Batllefield 2042 beta download: How to install on Xbox consoles and PC

If you’ve been looking for a new shooter to play, there’s good news: the Battlefield 2042 beta is almost here, and it will be partially open to all players across all platforms (people who preorder get early access from Oct. 6-7). Battlefield 2042 is arguably the most ambitious Battlefield game yet, featuring enormous maps, dynamic and destructive weather systems, an expansive progression system. It also has a special Portal mode that allows players to use factions, weapons, vehicles, and gadgets from old Battlefield games on classic Battlefield maps that have been remastered. With features like these, there’s a serious chance that Battlefield 2042 could become one of the best Xbox shooters ever.

Ahead of the beta’s Oct. 6 start date, EA and DICE have shared some important details regarding when and how you’ll be able to download the Battlefield 2042 beta. Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about the beta and its download process.

What to expect from Battlefield 2042 beta

Battlefield 2042’s Oct. 5-10 beta will offer players a small slice of the full Battlefield 2042 experience. For the duration of the beta, up to 128 players will be able to duke it out on the map Orbital, which features a massive rocket ship that will take off over the course of each match. The beta’s featured game mode is Conquest, which is a Battlefield staple that requires each team to capture points and score kills to drain the other team’s tickets. Notably, players on Xbox One and PS4 will be limited to 64-player matches, while players on Xbox Series X, Series S, PS5, and PC will be able to experience 128-player matches.

Over the course of the beta, players will also be engaging with Battlefield 2042’s progression system that allows them to unlock new weapons, weapon attachments, and more. Over time, performing well with your weapons will also allow you to unlock cosmetics for them. It’s currently unclear if progress in the beta will carry over to the full game when it launches Nov. 19.

When is the Battlefield 2042 beta available for download?

According to EA and DICE, the Battlefield 2042 beta will become available for preloading on Oct. 5 at 7 a.m. UTC / 3 a.m. ET. It’s expected that you’ll be able to download the beta ahead of its release on all major platforms and storefronts, including Xbox’s Microsoft Store and Steam, Origin, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app on PC.

Due to the fact that this is a beta, there’s a chance that the game’s rollout could be impacted by server issues and other bugs or glitches. The in-game experience may also be affected by issues like this.

Battlefield 2042 beta download size

Official communications from EA and DICE have revealed that the download size of the Battlefield 2042 beta will be 100GB, which is quite large. Updates to the beta over the course of its runtime may also affect the size of the beta, so we recommend having some extra space on your system. For more information about the hardware you need for the beta, check out our guide on the Battlefield 2042 beta system requirements.

How to download Battlefield 2042 beta

It’s currently not known how players will be able to download the Battlefield 2042 beta on Xbox and PC, although based on previous releases, we expect that there will be a beta release available on Xbox and PC storefronts. Once the beta servers go live, these releases should unlock and become available so that players can access the game.

However, there’s also a chance that the process could be different based on which platform you use. For example, Steam has built-in support for beta branches that some developers have used to distribute betas in the past. Therefore, there’s a chance that the process may be different than the one we’re expecting. We’ll update this article when we learn more about how the download process works.

Keep in mind that Battlefield 2042 preorders are now available, and preordering the game will get you two days of early access to the beta. Regardless of how the download works, you’ll be able to access the game ahead of most players.