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The free Squad PS5 alpha preview runs from Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. To participate, enlist at alpha.joinsquad.com, select Download Alpha, install the PS5 build and launch it during the published window. The preview is open to all PlayStation 5 owners who complete that enlistment; an exact start time, regional exclusions and any PlayStation Plus exception have not been announced.
Squad PS5 alpha dates and availability
Offworld Industries announced the preview on October 15, 2026, stating that it would begin the next day and continue through Sunday, October 25. That means October 16 is the first playable day and October 25 is the final advertised day. Access is not described as an invite-only test: the announcement says the alpha is open to all, provided players enlist through the official page.
The official landing page also identifies October 16–25 as the first-access period for PlayStation 5 players. Because no daily opening hour is published, a download button may not become usable at the same moment in every region. Do not assume access after October 25 unless Offworld Industries extends the test.
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How to join and download the PS5 alpha
- Open the official alpha page: Visit https://alpha.joinsquad.com/ on a phone, computer or PS5 browser.
- Enlist: Follow the page’s sign-up or enlistment flow. The announcement describes this enlistment as the requirement for access.
- Choose Download Alpha: Select the Download Alpha action on the landing page. This is the official route to the PS5 test listing.
- Install on your PS5: Download the alpha and allow the installation to finish before launching. Keep enough free console storage for the client and any update the test may issue.
- Launch during October 16–25: Start the installed alpha within the published test window and use a compatible PS5 controller, as the official page instructs players to “grab your controller.”
The reviewed official information does not state a required download size, an exact start time, country-by-country eligibility, or whether the normal PlayStation Plus online requirement is waived for this free preview. Check the alpha page and the console’s store prompt if you encounter an access or subscription message.
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What the alpha lets you play
The preview has one specifically described combat scenario. Players fight over a strategic rail line on the Gorodok map as either the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the People’s Liberation Army. The published FAQ does not present the alpha as a complete sample of every faction, map or mode planned for the final console edition, so content beyond that scenario should not be assumed.
Can Xbox players join this alpha?
No Xbox alpha access is announced in the available details. This preview is presented as a PlayStation 5 first-access test, and its download route is the PS5 alpha page. Xbox Series X|S players will need to wait for the console release rather than using this PS5 test.
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- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
When is Squad coming to PS5 and Xbox?
The full Squad Console Edition is planned for 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Offworld Industries has not provided an exact launch date, so a month, price or pre-order schedule cannot be confirmed.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Console edition detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S |
| Target timing | 2027; exact date to be announced |
| Maximum match size | Up to 100 players on console |
| Crossplay | Optional PlayStation/Xbox crossplay on official console servers |
| Purchase relationship to PC | Console purchase is separate; no cross-progression |
| Format | Digital-only; no physical edition planned |
These are plans for the complete console edition, not promises that every item will appear in the October alpha.
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Modes, maps and factions planned for launch
Modes
- Advance and Secure (AAS)
- Random Advance and Secure (RAAS)
- Invasion
- Fireteam
Maps
- Al Basrah
- Fallujah
- Mutaha
- Narva
- Yehorivka
- Gorodok
Factions
- United States Army
- United States Marine Corps
- People’s Liberation Army
- Armed Forces of Ukraine
- Private Military Contractors
- Middle Eastern Insurgents
- Russian Ground Forces
- British Armed Forces
Offworld Industries lists these as planned launch content. The alpha’s confirmed matchup remains Armed Forces of Ukraine versus People’s Liberation Army on Gorodok.
Important limitations before you install
- Short test window: The announced preview ends October 25, 2026.
- Unpublished timing details: No exact opening hour or regional schedule is specified.
- Online-service uncertainty: Official information reviewed does not confirm a PlayStation Plus waiver.
- Separate ownership: Buying or owning the PC version does not provide console entitlement, and console progression will not carry over from PC.
- Digital-only future release: The planned console edition will not have a physical disc edition according to the FAQ.
For announcement and FAQ updates, see Offworld Industries’ console announcement. PlayStation’s general testing information is available at PlayStation Beta Program, although that program page does not replace the Squad-specific enlistment page.
The Bottom Line
Enlist at alpha.joinsquad.com and use Download Alpha to play the free PS5 preview from October 16–25, 2026. Xbox access is not part of this test; the complete console edition is targeted for 2027 with optional crossplay and no announced exact release date.
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