Battlefield V closed alpha begins tomorrow on PC: What you need to know

Battlefield V won't be out for several months yet, but some lucky Battlefield veterans are going to get the chance to check it out early. EA and DICE have announced a closed alpha test for Battlefield V, offering up a work-in-progress look at some of the game's multiplayer modes. EA detailed the closed alpha today, explaining topics like who is eligible for to participate, when it will kick off, and what kind of PC you'll need to run it.

Sorry console players, but that talk of PC specifications does indeed mean that this closed alpha is exclusive to PC. It seems that eligibility will be fairly exclusive, as there's no real way to sign up to be considered. Instead, EA says that invites will be sent out "to a small group of Battlefield players." Those who receive a code can redeem it through Origin and begin playing on June 28 at 8:00 AM UTC (4 AM Eastern).

If you do get an invite, you'll want to make sure that your PC is up to snuff. EA shared minimum and recommended specifications for the closed alpha, specifically noting that these aren't necessarily the specifications for the release version of the game. Have a look at them below:

Minimum requirements:

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10

Processor (AMD): AMD FX-8350

Processor (Intel): Core i5 6600K

Memory: 8GB RAM

Graphics card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1050 / GTX 660 2GB

Graphics card (AMD): AMD Radeon™ HD 7850 2GB

DirectX version: 11.0 Compatible video card or equivalent

Internet: 512 KBPS or faster, stable Internet connection

Free hard-drive space: 50GB

Recommended specifications:

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 10

Processor (AMD): AMD Ryzen 3 1300X

Processor (Intel): Intel Core i7 4790 or equivalent

Memory: 16GB RAM 12GB RAM

Graphics card (NVIDIA): NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1060 3GB

Graphics card (AMD): AMD Radeon™ RX 480 4GB

DirectX: 11.1 Compatible video card or equivalent

Internet: 512 KBPS or faster, stable Internet connection

Free hard drive space: 50GB

If you get the chance to join the closed alpha, you'll be able to play two game modes: Battlefield's classic Conquest mode and the Grand Operation Fall of Norway, which takes place on the Arctic Fjord map. The Grand Operation is split into two parts called Airborne and Breakthrough. Airborne tasks one side with paradropping behind enemy lines to destroy artillery, while Breakthrough sounds like a traditional zone capture mode that has one team playing as the attackers and the other acting as the defenders.

In all, there will be seven classes to play as during the closed alpha, and a handful of vehicles to pilot. EA and DICE are hosting this closed alpha in part to figure out balancing between the classes and collect feedback on Battlefield V's new attrition and immersion systems, so expect it to take a close look at how each class fares in the heat of combat.

EA didn't announce when the closed alpha will end, saying only that it'll be available "for a limited time." The good news is that there isn't any kind of NDA in place, so even if you don't get into the alpha, you'll be able to watch others play it on websites like Twitch and YouTube. Head over to the Battlefield V site to read more about the closed alpha, and if you're a Battlefield player, check the email that's associated with your Origin account to see if you've been sent a code.