The text below was published on the game’s official website.
Summary
- Gears of War: Reloaded will launch on August 26, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, and Steam—available day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass with Xbox Play Anywhere support.
- Pre-order for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, or PlayStation 5 to access the multiplayer beta running across two weekends, starting June 13, 2025.
- Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, PC Game Pass subscribers, and owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital version) will also receive Multiplayer Beta access.
For many of us, the original Gears of War was a watershed moment in 2006. It pushed technological boundaries, delivered unprecedented visual fidelity, and ushered in the HD era on Xbox 360, led by incredible players worldwide. And we all remember how the beautifully crafted, iconic “Mad World” trailer struck us on an emotional level.
As we look toward the 20th anniversary of the Gears of War franchise next year, we wanted to celebrate this milestone with you by welcoming a new generation of players across devices to the Gears family—and what better way to do that than revisiting the iconic original game that started it all.
Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the breakout first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms, arriving on August 26, 2025—and you can get your first chance to play during the Multiplayer Beta.
Join the multiplayer beta starting June 13
Experience all the frenetic versus multiplayer action through a two-weekend Multiplayer Beta supporting cross-platform and cross-play, running June 13-15 and June 20-22.
There are three ways to gain access:
- Pre-order Gears of War: Reloaded digitally for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam, or PlayStation 5
- Have an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription
- Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition*
The first Multiplayer Beta weekend (June 13-15) features social multiplayer in classic Team Deathmatch mode across three maps, including fan-favorite Gridlock, plus Raven Down and Gold Rush.
- Friday, June 13 at 4 pm Brasília Time – Sunday, June 15 at 4 pm Brasília Time
The second beta weekend (June 20-22) adds competitive King of the Hill mode on the Canals map, alongside Courtyard and War Machine maps available for Team Deathmatch.
- Friday, June 20 at 4 pm Brasília Time – Sunday, June 22 at 4 pm Brasília Time
Official Xbox Podcast: Learn more about Gears of War Reloaded
As detailed on the Official Xbox Podcast, studio head Mike Crump and technical director Kate Rayner from The Coalition revealed that Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive version of the iconic original game.
This remaster not only includes all post-launch content from the original and Ultimate Edition, but also achieves technical feats impossible 20—or even 10—years ago.
Featuring 4K assets, remastered textures, HDR support, and platform scaling capabilities enabling play across devices from PC to consoles. Where the original was a technical achievement for Xbox 360—Gears of War: Reloaded is positioned as a triumph across all platforms. Watch the full episode above.
Pre-order and Game Pass bonus: Adam Fenix & Anya Stroud character skins
Those who pre-order Gears of War: Reloaded (digital or physical), plus Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers, will receive two multiplayer character skins:
- Adam Fenix: Marcus Fenix’s father and the legendary military scientist who invented the Hammer of Dawn. Now geared up to defend humanity from the Locust Horde.
- Anya Stroud: The guiding voice of Delta Squad—from the COG CIC desk to Ephyra’s battlefields—trained and ready to crush some grubs.
*Beta access restriction: Must own Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital only) purchased before May 5, 2025.
