The Squad PS5 alpha test opens to players later this month, giving console owners their first hands-on look at Offworld Industries’ long-running tactical shooter. The studio has confirmed Squad is heading to consoles, with PlayStation 5 players getting the earliest access through a limited alpha build before any wider rollout follows.
Key takeaways
- ✓The Squad PS5 alpha test opens to players later this month, the game's first console appearance.
- ✓Offworld Industries has confirmed Squad is coming to consoles, though a full release date has not been set.
- ✓Squad is known for large-scale battles, squad leadership roles and heavy reliance on voice communication.
- ✓Hell Let Loose, a similar tactical shooter, already runs on PS5 and Xbox, giving Squad a benchmark to match.
- ✓Details on an Xbox version, crossplay and pricing have not yet been confirmed by the developer.
For a game that has spent a decade building its reputation almost entirely on PC, that is a significant shift. Squad has never chased a mainstream audience the way Call of Duty or Battlefield have. Instead, it carved out a dedicated following among players who wanted something slower, more coordinated, and far less forgiving. Bringing that experience to a controller and a console audience is a genuine test of whether its style of play can survive the jump.
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What the Squad PS5 alpha test involves
Offworld Industries has not published a full breakdown of every feature included in the alpha, and several details, including an exact start date, access requirements and how long the test will run, remain unconfirmed. What is clear is that the Squad PS5 alpha test represents the first playable console build of the game, rather than a finished product ready for a storefront release.
That distinction matters. An alpha test is typically used to stress-test servers, gather feedback on controller handling, and catch bugs specific to the new platform, not to deliver a polished launch experience. Players going in should expect rough edges, and the developer has given no indication yet of when a full, commercial PS5 release might follow the alpha phase.
Why Squad built such a loyal PC following
Squad first appeared in early access in 2015 and reached a full 1.0 release in 2020, built on Unreal Engine technology by Canadian studio Offworld Industries. It is best known for large-scale infantry and vehicle battles that can run up to 100 players at once, split into squads that each answer to a designated leader.
Unlike faster arcade shooters, Squad leans heavily on realistic ballistics, limited onscreen information and constant voice communication between teammates. Players build forward operating bases, coordinate logistics runs, and crew tanks and helicopters as part of a broader military simulation rather than a simple deathmatch. That complexity is exactly why a console port is such a notable challenge: translating dozens of commands and a sprawling command structure onto a gamepad is far harder than remapping a typical shooter.
How Squad compares with other tactical shooters already on console
Squad will not be the first game of its type to reach PlayStation and Xbox. Hell Let Loose, a similarly large-scale, World War Two-themed tactical shooter, already launched on PS5 and Xbox consoles back in 2022, giving players and reviewers a useful point of comparison. Its console version proved that detailed squad-based combat could work with a controller, though it required simplified menus and streamlined communication tools compared with the PC build.
Arma, by contrast, has largely stayed on PC, where its depth and modding scene are harder to replicate on consoles. Squad’s console debut sits somewhere between those two examples: more accessible than Arma’s open military sandbox, but still considerably denser than most console shooters. How Offworld Industries handles onscreen prompts, squad communication and vehicle controls during the alpha will likely determine whether Squad can match Hell Let Loose’s console reception.
What the console launch means for players and the wider genre
A console release, even in early alpha form, opens Squad up to a far larger potential player base than its current PC-only Steam community. That matters for a game whose appeal depends heavily on full servers and coordinated teams. More players generally means better matchmaking and livelier battles, which benefits everyone already invested in the game.
It is also worth watching whether an Xbox version follows the same path. Offworld Industries has only confirmed PlayStation access for this initial alpha, and nothing has been said publicly about Microsoft’s console, crossplay between platforms, or pricing for the eventual console release. Anyone hoping to jump in should treat the coming weeks as an early preview rather than a finished launch, and keep an eye on Offworld Industries’ own channels for firmer details as the alpha progresses.
For PC players who already use the right gaming mouse for FPS titles or a monitor built for competitive FPS play, Squad’s console move is a reminder that tactical shooters are steadily broadening their audience beyond keyboard and mouse setups. It follows a wider pattern across the industry, where Xbox has reportedly been surveying fans about PS5 exclusives, suggesting platform boundaries in shooters are shifting more than they have in years.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Squad PS5 alpha test start?
Offworld Industries has said the alpha opens to PS5 players later this month, though an exact date has not been publicly confirmed.
Is Squad coming to Xbox as well?
The developer has only confirmed PlayStation access so far. No Xbox version or timeline has been announced.
What makes Squad different from other military shooters?
Squad emphasises large-scale battles of up to 100 players, squad leadership roles, base building and heavy reliance on voice communication, rather than fast, arcade-style combat.
Will there be crossplay between PC and console versions of Squad?
Offworld Industries has not confirmed crossplay support for the console version at this stage.
