Anthem closed alpha sign up, start date, and preload

Published , by Sam Chandler

The Anthem closed alpha has been announced and players are fighting for a chance to participate in BioWare’s new IP. Thankfully, it appears as if players that want to get a taste of Anthem before it releases next year can toss their name into a hat for a chance to play. The sign-up process for the Anthem closed alpha has begun, and a whole lot of information is out there about how to sign-up, how to preload, and the PC requirements – but we've got all that here for you!

How to sign up for Anthem closed alpha

Sign-ups for the Anthem closed alpha is being handled by the EA Community Playtesting team, so players will need to head over to their site to begin the application process. Due to the limited availability of slots, it’s advised to head over and sign up as soon as possible, as registration closes end of day on December 3.

  1. Go to EA Community Playtesting
  2. Sign in with your EA Account
  3. Accept the terms and conditions
  4. Select the platform on which you hope to play
  5. Sign up for any available sessions

Tip: You can only sign up for one platform, so choose wisely!

After the sign up process has been completed, you may see confirmation on the Community Playtesting page and you may receive a confirmation email informing you about downloading the Anthem closed alpha. This may take a while to occur, during the wait you will see a “pending” icon beside your selection. In the event there are no more available slots for the closed alpha, you can choose to be placed on a waitlist.

Keep in mind that the Anthem closed alpha is under a strict non-disclosure agreement, which means no sharing any information or commenting on your experiences. It'll be hard to keep the excitement reined in, but do it for Shacknews.

Anthem closed alpha requirements

There are a few requirements depending on what platform you wish to play the Anthem closed alpha, though all players must be 18 years or older and agree to the terms and conditions.

Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players will need to have their respective subscriptions (Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus) in order to play. Some regions are unavailable on PlayStation 4, so those living in said regions will need to select a different platform. The following regions will not be able to participate in the Anthem closed alpha on PS4:

Anthem closed alpha PC requirements

The PC requirements for the Anthem closed alpha are pretty attainable, so there’s really no need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest PC parts. In the event you are looking to upgrade, check out Chris’ guide on how to build the best gaming PC.

Anthem closed alpha dates and times

There will be two days that the Anthem closed alpha will be available, and on both of those days there will be two sessions where players can get in and play. All four sessions are three hours in duration, totalling 12 hours over the two day closed alpha. Given the supposed size of Anthem, this should give players a good glimpse at the gameplay loop as well as many major mechanics.

Date Start Finish
December 8 07:00 AM PST 10:00 AM PST
December 8 12:00 PM PST 03:00 PM PST
December 9 07:00 AM PST 10:00 AM PST
December 9 12:00 PM PST 03:00 PM PST

Preloading the Anthem closed alpha

If you are one of the lucky few selected to participate in the Anthem closed alpha, you will receive an email with directions on how to pre-load the Anthem alpha.

Will progress in the Anthem closed alpha carry over to the full game?

No. The Anthem closed alpha is a limited-time build of the game and not representative of the final product, ergo no progress will be carried over to the full game.

The Anthem closed alpha is a great opportunity for gamers to get in and experience what’s on offer, as well as help BioWare test the stability and various mechanics of the game. Make sure to get in quick, as the Anthem closed alpha has limited availability and the duration is relatively short. Keep it locked to Shacknews as we cover all the Anthem happenings.