100-Player Battles and Free PS5 Alpha Today: Tactical PC Shooter Squad Officially Heads to Consoles
A cornerstone of tactical PC military shooters since its full 1.0 launch in 2020, Squad is officially marching onto living room hardware. Developer Offworld Industries and co-publisher Secret Mode revealed during the Galaxies Autumn 2026 Showcase that Squad Console Edition is heading to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Better yet, PS5 owners do not have to wait until next year to test the waters, as a free playable technical alpha goes live today, October 16.
Free PS5 Alpha Preview Runs From October 16 to October 25
Rather than settling for a cinematic teaser, Offworld Industries is putting its console netcode and controller ergonomics straight through live-fire testing. Running from October 16 to October 25, 2026, any PlayStation 5 owner can jump into the free Alpha Preview by downloading the client via the PlayStation Store or registering through the official Squad Alpha portal, which also enters participants into a drawing to win a full copy of the game at launch.
During this ten-day playtest, players drop into full-scale 100-player (50v50) combined-arms warfare across the strategic rail lines and dense forests of the Gorodok map. Two factions are playable in this initial preview: the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The entire tactical loop that made the PC version famous is intact, from building Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) and running logistics convoys to coordinating armor columns and helicopter troop insertions.
Bespoke Radial Command Wheel, Smart Pings, and Optional PC Cross-Play
Translating a hardcore military simulation from mouse-and-keyboard setups to a DualSense or Xbox controller is no small feat. While fast-paced co-op hits can rely on simple button layouts, as seen with PEAK climbing onto consoles with full cross-play, Squad lives and dies by multi-layered communication between commanders, squad leaders, and specialized infantry roles.
To make sure players without an active microphone can still contribute to their unit, Offworld Industries and Secret Mode built a tailored controller interface from the ground up. The console edition introduces a bespoke radial command menu paired with contextual smart pings. With a quick trigger pull and thumbstick flick, riflemen and medics can call out enemy armor bearings, request ammo crates, or acknowledge squad leader orders without cluttering voice comms.
When the full version arrives on the 2027 game release calendar, it will feature full cross-platform multiplayer across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Recognizing that controller players may not always want to trade long-range rifle fire against mouse-and-keyboard veterans, the developers confirmed that console users will have a dedicated toggle to disable PC cross-play and stick strictly to console-only lobbies.
My Take: Squad Leaders Will Make or Break the Console Meta
Seeing Squad join Hell Let Loose and Arma Reforger on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S proves there is a massive appetite on console for methodical, high-stakes shooters that punish lone-wolf play. Still, 90% of a match in Squad is won through FOB placement, supply trucks, and vocal squad leaders. If the new radial wheel and smart pings make leading a nine-player infantry squad feel natural on a DualSense controller during this Gorodok alpha test, Offworld Industries is sitting on a massive tactical hit for 2027.
SEO consultant for over 20 years and digital entrepreneur, Charles 'Grimtag' Ronchain is the founder of Pro-Gamer.gg, Retrocharting.com, and Gamescharting.com. A competitive gamer, streamer, and retro game collector, he has worked in the video game industry for over 15 years, notably as a consultant for leading game price comparison platforms. Passionate about real-time performance data and gaming technology, he analyzes competitive esports, gaming hardware benchmarks, and creator workflows on Pro-Gamer.gg with an authentic player perspective.
