Summary:

Steam’s temporary IL-2 Sturmovik trial ends November 16 at noon CST. The separate 85% purchase discount ends earlier, so check which deadline applies.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad is free to try on Steam until November 16, 2026, at noon CST (18:00 UTC). The anniversary event gives PC players temporary access to the combat flight simulator. It is not a free-to-keep giveaway.

The US Steam store also lists the base game at $7.49, down from $49.99—85% off. Check the purchase countdown separately: the store currently sets that discount to end November 15 at 5 a.m. CST (11:00 UTC), before the free weekend finishes.

Free access and the sale have different deadlines

  • Free trial: November 12 at noon CST through November 16 at noon CST. Use the Steam version and its Play Game option during the event.
  • Keep playing afterward: buying the game is separate from trying it. Trial access alone does not grant permanent ownership.
  • US base-game offer: $7.49, with a current sale cutoff of November 15 at 5 a.m. CST. Recheck the live store countdown before buying.
  • Optional content: the store sells additional aircraft, campaigns and theater bundles separately. Those listings are not a promise that all DLC is included in the trial.

What you can fly

The developer’s announcement says the base game includes eight flyable aircraft, including the 1942 Il-2, Ju 87 D-3 Stuka and He 111 H-6. Quick Mission lets you choose an aircraft and set up a sortie; Pilot Career places you in a historical air unit during the Battle of Stalingrad. Online co-op and competitive multiplayer are also listed on Steam.

This is a detailed flight simulation built around aircraft handling and systems, rather than a pick-up-and-play arcade shooter. The free weekend is a useful opportunity to see whether that cockpit workload suits you before spending money.

Check the controls and the 95 GB storage requirement

Steam’s current minimum specifications call for 64-bit Windows 10 or 11, an Intel Core i5/i7 at 3 GHz or above, 16 GB RAM, 4 GB graphics memory and 95 GB of available storage, with DirectX 11. A DirectX-compatible flight stick is recommended. The game also supports mouse control, so a stick is not described as mandatory.

VR support is optional; the listing specifies SteamVR with keyboard and mouse required for that mode. Do not assume that installing the game immediately gives you a fully configured cockpit setup. Allow time to check controls before the trial expires.

How players rate it

At this check, Steam’s English-language review summary was Mostly Positive: 79% of 5,483 reviews. Its separate recent summary was Very Positive: 80% of 45 reviews in the last 30 days. The recent sample is much smaller, so it is best read alongside the longer-term feedback.

For a different kind of strategy trial, see our Company of Heroes 3 free-weekend guide. Both are temporary offers, not permanent free copies.

Sources and image credit

  • Official US Steam store: price, separate sale countdown, requirements, modes and review snapshots, checked November 13, 2026.
  • Official free-weekend announcement: event window and eight-aircraft base game.
  • Official IL-2 media page: press imagery supplied for coverage. Featured image is an original Battle of Stalingrad screenshot from the publisher’s press kit, not a newly captured image of the November 2026 event. © 1C Game Studios; used for editorial coverage.