Wake Island is back: Battlefield 6 is free to play this week

From August 18th, the multiplayer shooter Battlefield 6 can be played free of charge for a week. In addition to the return of the Wake Island map, there is a Top Gun event. But the test phase has a 60 GB catch for interested players.

Test week for Battlefield 6 begins

From August 18th to 25th, 2026, those interested can try out the multiplayer shooter Battlefield 6 on the PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S at no additional cost. The reason for the week-long campaign is the extensive update 1.4.2.0. This marks the start of the second phase of the fourth season and integrates fresh content into the game.

The focus of the content update is an official crossover with the film Top Gun. Players get direct access to the new F/A-81F Super Specter and F-74A Seacat fighter jets. These aircraft are controlled cooperatively by two people each. To match the new vehicles, the developers are introducing the Carrier Strike mode. Rival teams fight to destroy the opposing aircraft carrier. Battlefield 6 x Top Gun: Carrier Strike Cinematic Trailer

In addition, the well-known map Wake Island is celebrating its return in a revised version. Like the publisher EA among others via Steam confirmed, the update includes further adjustments for the main game in addition to the new modes. In the future, snipers will be allowed to use the Interdictor rifle, which is specially designed for extreme distances. The existing Tsuru Reef map will also be expanded to include playable aircraft carriers.

The necessary patch will be available for download from August 18th at 10 a.m. German time. The new game content will be activated on the same day at 2 p.m. There is another advantage for testers. All progress made and items unlocked during the test week will be retained in full if you purchase the full version of Battlefield 6 later. Battlefield 6 Wake Island Gameplay Trailer

Conditions of the free promotion

However, participation in the test phase is subject to a fixed condition. Users must download the independent free-to-play offshoot RedSec. Battle Royale mode takes up to 60 gigabytes of additional storage space depending on the platform you choose. Starting the main game without the RedSec data is not possible during the test period. The exact reasons for the forced download are currently being intensively discussed within the community. Some players suspect an attempt by the publisher to increase the number of active users in the battle royale mode.

Other voices argue that the crossover is purely technical. Since certain game modes of the current event take place on special RedSec maps, the corresponding game data is absolutely necessary for a smooth process. The developers have not yet officially commented on the exact technical background of the download requirement. Players with slow internet connections must therefore allow sufficient time for the installation.