Squad Alpha Preview: Should You Jump In?

Squad Alpha Preview hits PlayStation 5 tomorrow. And if you've been waiting for PC's tactical shooter titan to land on consoles, your moment is here. Offworld Industries just dropped the bombshell. The publisher Secret Mode joined them, and together they've confirmed that Squad, the massive combined arms shooter, is finally making its way to PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X/S. It's happening.

For years, console players watched from the sidelines. They watched while PC gamers got true large-scale tactical combat. Remember the glory days of Rainbow Six? That intense, methodical gameplay, the kind that rewards patience and punishes recklessness, has largely been kept alive by smaller teams on PC, teams that don't have the budgets or the marketing muscle of the giants but keep the spirit burning anyway. But now, one of the biggest names in the genre is ready to breach the console barrier. It's coming. They're finally making the jump. We've waited long enough.

Your First Shot at Squad on Console

So, what’s the deal? Many of you are probably wondering how a game this complex, known for its intricate teamwork and communication, will even function on a gamepad. Offworld Industries (OWI) hears you loud and clear. That’s why they’re kicking off an open Squad Alpha Preview specifically for PlayStation 5 players.

This isn't some closed-door, invite-only club. Nope, it's open to everyone. If you’re on PS5, you can jump in starting tomorrow, October 16, and play right through until October 25. That’s ten days to get a real feel for the action.

What to Expect in the Alpha

Forget easy pickings. This isn't your average run-and-gun. Squad throws you into enormous maps where modern armies clash. You’ll need to stick with your squad, pick your role wisely, and work together. The sheer size of the battlegrounds means you'll spend a lot of time moving, planning, and coordinating. Think of it as part all-out war, part walking simulator, and that unique blend is exactly what makes it so compelling.

The Squad Alpha Preview puts you in a geographically interesting skirmish: China’s People’s Liberation Army against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The battleground? A cluster of villages somewhere in Eastern Europe. Get ready to learn the ropes of large-scale combat.

Real talk: communication is king in Squad. Grumpy squad leaders on PC are infamous for booting players without a mic. OWI is trying to ease that for console players by adding a new radial menu for quick communication. Will it stop the mic-check purists? Probably not entirely. But it’s a smart move to help prevent lone-wolfing and get everyone on the same page, even if you’re not yelling into a headset.

Crossplay and Publisher Moves

Good news for everyone hoping to link up with friends on different platforms: Squad will feature full crossplay between PC and console versions. This means you can team up with your buddies regardless of where they play. Now, OWI also says you’ll have the option to restrict your server browser to your platform of choice. Does this mean console-only crossplay is an option? That part isn’t clear yet, but the fact that the choice exists at all is a positive sign for those who prefer to keep things console-side.

The Road to Console

Squad isn't the first. Hardcore tactical shooters have jumped before. We've seen titles like Verdun back in 2016, and more recently, ARMA Reforger hit XBOX Series X/S in 2023, and those games proved that complex, large-scale tactical gameplay can work on consoles, even with some initial performance hiccups for ARMA Reforger on XBOX. So it's possible. They're proof.

Bringing Squad to consoles is a big undertaking. It's a lot. The game originally launched on PC in 2015 and had its full release in 2020, which means it's a seasoned veteran of the tactical genre that has spent years building its reputation among players who care about this kind of thing. Secret Mode, the publisher handling the console edition, has a mixed bag of recent history. And they're the ones doing it.

Secret Mode filed an interim relief application to access the Six Days in Fallujah source code over failed milestones, an action PC publisher Victura says was “pre-determined and part of an unlawful means conspiracy to acquire access to its proprietary source code” in its own submission.

This quote details a legal dispute Secret Mode has been in regarding another tactical shooter, Six Days in Fallujah. Both sides had their applications refused, setting the stage for a lengthy legal battle. What does this mean for you? It shows Secret Mode is committed to the tactical shooter space on consoles, even if that journey has been complicated. They're clearly dedicated to getting these challenging games into your hands.

Here’s the deal with Squad’s console debut:

• Game: Squad
• Developer: Offworld Industries (OWI)
• Console Publisher: Secret Mode
• ESRB Rating: M
• Engine: Unreal Engine 4
• Multiplayer: Online Multiplayer
• Platforms: PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X/S (date unspecified)
• PS5 Alpha Preview: October 16 to October 25

Should You Jump into the Squad Alpha Preview?

If you're a console player hungry for a deep, challenging tactical shooter, absolutely. This is your chance to see if the complex PC experience translates well to your gamepad, and honestly, that question of whether a game built around mouse and keyboard precision can feel right in your hands is the whole point of a test like this. The open Squad Alpha Preview means zero barriers to entry. So you don't have to pay a cent or sign up for anything. And you can be part of shaping this console port from the ground up, which is a rare thing, because most ports get finished long before players ever touch them.

Will it be perfect? Probably not. It's an Alpha, after all. Expect some rough edges. But this is your opportunity to offer feedback, experiment with the new radial comms, and experience the scale of Squad firsthand. This isn't just another shooter; it's a commitment. Get ready to fight, coordinate, and maybe even walk a lot.

The console tactical shooter revolution is quietly building momentum, and Squad is about to throw its helmet into the ring.