Preload access for Battlefield 6’s inaugural Open Beta is now live on all platforms through their stores, preceding the trial period starting Saturday, August 9. An Early Access phase kicks off two days earlier on August 7. Steam users must allocate 39.24 GB for installation. PC specifications, detailed here, remain accessible for rigs assembled within the past five years.

An official social media update outlined Open Beta adjustments compared to earlier tests. The Assault class now emphasizes squad synergy: Commanding Presence (replacing Enhanced Mobility) accelerates objective captures for nearby allies and hastens combat status decay. The Spawn Beacon shifts from Recon to Assault, reimagined as a limited-use flanking tool that detonates upon user spawns. A new Assault Ladder gadget enables vertical traversal for entire teams, serving as a climbable or sloped surface based on placement.

While Engineers require no immediate changes, Support’s crate replenishment rates and weapon synergies may undergo tweaks. Recon’s Pathfinder specialization gives way to Spec Ops:

• Spec Ops 0: Base traits enable silent eliminations and stealthy crouch/prone movement.
• Spec Ops 1: Detects adjacent enemy devices while stationary.
• Spec Ops 2: Accelerates combat exit when prone and removes self-spotting.

Additionally, Recon gains a Level 3 UAV summon for area surveillance.

Developers confirmed via press briefing that matchmaking prioritizes latency, region, server capacity, and hidden skill metrics to improve balance between similarly skilled opponents.

Intel partners with the PC version, though all upscaling technologies remain supported. Initial gameplay impressions are available here.