Much was already known about the cops versus robbers installment of Battlefield due this October in Battlefield: Hardline, but EA still managed to offer a surprise out of its E3 2014 press conference today when they announced that an open beta of the game has just launched, inviting PC and PlayStation 4 owners in on the action.

Interested parties can head over to battlefield.com/hardline/beta for what was described as a "chance" to enter the beta, but it looks like they're taking all comers on both platforms for the time being.

Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners appear to have been left out of the beta process at the moment, but EA will supposedly "have some news for you soon".

New official gameplay footage was also shown at the event, demonstrating a typical match pitting the full resources of the LAPD and SWAT against a band of similarly well-equipped criminals, both creating wanton destruction in downtown Los Angeles. Check it out below.

Battlefield: Hardline is due on October 21st for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.