Three Steam promotions are verified for this weekend: Battlefield 6 and Stranded Deep are temporary free-play events, while Hex Reverse is a launch-period free-to-keep offer. [3] [5] [6] We checked official U.S. pages at Friday, October 16, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. EDT; prices are USD and can change. [3] [5] [7]
Quick answer
Battlefield 6
Free play. Current official offer data ends access Tuesday, October 20 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The Standard Edition is $27.99, down from $69.99, through the same deadline. [1] [3]
Stranded Deep
Free play. Access ends Monday at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The game is $7.99, down from $19.99, through Thursday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. [4] [5]
Hex Reverse
Free to keep after a successful claim. The developer promises permanent access after the game becomes paid. No exact cutoff clock or U.S. post-promotion price is published. [6] [7]
Mobile comparison
Battlefield 6
Access: temporary
Install: 55 GB minimum / 80 GB recommended
Account: EA linking, persistent internet
Best fit: large-scale competitive action [2] [1]
Stranded Deep
Access: temporary
Install: 4 GB
Modes: solo and co-op
Best fit: survival crafting at a slower pace [5] [4]
Hex Reverse
Access: keep after claim
Install: 1 GB
Mode: single-player, with PvP added in update 1.1
Best fit: a compact strategy claim [7] [6]
Official Steam product header artwork. [2]
Temporary free play — current endpoint ends October 20
Battlefield 6: all-out warfare with a scope caveat
The earlier captured Steam-rendered label visibly says “Play for free until Oct 19 @ 10:00am” without a printed timezone. Separately, the current official StoreBrowse response exposes free_weekend.end_time 1792515600, equal to October 20 at 17:00 UTC / 1:00 p.m. EDT; the $27.99 purchase offer, reduced from $69.99, has that same current deadline. [2] [3] [2]
What the trial includes
EA’s Steam announcement calls this a “Full Game Trial” and says every available map and mode is open, naming Conquest, Breakthrough, and Domination. It does not separately promise campaign inclusion, so this guide does not claim the campaign is included. [1]
Steam lists single-player, online PvP, cross-platform multiplayer, full controller support, in-app purchases, and Steam Cloud. It also requires persistent internet, an EA Account linked to Steam, EA Javelin kernel-level anti-cheat, Secure Boot, and TPM 2.0. [2]
Good Fit
Our analysis: choose this when you want the weekend’s biggest competitive spectacle, can handle the account and boot-security setup, and have enough bandwidth for the largest install here. [2] [1]
Consider First
The minimum storage line is 55 GB and the recommended line is 80 GB. Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, persistent internet, anti-cheat, and EA account linking can make this more than a one-click test. [2]
PC requirements
Phone readers: swipe the requirements table left.
| Tier | CPU | RAM | GPU | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | 16 GB | RTX 2060 / RX 5600 XT 6GB / Intel Arc A380 | Windows 10, DirectX 12, broadband, 55 GB [2] |
| Recommended | Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | 16 GB | RTX 3060 Ti / RX 6700 XT / Intel Arc B580 | Windows 11, DirectX 12, broadband, 80 GB [2] |
How to install
- Open the Steam page and select Play Game in the free-play block. [2] [3] [1]
- Allow Steam to install it, then complete EA Account linking and any Secure Boot or TPM checks. [2] [3] [1]
- Finish updates early enough to play before Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. EDT. [2] [3] [1]
Watch before you click through
This is a first-party Battlefield channel trailer for the exact game. Video title and uploader were verified with YouTube oEmbed [9]. Open the video directly.
Official Steam product header artwork. [5]
Temporary free play — solo or co-op
Stranded Deep: a four-gigabyte survival weekend
The official post runs the event from October 15 through October 19 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific, equal to Monday at 1:00 p.m. EDT. The U.S. store lists $7.99 instead of $19.99 through October 22 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. [4] [5]
What it is
Stranded Deep puts a plane-crash survivor in the Pacific to scavenge, craft, build shelter, explore islands, and survive. Steam lists single-player, online co-op, shared/split-screen co-op, full controller support, Steam Workshop, and a level editor. [5]
The event post explicitly invites players to dive in solo or with a friend. That makes it the easiest temporary offer here to sample without a competitive team, although progress after Monday requires purchasing the game. [4] [8]
PC requirements
Phone readers: swipe the requirements table left.
| Tier | CPU | RAM | GPU | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 64-bit quad-core CPU, 2.0 GHz+ | 8 GB | 2 GB VRAM | Windows 7 wording shown; DirectX 11; 4 GB [5] |
| Recommended | 64-bit quad-core CPU, 3.0 GHz+ | 8 GB | 4 GB VRAM | Windows 10 64-bit; DirectX 11; 4 GB [5] |
How to install
- Open the Steam page and select Play Game in the free-weekend block. [5] [4]
- Install the 4 GB game and choose solo, online co-op, or local shared-screen play. [5] [4]
- If you want to continue after Monday, buy the game before or after the trial; the purchase sale lasts longer than free access. [5] [4]
Watch before you click through
This official PlayStation launch trailer is for the exact game; it is not a developer-channel upload. Video title and uploader were verified with YouTube oEmbed [10]. Open the video directly.
Official Steam product header artwork. [7]
Free to keep — exact cutoff clock unknown
Hex Reverse: claim now, keep permanent access
Hex Reverse released October 7. The developer says it is free to claim for the first 30 days and that claimants keep access after it becomes paid. Neither the news post nor the current U.S. store page states an exact cutoff clock or a U.S. post-promotion price. [6] [7]
What it is
Hex Reverse is a roguelike deckbuilder played on a hexagonal battlefield. Cards compare values on touching edges, enemy cards can flip sides, and decks evolve during a run. Steam lists single-player, achievements, Steam Cloud, Family Sharing, and English and Japanese interfaces. [7]
The current page labels the game Free To Play and presents a Play Game control, while the launch-pricing text says adding it to your Steam library during the free period preserves permanent access. Because no precise deadline is exposed, act early and verify it appears in your library. [7] [6]
Good Fit
Our analysis: this is the low-risk claim of the weekend: a 1 GB strategy game that can remain available after the promotion if the library claim succeeds. [7] [6]
Consider First
The only post-promotion price in the announcement is a planned JPY 300 regular price for Japan. A future U.S. price and exact cutoff clock remain unknown, so do not wait for a guessed November deadline. [6]
PC requirements
Phone readers: swipe the requirements table left.
| Tier | CPU | RAM | GPU | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Intel Core i3 or equivalent | 4 GB | DirectX 11-compatible GPU | Windows 11 64-bit; DirectX 11; 1 GB [7] |
| Recommended | Intel Core i5 or equivalent | 8 GB | DirectX 11-compatible GPU | Windows 11 64-bit; DirectX 11; 1 GB [7] |
How to claim
- Open the Steam page and select Play Game. [7] [6]
- Complete the Steam prompt so Hex Reverse is added to your library during the free period. [7] [6]
- Confirm the title appears in your library; the official promise applies to a successful in-window claim. [7] [6]
Watch before you click through
This exact-game YouTube Short was uploaded by Rudolf Ritler; it is a third-party fallback, not a first-party trailer. Video title and uploader were verified with YouTube oEmbed [11]. Open the video directly.
How to choose before Monday
- Want the biggest event? Start Battlefield 6 first: it has the largest install and the most account and platform checks. [2]
- Want a lighter co-op weekend? Stranded Deep needs 4 GB and supports online or shared-screen co-op. [5]
- Want lasting value without a purchase? Claim Hex Reverse now and verify the library entry; do not invent a precise deadline from “first 30 days.” [6] [7]
Frequently asked questions
Are all three games free forever?
No. Battlefield 6 and Stranded Deep are temporary free-play offers. Hex Reverse is the free-to-keep claim. [2] [5] [6]
Does Battlefield 6 include the campaign?
The promotion says every available map and mode is free and calls itself a Full Game Trial, but it does not separately state that the campaign is included. We do not turn that silence into a promise. [1]
Do the Battlefield 6 and Stranded Deep sales end Monday?
No. Current official offer data puts Battlefield 6 free access and its purchase discount through Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Stranded Deep free access ends Monday at 1:00 p.m. EDT, while its purchase sale continues through Thursday. [3] [5]
Sources and verification
- Battlefield 6 Full Game Trial* — Official promotion says every available map and mode is free to play and the trial is available until October 20; the Standard Edition is up to 60% off until October 20.
- Steam — Battlefield 6 captured rendered page — The earlier captured rendered page visibly says “Play for free until Oct 19 @ 10:00am” without printing a timezone. Its capture is reported as displayed, not as New York-localized.
- Steam StoreBrowse — current Battlefield 6 offer state — At the successor cutoff, the official StoreBrowse response exposes Battlefield 6 free_weekend.end_time 1792515600 (October 20 at 17:00 UTC / 1:00 p.m. EDT), $69.99 reduced to $27.99, and discount_end_date 1792515600.
- Stranded Deep Free Weekend! — Official post says October 15–19 at 10 a.m. Pacific and invites solo or friend play.
- Steam — Stranded Deep — Rendered U.S. store showed Play for free until Oct 19 at 1:00 p.m. EDT, $19.99 reduced to $7.99, offer ends October 22, Windows/macOS/Linux support, and PC requirements.
- Hex Reverse Is Out Now — Free to Keep for the First 30 Days — Developer says the game released October 7, is free to claim for the first 30 days, and claimants can keep playing after it becomes paid; only a planned Japan price is stated.
- Steam — Hex Reverse — Rendered U.S. store showed Free To Play and Play Game, plus launch-pricing text promising permanent access after adding it during the first 30 days; no exact cutoff clock or U.S. paid price is displayed.
- Steamworks Documentation — Free Weekends — Steam says the Free Weekend package is removed at the end and continued play requires purchase of the full game.
- YouTube oEmbed — Battlefield 6 Official Reveal Trailer — oEmbed identifies the exact title and Battlefield uploader.
- YouTube oEmbed — Stranded Deep Official Launch Trailer — oEmbed identifies the exact title and PlayStation uploader; this is an official platform-holder trailer for the exact game.
- YouTube oEmbed — Steam Free Games – Hex Reverse — oEmbed identifies the exact-game third-party upload by Rudolf Ritler; no first-party YouTube upload was found in the frozen video research.
- The IT Guys — Book an Appointment — The local booking page states: “We provide on-site visits in Port Saint Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach, Florida. Remote support is available anywhere with an internet connection.”
Checked: Friday, October 16, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. EDT / 2026-10-16T16:45:31Z. Region: United States. Currency: USD. Included: paid PC base games with temporary free play during October 16–19, plus temporary free-to-keep base-game claims. Excluded: demos, prologues, playtests, DLC-only offers, subscriptions, permanently free games, ordinary discounts, and Epic’s weekly giveaway. Discovery used Steam current surfaces and current web leads; retained entries required official store or official announcement evidence.
Disclosure: The IT Guys is not affiliated with Valve, Steam, Electronic Arts, Battlefield Studios, Beam Team Games, Beam Team Publishing, IsaoWorks, YouTube, PlayStation, or the third-party Hex Reverse video uploader. Store artwork and videos are embedded or linked for editorial identification; rights remain with their owners.
Need help getting a gaming PC ready?
The IT Guys provides on-site visits in Port Saint Lucie, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach, Florida; remote support is available anywhere with an internet connection. [12] Contact The IT Guys before the weekend download queue takes over.