The long-awaited open beta for Battlefield 2042 finally begins this weekend. For shooter fans, this will be their first chance to get down on the battlefield and experience the new features introduced in 2042.

Developer Dice confirmed that the beta will allow players to experience the series' popular Conquest mode on the new Orbital map. Players will also be able to choose from four unique specialists, each with their own abilities and equipment.

The open beta will run on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC, and will begin on October 8 at 3:00 am ET and end on October 9. However, Early Access players will be able to play starting October 6 at 3:00 a.m. ET.

To allow as much play as possible during the relatively short beta period, the "Battlefield 2042" beta client is available for download now. It is approximately 18 GB in size across all platforms, and if you preload it now, you will be ready to jump into the skirmish as soon as the beta begins. Search for "Battlefield 2042 beta" in the digital store of your chosen platform and you'll find the client available for download.

Of course, if you want to get in as many matches as possible, you'll definitely want to know how to get early access to the "Battlefield 2042" beta. Thankfully, publisher EA has provided a fairly simple procedure.

There are two ways to get early access to the "Battlefield 2042" beta. The simplest way is to pre-order the game at a participating retailer or digital store. By doing so, you will receive a unique early access code that can be used before the beta begins.

You can also get early access to the "Battlefield 2042" beta if you subscribe to EA Play. EA's premium subscription service costs $5 per month, so if you're a Battlefield superfan, it's worth it for a single month. The good news for Xbox players is that subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to EA Play.

After the beta, players looking to dive into the full game won't have long to wait, as Battlefield 2042 will be released on November 19. In the meantime, here's what has us excited and worried about the game.