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Squad PS5 alpha dates and availability
Offworld Industries announced the preview on October 15, 2026, saying it would begin Friday, October 16 and end Sunday, October 25. The alpha is a time-limited preview rather than the full console release.
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The official announcement describes the preview as open to all, but enlistment is required. The landing page also identifies October 16–25 as PlayStation 5 first access.
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No. The published alpha instructions are specifically for PlayStation 5 owners. Xbox Series X|S players must wait for the planned console edition; the sources do not announce an Xbox alpha during this window.
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- Model Number CFI-2000
- Includes DualSense Wireless Controller, 1TB SSD, 2 Horizontal Stand Feet, HDMI Cable, AC power cord, USB cable, printed materials, ASTRO’s PLAYROOM (Pre-installed game)
- Vertical Stand sold seperately
How to join and download the PS5 alpha
- Open the official preview page: alpha.joinsquad.com.
- Choose Download Alpha. This is the official enlistment and access route.
- Download and install the PS5 alpha listing when it is available on your console.
- Launch the alpha between October 16 and October 25, then use a compatible PS5 controller. The official page tells players to “grab your controller.”
The sources do not state an exact start time, regional exclusions, or whether PlayStation Plus online multiplayer requirements are waived for this free preview. Do not assume access outside the published dates or a waiver of normal platform requirements.
What is included in the alpha?
The official FAQ defines one specific scenario: players fight over a strategic rail line on Gorodok as either the Armed Forces of Ukraine or the People’s Liberation Army. This is the confirmed content for the preview; it should not be treated as the complete set of factions, maps or modes planned for launch.
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- CPU: x86-64-AMD Ryzen Zen 8 Cores / 16 Threads at 3.5GHz.GPU: AMD Radeon RDNA 2-based graphics engine.
- 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Memory; 825GB SSD Storage Capacity
- Ethernet (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T), IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.1
- HDR technology, 8K output, 4K TV gaming, Up to 120 fps with 120Hz output, Tempest 3D AudioTech
- What's Included: Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Version; Wireless controller; USB cable, HDMI cable, AC power cord. Nogtox PVT HDMI_cable
When is the full Squad console release?
The full Squad Console Edition is planned for 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Offworld Industries has not announced an exact launch date.
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Unlike the alpha, the announced console edition is planned as a digital-only product, with no physical edition. Console purchases are separate from the PC version, and there is no cross-progression between PC and console accounts.
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- 🚀 CPU: 3.5GHz, 8-core AMD Zen 2
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- 🚀 RAM: 16GB GDDR6
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Planned console features
| Feature | Planned detail |
|---|---|
| Platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S |
| Release timing | 2027; exact date not announced |
| Match size | Up to 100 players on console |
| Crossplay | Optional PlayStation/Xbox crossplay on official console servers |
| Purchase relationship | Console version sold separately from PC; no cross-progression |
| Format | Digital-only; no physical edition planned |
Planned launch modes
- Advance and Secure (AAS)
- Random Advance and Secure (RAAS)
- Invasion
- Fireteam
Planned launch maps
- Al Basrah
- Fallujah
- Mutaha
- Narva
- Yehorivka
- Gorodok
Planned launch 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
What to expect after the test
The alpha’s two-faction Gorodok scenario is much narrower than the announced 2027 edition. The eventual console release is intended to support up to 100 players, multiple game modes, six listed maps and eight listed factions, with opt-in crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox on official servers.
Those features are plans for the full console edition, not guarantees that every item will appear in the October alpha. The publisher has not supplied a final launch date or stated that the alpha progress will carry into the commercial console version.
Quick Recap
Official information
- Squad – PS5 Alpha Preview
- Squad is Coming to CONSOLE! Announcement & FAQ, published October 15, 2026
- PlayStation Beta Program information
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