Battlefield 6 is launching a new free trial today, timed to overlap with the first beta session of rival shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. The move continues a pattern of "counter-programming" between the two franchises, in which each has previously offered free access windows around the other's major releases, and gives undecided players a chance to sample both games in the same period.

The Battlefield 6 trial coincides with the Season 4 mid-season update and runs until Tuesday, 25th August, giving access to both new Season 4 maps and the Top Gun-themed Carrier Strike mode, part of a wider Top Gun collaboration in the patch. Modern Warfare 4's beta runs from Friday, 21st August to Tuesday, 25th August and notably includes a campaign mission, a first for a Call of Duty beta. The trials follow past examples, including Black Ops 6's free week during Battlefield 6's launch last year and Battlefield 6's own free week after Black Ops 7's underwhelming debut.