Battlefield 6 is free to play from August 18 to August 25, 2026, timed to the launch of the Top Gun collaboration update. New players can experience the full game at no cost during this window, and existing players get Wake Island, two new jets, and three playable Operators voiced by the original Top Gun: Maverick cast.
Battlefield 6 Free to Play: August 18 to 25
The Battlefield 6 Top Gun collaboration will kick off on August 18, 2026 and will coincide with a free access period for the game that will run through August 25.
The Battlefield 6 free trial will be kicking off on August 18 and is slated to last until August 25. The trial content from the base game will be playable via the free-to-play Battlefield REDSEC client as part of the promotion.
How the free access works:
- Install the free Battlefield REDSEC client (available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox)
- The base Battlefield 6 content becomes accessible through REDSEC during the free window
- No credit card, no subscription required during August 18 to 25
- Progress made during the free period on your account carries over if you purchase the game
This is the second time Battlefield 6 has offered a free trial period. The first was in November 2025 to celebrate the game’s award nominations at The Game Awards season.
‘Maverick’ Stars Return: Rooster, Bob, and Warlock
The Top Gun crossover features three characters from Top Gun: Maverick, each voiced by their real actors: Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller), Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman), and Adm. Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell). Sadly, there is no Pete “Maverick” Mitchell or Tom Cruise in the crossover.
DICE calls this its biggest collaboration yet. Each recreates their characters with incredible accuracy, lending even more weight to the crossover. Miles Teller and Lewis Pullman reprise roles from Top Gun: Maverick, and Charles Parnell as Adm. Solomon “Warlock” Bates makes things appropriately serious.
The three Operators:
Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw (Miles Teller) Rooster is the emotional center of Top Gun: Maverick and the most recognizable figure from the sequel for most players. His Operator in Battlefield 6 carries the flight suit aesthetic from the film, with Teller’s voice performance fully integrated into in-game callouts, kills, and responses.
Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd (Lewis Pullman) Bob is Rooster’s backseat weapons systems officer in Maverick, which makes his design as an Operator particularly fitting in the context of Battlefield 6’s new two-seat jets. Pullman’s performance captures Bob’s precise, measured character.
Adm. Solomon “Warlock” Bates (Charles Parnell) Warlock’s authority figure presence translates well into Battlefield’s command-focused gameplay moments. Parnell’s voice performance emphasizes the weight of the character’s rank.
The Top Gun crossover also includes the iconic F-14 Tomcat from the original Top Gun movie alongside new jets from the sequel era, alongside deep-cut Easter eggs hidden across Wake Island for dedicated fans to find.
Why No Maverick (Tom Cruise)?
There is no Pete “Maverick” Mitchell or Tom Cruise in the crossover.
No explanation has been given by EA or Paramount for Cruise’s absence. Industry analysts have noted that Cruise historically has strict approval processes for digital likeness usage and does not allow his image in games without significant involvement in the project. His absence is consistent with his track record on other game collaborations.
Top Gun Event Content: What’s Available During the Free Period
During the August 18 to 25 free window, all players (free and paid) have access to:
- Wake Island (new map)
- Carrier Strike mode
- Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep (REDSEC)
- F/A-81F Super Spectre and F-74A Seacat jets
- Rooster, Bob, and Warlock Operators (purchasable in event shop)
- Interdictor sniper rifle (earnable through event challenges)
- USS Grant High Value Zone in REDSEC Battle Royale
- Custom Lobbies and Spectator Mode (Battlefield Labs)
Event cosmetics and Operators are purchasable with in-game currency. The free trial grants access to play, not automatic ownership of all Top Gun cosmetics.
Should You Play During the Free Period?
If you have been on the fence about Battlefield 6, the August 18 to 25 window is the best possible entry point since launch:
- Wake Island is live: one of Battlefield’s most iconic and beloved maps, rebuilt for modern hardware, is available from day one of the free trial
- Two-seat jets create a new co-op dynamic: the F/A-81F and F-74A give the game a cooperative experience that does not exist in any other current live shooter
- Carrier Strike is new for everyone: even paid players are experiencing this mode for the first time during this window, removing the veteran advantage that usually exists when new players enter established games
- The free trial uses REDSEC: no separate download needed if you already have REDSEC installed
Play Battlefield 6 Free Trial with ExitLag
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Battlefield 6, Top Gun: Maverick, and related marks are trademarks of their respective owners. Used for informational and educational purposes only.
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