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Call of Duty players can enlist for a free, limited PS5 alpha of Squad from October 16 through October 25, 2026. Registration is required on the official Squad alpha page, and the event is separate from the full console release planned for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027.
What the free Squad PS5 preview includes
Offworld Industries announced the console version on October 15, 2026, with Secret Mode as its partner. The alpha places up to 100 players in a battle for a strategic rail line on Gorodok. Participants fight as either the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the People’s Liberation Army.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Ready or Not - Day 1 Edition – PlayStation 5 | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sniper: Ghost Warrior - Contracts 2 - PlayStation 5 | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Starfield | Standard Edition | PlayStation 5 | $47.24 | Buy on Amazon |
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The official preview describes a combined-arms battlefield rather than a conventional run-and-gun match. Infantry advance under armored cover, helicopters transport troops, and logistics crews keep frontline positions supplied. Squad leaders, riflemen, medics, pilots and crewmen each have different responsibilities, so the team’s organization affects whether an attack succeeds.
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How Squad differs from Call of Duty
Call of Duty covers several styles, including cinematic campaigns, traditional competitive multiplayer, Zombies and the free-to-play Warzone battle royale. Warzone centers on looting, eliminating opposing squads, redeploying and surviving a shrinking gas field.
#1 Best Overall
- Take Command: Ready or Not delivers an immersive SWAT experience. Equip your team with authentic weapons and gear, deploy into high-stakes, real-world inspired missions to secure locations concealing unknown criminal threats and potential civilians.
- The Weight of the Badge: Shoulder the weight of being a SWAT commander entrusted with confronting Los Sueňos’ criminal corruption and stopping it from overwhelming the city’s citizens. Every tactical decision matters, every outcome is yours to bear.
- True Tactical Gameplay: Ready or Not is a true tactical shooter. Every mission is a high-stakes, life-or-death operation. Strategically forge your squad of elite SWAT officers, equip them with the right weapons and gear for the mission, position your team to tactically breach criminal strongholds and quickly identify and neutralize threats in tense, life threatening scenarios.
- Your Mission is the Story: Ready or Not confronts you with a raw, unflinching mirror of real-world crime, exposing the horrors of human trafficking, drug running, illegal arms dealing, militant extremism, and terrorism through interwoven storylines that span multiple missions.
- Cross-Comradery: Team up with friends to stem the tide of crime infesting the city. Enhanced with crossplay, Ready or Not supports up to five players in a co-operative tactical experience on all platforms. Communicate effectively to increase your tactical precision, watch your squad’s back, and successfully complete your mission.
Squad is built around slower tactical decisions and communication. Its official description emphasizes 50-versus-50 battles, realistic combat, suppression, fortifications, logistics and coordinated use of vehicles. The Fireteam Edition store description lists 13 factions, 24 large maps, faction-specific weapons and vehicles, and battles in which positioning and orders matter as much as aim.
| Aspect | Call of Duty | Squad |
|---|---|---|
| Pace | Fast, mode-dependent action | Deliberate movement, positioning and orders |
| Team dependence | Varies by mode; communication is useful | Local, squad and command voice channels are core systems |
| Battle scale | Depends on the mode | 100-player combined-arms battles |
| Roles | Usually class-based combat roles | Squad leaders, riflemen, medics, pilots, crewmen and logistics-focused players |
| Learning curve | Designed for quick access across several modes | Intentionally deep; Offworld says the aim is easier learning, not a simpler mastery path |
Why communication matters
Squad supports separate local, squad and command voice channels. A microphone is not technically required to launch the game, but Offworld says communication creates a significantly better experience. The official alpha page sums up the design philosophy: “The squad that talks and moves as one is the squad that takes the objective.”
That makes Squad a poor fit for players seeking a purely solo-friendly shooter and a strong fit for Call of Duty fans who want their decisions to depend more on fire-team coordination than individual kill streaks. A PS5 headset with a microphone is therefore useful, although it is not listed as a launch requirement.
Rank #2
- Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 introduces fans to a dramatic single-player campaign where the stakes are at their highest, deep inside enemy territory
- Players take on the role of Reaper, contract sniper assassin, operating in the heart of a lawless region of the Middle East along the Lebanese and Syrian borders
- Tasked with a seemingly impossible mission - to topple an insidious criminal syndicate and bring them to justice
- For the first time, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 delivers precision long-range shooting campaign with targets over 1,000 meters away
- Developed by the same studio behind the highly celebrated original Contracts, Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 pushes boundaries with the most realistic and challenging experience that the studio has ever created
How to join the PS5 alpha
- Open the official Squad PS5 alpha page.
- Choose the enlist or registration option and submit the requested details.
- Follow the PlayStation download link supplied after enrollment.
- Install the alpha and play during the October 16–25, 2026 event window.
Access and dates are specific to this preview. Check the official alpha page again before downloading in case the organizer changes instructions or availability.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.PS5 controls, servers and performance targets
Offworld says the console edition uses a control scheme and interface designed for consoles instead of directly copying the PC layout. Mouse and keyboard support is not planned for console. Aim assist is included, and official dedicated servers will host matches.
The current PS5 target is 4K output using dynamic-resolution upscaling at 60 frames per second. Development is still being optimized, and Offworld says final performance information will be published closer to release. The current FAQ does not list separate performance and quality modes.
Rank #3
- JOIN CONSTELLATION — Become part of the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy as you pursue humanity’s greatest mystery.
- CREATE YOUR EXPLORER — Customize your appearance and choose a Background and Traits as you shape your character in this role-playing game.
- EXPLORE THE SETTLED SYSTEMS — Visit more than 1,000 planets, from bustling cities and dangerous bases to wild landscapes, and meet characters, join factions, and take on quests.
- CAPTAIN YOUR SHIP — Personalize your ship, modify its weapons and shields, and assign crew members for unique bonuses. Take part in space dogfights, dock at star stations, and board or commandeer enemy ships.
- CRAFT AND FIGHT — Gather resources to craft supplies, equipment, and weapons, build outposts, and research crafting recipes. Modify weapons to suit your playstyle and use boost packs to maneuver in zero gravity.
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 cross-play between console platforms will be supported.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Those details should be treated as pending rather than assumed from the alpha. The October preview is an opportunity to evaluate the game’s pace, communication demands and controller interface—not confirmation of the final commercial package.
Quick Recap
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