EA has revealed the dates for its upcoming Battlefield 2042 open beta and it begins next week.
More specifically, you'll be able to jump (or perhaps, wingsuit glide) onto the battlefield from October 6 through October 9. Anybody interested can simply download the beta and play.
Alongside the announcement of these open beta dates, EA also revealed what players can expect during the four-day period.
#Battlefield 2042 Open Beta 8-9 October
Beta Early Access 6-7 Octoberhttps://t.co/IwMX7g78In pic.twitter.com/msSoMBNWbn— Battlefield (@Battlefield) September 28, 2021
For starters, only one map will be in the beta and it's called Orbital. In this map, there is a massive space rocket counting down and the fight on this map takes place around its imminent launch. This map and the chaos that's sure to occur on it can be seen throughout the new Battlefield 2042 official open beta trailer released today so be sure to check that out for an in-game look at Orbital.
In terms of what you'll be doing on Orbital, you'll be playing the game's Conquest mode. This classic Battlefield mode will see teams fight in specific sectors of the map while attempting to catch and take over several flags that serve as control points. Rather than fighting over a single control point, you'll essentially be fighting over multiple at any given time.
There will be four Specialist characters to choose from during the beta: Webster Mackay, Maria Falck, Pyotr "Boris" Guskovsky, and Wikus "Casper" Van Daele. Mackay is your standard soldier character, equipped with a grappling hook and the Nimble ability that allows you to move more quickly while aiming down sights.
Falck is a support character equipped with the S21 Syrette Pistol that allows players to fire healing syringes at allies and the Combat Surgeon ability that allows players to return downed allies back to combat with full health upon revival.
Guskovsky is the leader-like character in the game and he comes with the SG-36 Sentry gun that automatically spots and engages enemy targets detected within a certain area. He also has the Sentry Operator ability that spots enemy targets when the SG-36 Sentry Gun locks onto said enemies, marking them for an easy kill.
The final specialist available in the game, Daele, is your standard sniper character. Their loadout includes the OV-P Recon Drone that spots nearby moving targets and can disorient them via EMP blasts. It can also designate targets for lock-on weapons. Their loadout features the Movement Sensor ability, too, which alerts the player to approaching enemies, both while boots on the ground and when piloting the Recon Drone.
For more information about this Battlefield 2042 open beta, be sure to check out EA's official blog post which features PC requirements, tips and tricks, and more. Watch the Battlefield 2042 official open beta trailer after that.
Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.