How to Play Squad on PS5: What We Know So Far

Squad is coming to consoles. The game is developed by Offworld Industries and published on console by Secret Mode, and it is headed to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S in 2027. That year is the confirmed window, and it is the only date information that exists right now: no exact release date and no price have been announced. Be careful with store listings, videos, and posts that claim a specific launch day, because they are guessing or repeating a placeholder. Squad on PC is a large-scale tactical shooter built around teamwork, communication, and slow, deliberate fights, and the console version is the same game adapted for controllers and console play, not a simplified spin-off. If you have been waiting to play Squad without a gaming PC, 2027 is when that wait ends, and the sensible move until then is to follow the official announcements rather than rumours.

Before the full launch, a free PS5 Alpha Preview ran from October 16 to October 25, 2026, and it has now ended. Enlistment for the tests was handled through the official alpha page, where players signed up to be considered for a test slot. The preview let a limited group of PS5 players try the console build early and give feedback on how it played with a controller, how the large battles ran, and what needed work before launch. If you missed it, that is the whole story: the window closed on October 25 and there is no way to join it after the fact. Anyone offering alpha access now, especially for money, is running a scam. The next chance to play early will be a beta or a later test if one is announced, and that announcement will come through the official channels, not through a seller in a group chat.

Console Squad plays like PC Squad at its core: huge battles where squads of players fight over objectives together. Matches are 100-player battles, split 50 against 50, and the modes confirmed for console are AAS, RAAS, Invasion, and Fireteam PvE. AAS and RAAS are objective-based modes where teams capture points in sequence, Invasion pits an attacking team against defenders holding ground, and Fireteam PvE lets a smaller group fight AI enemies together, which is a good place to learn the game. Teamwork is not optional flavour in Squad; it is the mechanic the whole game is built around. A squad that moves together, shares information, and follows its leader will beat a group of skilled players who each do their own thing, and the console version keeps that design intact. One difference at launch is the map list: the console version launches with handpicked maps rather than the full PC map list, so expect a smaller rotation that grows over time. There are also no console mods at launch, so the experience is the official game only. The heart of Squad is the same on console: you win by working with your squad, not by running off alone.

The technical details confirmed so far are clear and worth knowing before you buy. Performance targets are 4K resolution at 60 frames per second on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and 1440p at 30 frames per second on Xbox Series S. The PS5 version is PS5 Pro Enhanced, and the release is digital only, with no physical disc version announced. Crossplay between PlayStation and Xbox is opt-in on official console servers, and there is also opt-in PC crossplay on community servers that use the console ruleset, so you can choose whether to mix with other platforms. What does not cross over is progress: there is no cross-progression, and a PC copy of Squad does not unlock the console copy, so console players buy the console version on its own. On PlayStation, PS Plus is required for online play according to the US store listing. Read those facts together and the picture is simple: console Squad is a full, separate version of the game, not an extension of the PC one.

There is no console version to buy yet, so the useful work now is preparation. First, wishlist Squad on the PlayStation Store so you get notified when pre-orders or a release date appear. Second, watch the official Squad and Secret Mode channels for beta news, because a beta is the most likely next chance to play before launch. Third, learn the game before it arrives: watch console and PC gameplay, learn how the modes work, and get comfortable with the idea that Squad rewards patience and communication far more than fast reflexes. Fourth, never pay for alpha access, early access keys, or a guaranteed beta slot from a third party, because those offers are scams and the real tests are free and announced officially. Fifth, sort out your setup: make sure your PS Plus subscription is active, your controller is comfortable for long sessions, and you have a headset, because voice communication is central to how Squad is played.

Squad plays very differently from fast arcade shooters, so a few habits will help from your first match. Always join a squad and stay with it, because a lone player in Squad is a dead player and a useless one. Use voice communication constantly: call out enemy positions, tell your squad leader what you see, and listen when the leader gives orders. Learn the map callouts your squad uses, because clear callouts save more lives than good aim in Squad. If you are unsure what a callout means, ask rather than guessing, because a wrong callout sends your whole squad to the wrong place. Follow your squad leader's plan even when it feels slow, because the plan is usually better than your impulse. Pick a simple role for your first matches and learn it properly before trying the specialist roles, and spend time in Fireteam PvE first if you want to learn the controls and the flow of a match without the pressure of a full player-versus-player battle. One honest warning: the final button map is not settled, and controls may change before launch, so do not memorise a control layout from an alpha video and expect it to match release day. Learn the ideas behind the game, and the buttons will follow. You can also browse the store for gaming account options while you wait for launch. If you want another tactical shooter to follow while you wait for Squad on console, start with our PUBG Mobile update guide: PUBG Mobile 4.7 update guide.