Battlefield 6 is rolling through open beta and toward a fall release, which naturally raises two questions for Xbox players: Will it hit Game Pass on day one, and do you need a subscription to play the beta or the full game online?

What Microsoft and EA have officially said

Microsoft states that Battlefield 6’s second open beta weekend is playable online without a Game Pass membership, running until 1am Pacific on Sunday, August 17, and that the full game launches October 10. That detail appears in an Xbox Wire preview post, which also reiterates the August 9–10 and August 14–17 beta schedule.

The Microsoft Store’s listing for the beta highlights the standard Xbox requirement that online console multiplayer generally needs a subscription, noting, “Game requires online multiplayer subscription to play on console (Game Pass Core or Ultimate, sold separately).” You can see the dates and that baseline requirement on the official beta page on the Microsoft Store here. In short: online play on Xbox typically requires Core or Ultimate, but Microsoft and EA can waive that during special open beta windows—like this weekend’s.

Do you need Game Pass to play the Battlefield 6 open beta?

During the second open beta weekend, no. Microsoft explicitly says you can jump in without a Game Pass membership during this window in the Xbox Wire post. If you see a subscription prompt on earlier dates, that’s consistent with early access periods or generic store-language about Xbox’s usual multiplayer rules; it doesn’t apply to the fully open weekend.

Will Battlefield 6 be on Game Pass at launch?

Neither Microsoft nor EA has announced Battlefield 6 as a day-one Game Pass title. Microsoft is actively selling preorders for the game on the Microsoft Store, with the Standard Edition listed and priced like a traditional retail release. That’s a strong indicator Battlefield 6 will launch as a standard purchase on Xbox rather than as a Game Pass inclusion on day one.

EA’s own subscriptions are a separate track. Battlefield 6 is slated to be included with EA’s premium tier at launch and to offer a time-limited trial on the base tier, while full Game Pass access is not planned on release day. Historically, major EA titles arrive on the standard EA Play catalog (and thus Game Pass Ultimate via the EA Play benefit) months after launch, not immediately.

Game Pass vs. Game Pass Core vs. EA Play: what’s the difference?

It helps to separate three things that often get conflated:

  • Game Pass Core: Xbox’s online multiplayer subscription for console, plus a small rotating game catalog. This is what you need for online play in most non-free-to-play games.
  • Game Pass (Console) and Game Pass PC: On-demand game libraries; they don’t automatically grant online console multiplayer.
  • Game Pass Ultimate: Bundles the Game Pass library, online console multiplayer, cloud gaming, and EA Play (standard tier) in one membership.

You can read Microsoft’s overview of membership options on the official Game Pass page here.

How to play the Battlefield 6 open beta on Xbox without Game Pass this weekend

Step 1: On your console or via the web, open the official Battlefield 6 Open Beta listing on the Microsoft Store and start the download.

Step 2: Launch during the open beta window (August 14–17). For this weekend, Microsoft says no Game Pass membership is required for online play.

Step 3: After the beta ends, plan for launch on October 10 as a standard purchase on the Microsoft Store—or consider EA’s subscriptions if you’re looking for trials or premium access outside of Game Pass.

Key takeaways

  • The second open beta weekend is playable online without Game Pass, as stated on Xbox Wire.
  • Xbox’s baseline rule is that online console multiplayer requires Game Pass Core or Ultimate; the Microsoft Store beta page notes this, but the open weekend is an exception.
  • There’s no official announcement that Battlefield 6 will be on Game Pass at launch. Microsoft is selling preorders on the official store now.
  • EA’s own subscription plans cover launch access and trials; Game Pass day one access is not planned.

Bottom line: you can jump into the Battlefield 6 open beta this weekend without a Game Pass membership, straight from the Microsoft Store. For launch, expect a standard retail release on Xbox, with no day-one Game Pass inclusion announced—and if you rely on Xbox’s online multiplayer, remember that’s tied to Game Pass Core or Ultimate outside special free-play windows.