Battlefield 6 opens up a full week of free multiplayer from August 18 to August 25, 2026, landing exactly when the Top Gun crossover goes live. You get access to a rotating set of modes, four maps, and the new aerial content without buying the game.
Quick answer: Download and launch Battlefield REDSEC on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC between August 18 and August 25 to play the Battlefield 6 trial for free. No purchase is required, and any progress carries over if you buy the full game.
How to access the free trial
The trial rides on top of Battlefield REDSEC, the free-to-play battle royale entry point. You do not download a separate demo. You install REDSEC, and the trial modes appear during the window.
Modes and playlists in the trial
The trial is a slice of the full game rather than the complete multiplayer suite. It centers on three playlists and a set of modes that includes the new limited-time event.
| Playlist | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Top Gun: Carrier Strike | The new limited-time event mode built around the crossover |
| All-Out Warfare | The core large-scale Battlefield experience |
| Casual Breakthrough | A more relaxed option aimed at newcomers |
Across those playlists, the modes on offer are Top Gun: Carrier Strike, Conquest, Breakthrough, Escalation, and Casual Breakthrough. Carrier Strike pits naval, air, and ground forces against each other as teams race to destroy the enemy aircraft carrier.
Maps available during the trial
Four maps are in rotation, including a returning classic and a newer addition from Season 4.
| Map | Notes |
|---|---|
| Wake Island | Reimagined classic, arriving August 18 |
| Tsuru Reef | Season 4 Pacific map with naval combat |
| Cairo Bazaar | Available in the rotation |
| Hagental Base | Available in the rotation |
Top Gun crossover content
The Top Gun update goes live on August 18, the same day the trial begins, so free players get the crossover at no extra cost. It adds two limited-time modes plus two new fighter jets for dogfights.
- F-74A Seacat fighter jet
- F/A-81F Super Spectre fighter jet
- Carrier Strike, a combined naval, air, and ground battle over an aircraft carrier
- Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep, a jets-only REDSEC mode set over Tsuru Reef
Three Top Gun: Maverick characters join the game, voiced by their original performers. Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd, and Adm. Solomon “Warlock” Bates appear as part of the crossover, with themed skins and cosmetics.
What happens when the trial ends
Progress you earn during the trial is not lost. If you buy the full version of Battlefield 6, everything you unlocked carries over into the paid game.
REDSEC itself stays free after August 25. Only the trial playlists and the Top Gun crossover access tied to the full game close out when the week ends, so you can keep dropping into the battle royale mode without paying.
Note: The trial is a sample of the full experience, not the complete multiplayer offering. It covers enough modes and maps to decide whether the game is worth buying, but the full roster of content stays behind the paid version.
