PSA: Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 Beta Begins Today on PS4 and Xbox One

[UPDATE] The beta is now available on Xbox One, while the PS4 version should show up at around 4 PM PDT / 7 PM EDT. You can use the download links below to get started.

The original story is below.

You don't have to wait until Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 launches in February to play the wacky shooter. The game's open beta (no preorder required) starts today, January 14, and runs until January 18.

It will be available on Xbox One and PS4 starting at 9 PM CET, which is 12 PM PDT and 3 PM EST. We'll update this post later today when the download becomes available.

As announced previously, the Garden Warfare 2 beta will offer players access to a scaled-down version of the Backyard Battleground, which is a hub world that acts as a menu and connects players to every map and mode. For the beta players, the following content will be available in Backyard Battleground, with descriptions courtesy of EA:

• The King of the Hill-inspired mode, Flag of Power - Raise the Flag of Power and do everything you can to prevent the enemy from lowering it; igniting an all-out war where you'll have to fight off wave after wave of enemies in a frantic, escalating battle.
• Stats Room - Display all of your characters' stats and achievements. There's also a sticker book where you can get an overview of all the characters and accessories you’ve unlocked.
• Quest Board - Visit the Quest Board for a list of dynamically updated challenges that will reward you for every completed event, and increase your XP multiplier.

Also included in the beta are two 24-player game modes (Herbal Assault and Gardens & Graveyards) playable on two maps: Moon Base Z and Seeds of Time.

Alongside those, new modes and maps will be rotated in as the beta progresses. These include:

• Modes:
  • Team Vanquish
  • Vanquish Confirmed
  • Gnome Bomb
  • Suburbination

• Maps:
  • Z-Tech Factory
  • Frosty Creek

Finally, the following characters will be playable in the Garden Warfare 2 beta (descriptions written by EA):

• Kernel Corn - Leading the plant offensive as the primary assault class with dual cob busters and a high rate of fire.
• Rose - An extremely powerful sorceress that can turn zombie foes into fully playable goats.
• Citron - A time-travelling bounty hunter from the future - and also an orange.
• Imp & Z-Mech - The smallest and most agile of the zombies that turns into a Z-Mech robo of mass destruction with missiles.
• Super Brainz - The flashy, punchy-powerhouse superhero with exceptional hair and charismatic smile.
• Captain Deadbeard - A crusty peg-legged captain with a trick weapon up his sleeve.

The Garden Warfare 2 beta has not been announced for PC.

The full version of Garden Warfare 2 launches on February 23 across PS4, Xbox One, and PC. However, Xbox One and PC players can jump in five days early if they have an EA/Origin Access membership.

For lots more on Garden Warfare 2, check out GameSpot's recent hands-on preview.