Battlefield 6 is not free to play on its own: it is a paid game with a $69.99 list price. What is free this week is a limited Full Game Trial on PlayStation 5 and Steam, which EA’s trial terms put at Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 AM ET to Monday, October 19, 4:00 PM ET on PlayStation, and Thursday, October 15, 1:00 PM ET to Monday, October 19, 1:00 PM ET on Steam. Its Battle Royale side, Battlefield REDSEC, is free to play on every platform with no end date.
Below: the exact times, why Xbox is not on the list (and what Xbox players can do instead), what the trial includes, what you keep afterward, and the sale running alongside it. Everything here is verified against EA’s Season 5 patch notes, its trial terms and the official store listings as of October 13, 2026.
When the Free Trial Starts and Ends, in Eastern Time
EA’s Season 5 announcements describe the trial as running “from October 15-19,” but the full terms on EA’s Battlefield 6 disclaimers page give a separate window for each platform, in UTC. Converted to Eastern time:
| Platform | Trial starts | Trial ends |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 AM ET | Monday, October 19, 4:00 PM ET |
| PC (Steam) | Thursday, October 15, 1:00 PM ET | Monday, October 19, 1:00 PM ET |
| Xbox | No trial announced | No trial announced |
That gives PlayStation players about a day more at the front and three more hours at the end than Steam players. EA adds that “trial time is subject to change and may vary by platform,” so if a start time moves, the store listing on your platform is the final word.
Which Platforms Get It, and Where Xbox Fits
EA’s own copy of the Game Update 2.1.1.0 notes names PlayStation and Steam, and the trial terms list only those two. The Steam copy of the same notes mentions Steam alone. Xbox is not part of this trial, and the EA app and Epic Games Store are not named either.
Xbox players still have two ways in this week:
- Game Pass. Since October 13, Battlefield 6 has been included with EA Play, which puts it in Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming, per EA’s post on Xbox Wire. Our Game Pass and Game of the Year Edition story covers what members get. The PlayStation Store also lists the game as included with EA Play.
- REDSEC. The free-to-play Battle Royale is on Xbox Series X|S like everywhere else (more below).
What the Free Trial Includes
EA’s Steam patch notes promise “every available map and mode open across land, air, and sea,” and EA’s Season 5 roadmap calls it the “Battlefield 6 Full Game Trial.” Read literally, that covers the two maps Season 5 added on October 13, Vegas Strip and Area 51, alongside the rest of the multiplayer rotation. Our Season 5 patch notes breakdown explains what changed on those maps and in vehicle combat.
Two things to know before you plan around it:
- The campaign is not mentioned. EA’s wording is about multiplayer maps and modes. Do not count on the single-player story being part of the trial.
- The Dead Space crossover starts after it ends. The Battlefield 6 x Dead Space: Convergence Event, with its 16-player Marker Incursion PvE mode, runs from October 20 through November 10, per the same notes. EA says the event comes to both Battlefield 6 and REDSEC, so free players may still get a taste of it after the trial closes.
EA’s terms also set the requirements: an EA account, a persistent internet connection, and acceptance of EA’s User Agreement. The EA app “may be required” on PC, and “access on console platforms may require a premium console account or subscription.” The PlayStation Store listing for the full game says PS Plus is required for online play, so PS5 players without PS Plus should check the trial listing when it appears. The trial “can be played once per EA account.”
How to Get Ready Before It Starts
As of October 13, EA had not posted step-by-step access instructions for this trial. Its earlier trials give a strong hint: for the March trial, EA told players to download the free REDSEC and said the trial “will appear as a section of the main menu,” and its September trial was also listed as requiring REDSEC. Until EA says otherwise, the safest prep is:
- Install Battlefield REDSEC now. It is free on Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Microsoft Store, the EA app and the Epic Games Store, so get it installed before the window opens.
- Sign in with the EA account you plan to keep. EA stores Battlefield progress on your EA account.
- When your window opens, check the main menu and the Battlefield 6 store page on your platform for the trial.
What You Keep If You Buy
Purchases. EA’s terms say in-game content bought during the trial “is available for continued use in the full game,” and it is not refunded when the trial ends.
Progress. The terms for this trial do not spell it out. For its March trial, EA wrote that Career Rank, Hardware unlocks and levels, and customization items all carry over “to the full Battlefield 6 experience upon purchase.” EA’s help article on REDSEC says the same for free players: “Your progress, unlocks, and settings carry over seamlessly if you decide to buy the full Battlefield 6 experience.” The safe move is simple: play the trial on the same EA account you would buy on.
The Sale Running Alongside the Trial
Battlefield 6 is discounted on all three storefronts this week. US prices as of October 13:
| Store | Battlefield 6 | Sale ends |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | $27.99 (was $69.99) | October 20 |
| Xbox Store | $27.99 (was $69.99) | October 21, 7:59 PM ET |
| PlayStation Store | $27.99 (was $69.99) | October 22, 2:59 AM ET |
The Game of the Year Edition, which adds the Ultimate Shortcut Kit, a Battlefield Pro token and the Phantom Pack, is $59.99 (was $99.99) on Steam and the PlayStation Store. The sale outlasts the trial on every store, so a trial player who decides to buy can still get the lower price.
REDSEC Is Free to Play All the Time
Battlefield REDSEC is the free-to-play part of Battlefield, and it is not tied to the trial. Per EA’s help article, it includes Battle Royale, Ranked, and Portal on Fort Lyndon, and it needs only an EA account and an internet connection. Every player also gets the free Battle Pass tiers.
Season 5 makes it a better time than usual to try: Rapid Royale, a 36-player Battle Royale in Trios and Solos with matches of roughly 10 to 13 minutes, launched on October 13, and Ranked Battle Royale officially left Battlefield Labs the same day. EA’s help article adds that REDSEC players can squad up with Battlefield 6 owners across every supported platform in REDSEC modes, so a friend who owns the game can still play with you. For where the season goes next, see EA’s Year 2 plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battlefield 6 free on PS5? Only during the trial: Wednesday, October 14 at 11:00 AM ET to Monday, October 19 at 4:00 PM ET, per EA’s terms. Outside that window it is a purchase or part of EA Play, while REDSEC stays free.
Is Battlefield 6 free on Xbox? Not through this trial, which covers PlayStation and Steam only. It is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass through EA Play as of October 13, and REDSEC is free on Xbox Series X|S.
When does the Steam free weekend start? Thursday, October 15 at 1:00 PM ET, ending Monday, October 19 at 1:00 PM ET, per EA’s trial terms.
Do I need PS Plus for the free trial? EA’s terms say console access “may require a premium console account or subscription,” and the PlayStation Store listing for the full game says PS Plus is required for online play. EA has not clarified it for the trial itself, so check the trial listing when it goes live.
Can I play the free trial more than once? No. EA’s terms say this trial can be played once per EA account.
Does my free trial progress carry over? Purchases do, per EA’s terms. For progress, EA said its March trial carried everything over on purchase, and its REDSEC help article says the same, so play on the EA account you would buy on.
Is the campaign included in the free trial? EA’s description covers every available multiplayer map and mode and does not mention the campaign, so do not expect it.