For many of us, the original Gears of War in 2006 was a game changer. It pushed the limits of technology, visual fidelity, and ushered in the HD-era on the Xbox 360, led by amazing players all over the world. And we all remember how the beautifully crafted and iconic “Mad World” trailer hit us on an emotional level.  

As we look ahead to the 20^th 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 than to revisit the iconic original that started it all.  

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms, arriving August 26, 2025 – and you can get your first chance to play it during the Multiplayer Beta.  

Join the Multiplayer Beta Starting June 13  

You can experience all the curb-stomping mayhem of the versus multiplayer via a two-weekend, cross-platform and cross-play Multiplayer Beta that runs June 13-15 and June 20-22.  

There are three ways to gain access:  

• Preorder Gears of War: Reloaded digitally for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam or PlayStation 5   

• Have an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass membership  

• Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition*   

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 1 runs June 13-15 and features a social multiplayer experience in the classic Team Deathmatch mode across three maps including the fan-favorite Gridlock, as well as Raven Down and Gold Rush.  

• Friday, June 13 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 15 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)  

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 2 runs June 20-22 and adds the competitive King of the Hill mode on the map Canals being added to the mix, along with the maps Courtyard and War Machine for use in Team Deathmatch.   

• Friday, June 20 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 22 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)  

Official Xbox Podcast: Learn More About Gears of War Reloaded  

As detailed on the Official Xbox Podcast, Studio Head Mike Crump and Studio Technical Director Kate Rayner let us know that Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive release of the iconic original that started it all. Not only does this remaster include all post-launch content from the original and Ultimate Edition, it also delivers a litany of technical achievements that weren’t possible 20 or even 10 years ago.   

We’re talking 4K assets, remastered textures, HDR support, but also platform scaling capabilities that make it possible to play Gears of War Reloaded across a multitude of devices that you own, from the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, to PC, to console, and more. Where the original Gears of War was a technical achievement for Xbox 360 — Gears of War Reloaded is shaping up to be a triumph across all devices. Check out the full episode above.  

Preorder and Game Pass Bonuses: Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud Character Skins  

Those that preorder Gears of War: Reloaded, digitally or physically, and Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass PC members will receive two character skins for use in multiplayer, including:   

• Adam Fenix: Father of Marcus Fenix and legendary military scientist who invented the Hammer of Dawn. Now he’s geared up and ready to help defend humanity from the Locust Horde.  

• Anya Stroud: The guiding voice of Delta Squad, from the desk at COG CIC to the warzones of Ephyra, Anya is trained and ready to curb stomp some grubs.  

_{*Multiplayer Beta Access for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Owners: Must have purchased Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital-only) prior to May 5, 2025 at 16:00 UTC.} 

Gears of War: Reloaded

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

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THE DEFINITIVE RELEASE The Original, Remastered: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms. All Included: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost. Refined Controls: Newcomers can choose a modern, streamlined control layout, while veterans can relive the classic feel they love. BUILT FOR BROTHERHOOD Campaign Co-Op: Crush the Locust threat together through campaign split-screen or online co-op. Fight on with your squad in Versus multiplayer running at up to 120fps with unmatched clarity and visual fidelity.* Cross Play: Gears of War: Reloaded supports cross-play across all platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.* Cross Progression: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves as well as multiplayer progression will come with you. Signing in with your Microsoft Account required is for cross progression.* OPTIMIZED FOR XBOX & PC: Natively Optimized for Xbox Series X|S: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with lightning-fast load times, 4K assets plus remastered textures, lighting, shadows and reflections, HDR and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, as well as up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.* Optimized for PC & Handhelds: In addition to stunning remastered visuals, Gears of War: Reloaded also delivers PC-first features such as ultrawide support, a benchmark mode, variable refresh rate, mouse and keyboard support, FSR3.1 and DLSS3.5 Super Resolution support as well as controller remapping.