Update: Early Access for Battlefield 2042 launched last week (at the time of writing) and is off to a rocky start.

After months of waiting, Battlefield 2042 is just days away from release. The game will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and last-gen consoles on November 19, but eager players can drop into the fray with early access starting Friday, November 12.

If you want to play "Battlefield 2042" as soon as possible, you can purchase the Gold Edition ($100 on PS5/Xbox Series X, $90 on PC/PS4/Xbox One) or Ultimate Edition ($120 on PS5/Xbox Series X, $120 on PC/PS 4/Xbox One for $110). Both are digital versions only and offer one week early access to the full game.

Those who don't want to pay that much for the deluxe edition can also get early access via EA Play. This subscription service is offering a 10-hour trial starting this Friday. With this membership benefit, you can play up to 10 hours of "Battlefield 2042" on any platform of your choice. Once the gameplay limit has been reached, the user will have to wait for the standard version of the game to be released on November 19.

The EA Play membership costs $5 per month for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. It is also worth noting that it is also included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Subscribers will also be happy to know that their in-game progression will carry over to the full game after the 10-hour trial period.

Early Access periods are becoming increasingly common in the gaming world, with "FIFA 22" and "Forza Horizon 5" recently offering premium-paying players the chance to play early. While "Battlefield 2042" is not the only game following this trend, it is still a bit frustrating that those willing to pay more can get a head start on learning the maps and optimal weapon loadouts.

EA also confirmed when players who pre-ordered "Battlefield 2042" digitally will be able to take advantage of preloading: preloading has already begun on Xbox, and on PlayStation platforms, preloading will begin on Wednesday, November 10 at 12:00 am ( local time); on PC, preload will begin at 1 p.m. ET on November 10. The file size of Battlefield 2042 is currently approximately 65 GB.

Once preloaded, all you have to do is wait for it to unlock; on PC, the full game will unlock on November 12 or November 19 at 3:00 AM (local time), depending on the edition of the game you have reserved. Unlock times for PlayStation and Xbox players have not yet been confirmed.

"Battlefield 2042" is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated games of 2021, but with the recent release of "Call of Duty: Vanguard" and the upcoming "Halo Infinite" looking to cut into the player base and is facing stiff competition. It's definitely a good time to be a fan of online shooters.