How to get into Sony’s beta for PS5 and PC shooter Concord

Concord, the new team-based hero shooter with Guardians-of-the-Galaxy-meets-Overwatch vibes, is playable this weekend as part of the game’s early access beta test. And if you’re a PlayStation Plus subscriber, you can get into that early access beta on PlayStation 5 and Windows PC without having to pre-order the game.

Previously, Sony’s plan for getting into the Concord beta early access weekend on PS5 and PC was limited to pre-orders only. But Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Firewalk Studios are sweetening the deal, inviting all PS Plus members to play this weekend. Pre-loads for the PS5 version of the Concord beta are now live, and the beta will go live Friday, July 12 at 10 a.m. PDT and run through Sunday, July 14.

A second beta test, open to all PS5 and PC players, will run July 18-21.

The Concord-curious who have pre-ordered the game will still get an early access code, as well as four additional codes for friends. Concord is a 5v5 first-person shooter, so that’s enough to put a full team together.

Concord’s beta early access weekend will include three modes:

Trophy Hunt, described as a “respawn-based mode where you fight to take down members of the rival crew and collect their bounty cards to earn points for your team” — so, basically, Kill Confirmed
Cargo Run, in which players don’t respawn and teams compete to retrieve a package, plant it at a zone, and defend it against the enemy team
Clash Point, a round-based game mode where teams fight to control a capture zone at a central location on the map

Concord’s open beta weekend will offer a fourth mode, Area Control, in which teams fight over multiple capture points and attempt to hold them.

Sony and Firewalk revealed the first gameplay from Concord — and its colorful cast of alien and robotic characters known as Freegunners — during a State of Play showcase in May. PlayStation fans were introduced to the cast of heroes and misfits (Haymar, Vale, Lennox, 1-0FF, Star Child, It-Z, Teo, Bazz, and others), and the game’s irreverent sense of humor during that event. The developers also confirmed a release date for Concord during that showcase: Aug. 23 on PS5 and PC. Concord costs $39.99.