Squad Is Heading to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, With a PS5 Alpha Running October 16-25

Squad, Offworld Industries' long-running tactical first-person shooter, is officially preparing for its console debut. The developer has confirmed that the game is in development for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, bringing its communication-heavy, team-oriented take on modern combat beyond PC for the first time.

PlayStation players will not have to wait for the eventual full launch to see how the transition is shaping up. A playable PS5 alpha is scheduled for October 16 through October 25. It will provide an early opportunity to test the console version and its adapted controls, communication options, and performance work. Xbox players, meanwhile, are currently expected to wait for the full release unless Offworld Industries announces a separate testing opportunity before launch.

No release date has been announced for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S editions. That makes the upcoming alpha particularly notable: it is the clearest public look yet at how a game built around large teams, methodical movement, and coordinated objectives will work on a controller.

A tactical shooter built around teamwork

Originally launched on PC in 2020, Squad has established itself as a prominent name among tactical multiplayer shooters. Its defining feature is scale combined with structure. Matches are expected to retain their 50-versus-50 format on consoles, meaning success is not simply about individual aim or chasing the highest elimination count. Players are divided into squads, and each group needs to communicate with others as the wider team attacks, defends, supplies positions, and responds to shifting conditions on the battlefield.

For useful background on this topic, read Jagex Cancels RuneScape Reignited Following Community Backlash.

The game has long occupied a space between dedicated military simulations and more immediately accessible blockbuster shooters. It asks players to pay attention to positioning, logistics, squad leadership, and information shared over voice or team communication. At the same time, its battles have a pace and visual spectacle that can make it appealing to players familiar with faster mainstream multiplayer games.

That balance is a significant part of the challenge facing the console release. Bringing a tactical game to new platforms is not just a matter of mapping controls to a gamepad. In Squad, communication is a core gameplay system. Players need ways to quickly identify threats, relay instructions, mark points of interest, and understand their squad's immediate plan without losing focus during a firefight.

Console-specific changes include radial commands and pings

Offworld Industries has outlined several features intended to make the console edition feel appropriately tailored to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S rather than a direct PC conversion. The developer has promised an optimized console experience featuring handpicked maps, console-focused refinement, and what it describes as a bespoke level of polish aimed at smooth performance.

One of the most important additions is a radial communication wheel. The wheel will let players issue commands and pings, giving squads an alternative way to exchange crucial information. Such a tool could be especially valuable when voice chat is unavailable, when players are coordinating with people they do not know, or when rapid battlefield calls need to be made without navigating a more cumbersome menu.

Offworld Industries has also confirmed optional crossplay with other console players. The wording matters: crossplay is planned as an option, rather than a compulsory setting. That may give console users more control over their matchmaking preferences while still allowing PlayStation and Xbox communities to share the same player pool if they choose.

The announcement does not specify whether crossplay will extend to PC, and it does not detail the complete map selection, visual settings, server structure, or other technical limitations that may distinguish the console versions from the established PC game. Those questions may become clearer during the PS5 alpha and in future development updates.

Why the PS5 alpha matters

Public tests can be useful for any multiplayer game, but they are especially valuable for a project such as Squad. Large 50v50 matches put meaningful pressure on network performance, matchmaking, controls, and communication systems. A console alpha gives players a chance to try the experience before release, while also giving the development team real-world feedback on how the adapted version performs under active multiplayer conditions.

For prospective players, the October 16-25 window is an opportunity to determine whether Squad's slower, more deliberate style suits them. The game's appeal is unlikely to come solely from moment-to-moment shooting. Its tension often comes from advancing carefully, listening for callouts, coordinating a push with teammates, or defending a position that matters to the broader operation. Players approaching it as a conventional run-and-gun shooter may find that patience and cooperation are just as important as reflexes.

The alpha should also offer a first indication of how successfully the radial wheel and controller layout support those priorities. Tactical shooters often have many actions and pieces of information competing for limited controller inputs. Making commands and pings easy to access without overwhelming players is central to preserving the game's identity on console.

Xbox players await further details

While the full console launch is planned for both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the announced alpha is limited to PlayStation 5. No comparable Xbox alpha has been confirmed at this time. Xbox players will need to wait for the final release or for Offworld Industries to reveal another pre-launch test.

That does not necessarily indicate a difference in the long-term plans for the two console versions. The developer has announced both platforms, and optional crossplay between console users is part of the intended package. Still, the PS5-focused test means the first public reports about console performance, matchmaking, controls, and the communication wheel will come from the PlayStation community.

With no launch date yet attached, it is also too early to draw conclusions about how far along the game is or whether the alpha represents a near-final build. Players should treat it as a test phase rather than a complete substitute for the eventual retail release.

A growing race for tactical shooter players on console

Squad is arriving as console players show continued interest in multiplayer games that emphasize organized team play and high-stakes combat. Its potential audience includes people who want something more deliberate than the quickest mainstream shooters, but less demanding than the most simulation-focused military games.

It will also enter a wider competitive landscape that includes Wardogs, another tactical shooter project with announced console ambitions. Bulkhead has said that Wardogs is planned for consoles in 2028 and has indicated that it expects the game to have a version for next-generation hardware when that hardware becomes available. The studio has also said it has been developing with Xbox Series S in mind, with an emphasis on optimization that could benefit both console systems and lower-end PCs.

That leaves Squad with a chance to establish itself earlier on current console hardware, provided its adaptation meets the expectations of players who value the original game's depth. The strength of the PC version has been its ability to make coordination feel meaningful. Capturing that quality on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will be more important than simply reproducing the size of its battles.

What to expect next

For now, the immediate date to watch is October 16, when the PS5 alpha begins. The test ends on October 25, giving participating players a limited period to explore the console build. Offworld Industries has not announced the console release date, whether an Xbox test will follow, or the full scope of content planned for launch.

Still, the confirmed features provide a clear outline of the project's direction: large-scale 50v50 warfare, selected maps, console optimization, a new radial system for commands and pings, and optional PlayStation-Xbox crossplay. If those elements come together successfully, Squad could give PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players a distinctively tactical alternative in the multiplayer shooter space.