriented campaign trial; it is an online team battle designed around coordinated units.
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Why it feels different from Call of Duty
Call of Duty covers several FPS styles, including cinematic campaigns, conventional competitive multiplayer, Zombies and the free-to-play Warzone battle royale. Warzone revolves around looting, eliminating opposing squads, redeploying and surviving a shrinking gas field.
Squad occupies a slower, more deliberate part of the shooter spectrum. Its official descriptions focus on communication, realistic combat, 100-player battles, base building and coordination between infantry and vehicles. The broader Fireteam Edition description lists 50-versus-50 matches, 13 factions, 24 large maps, faction-specific weapons and vehicles, suppression, fortifications and logistics. It also describes co-op sessions for up to five players, although the PS5 alpha is focused on the large-scale competitive format.
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| Comparison | Call of Duty | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | Fast movement and rapid engagements across several modes | Slower advances where positioning, routes and orders matter |
| Team dependence | Many modes can be played with limited coordination | Local, squad and command voice channels are core systems |
| Battle scale | Varies by mode, including battle royale | 100-player combined-arms battles, commonly 50 versus 50 |
| Roles | Loadouts generally support a flexible run-and-gun style | Distinct infantry, medic, pilot, crewman, squad-leader and logistics jobs |
| Learning curve | Designed for immediate familiarity across mainstream modes | More demanding procedures, communication and battlefield awareness |
A microphone is not required to launch the game, but Offworld says communication produces a significantly better experience. Voice coordination is not an optional social extra: it is how squads request supplies, identify threats, organize movement and respond to changing objectives. As Offworld puts it, “Communication remains one of the things that makes Squad, Squad.”
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- Open the official Squad PS5 alpha page.
- Choose the enlist or registration option and complete the requested sign-up.
- Follow the PlayStation download link provided after enrollment.
- Install the alpha and play during the October 16–25, 2026 event window.
Access and dates are specific to this preview and can change, so check the official alpha page again before downloading. Enrollment is required; owning a PS5 alone does not automatically grant access.
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- 【Less plug, More Play-Dual Input From 2.4GHz & Bluetooth】 Wireless gaming headset adopts high performance dual mode design. With a 2.4GHz USB dongle, which is super sturdy, lag＜30ms, perfectly made for gamers. Bluetooth mode only work for phone, laptop and switch. And 3.5mm wired mode (Only support music and call).
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Controls, servers and PS5 performance targets
Offworld says the console release uses a control scheme and interface designed for consoles rather than copying the PC mapping. Mouse and keyboard support is not planned for console, while aim assist is included. Matches will run on official dedicated servers.
The current PS5 target is 4K output using dynamic-resolution upscaling at 60 frames per second. Development optimization is still in progress, and Offworld plans to publish final performance information closer to launch. The current FAQ does not list separate performance and quality graphics modes.
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Expect a console-specific onboarding process
Offworld says it redesigned controls, user interface and onboarding so newcomers can understand the game’s depth without removing its complexity. Its stated goal is “to make Squad easier to learn, not simpler to master.” New players should expect to learn radio channels, map markers, spawn systems, vehicle procedures and squad etiquette rather than relying only on aim and reflexes.
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What is still unknown about the 2027 console release
The full Squad Console Edition is planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027, but the checked official announcements do not give an exact launch date or retail price. They also do not confirm whether PlayStation Plus will be required, or whether PS5 and Xbox players will share cross-play servers. Those details remain pending official confirmation.
Best Value
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The 2027 plan should therefore be treated as a release window, not a scheduled launch day. The October alpha is a separate, time-limited event and does not establish the final price, subscription requirements, feature list or performance specifications of the commercial edition.
Who should try it
- Call of Duty players wanting a slower challenge: Movement, cover, suppression and information can matter more than winning a quick gunfight.
- Players who enjoy defined team jobs: Medics, pilots, crewmen and logistics players contribute in ways that are not measured only by eliminations.
- Friends with microphones: Coordinated voice communication is central to taking and holding objectives.
- Players seeking instant solo action: The alpha may feel demanding if you prefer self-contained matches, minimal instructions or constant respawns without team planning.
For players willing to communicate and follow a squad leader, the free preview is a low-cost way to find out whether Squad’s methodical combined-arms combat is a better fit than Call of Duty’s faster, broader menu of modes.
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