Get ready to lock and load: Gears of War: Reloaded is rolling out its multiplayer beta across two weekends in June, offering fans an early taste of the 4K remaster before its August 26 launch. Developed by The Coalition in partnership with Sumo Interactive and Disbelief, Reloaded brings the 2006 Xbox classic into the modern era with updated visuals, improved performance and cross-platform play that finally lands the series on PlayStation for the first time.
The first beta fires up June 13–15, dropping players into Team Deathmatch on three all-time favorite maps: Gridlock, Raven Down and Gold Rush. The second test runs June 20–22, expanding the playlist with King of the Hill on Canals alongside Team Deathmatch on Courtyard and War Machine. These limited windows let you experience the smooth 120 FPS multiplayer mode on console and PC, complete with HDR, variable refresh rate support and Dolby Atmos immersion on compatible setups.
There are three straightforward ways to join the fray. Pre-order Reloaded digitally on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam or PlayStation 5 and you’ll receive a beta invite automatically—plus exclusive character skins for Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud. Players who already own Gears of War: Ultimate Edition on Xbox One or Windows PC before May 5 also unlock access, while active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscribers can jump in without a preorder.
Reloaded doesn’t stop at multiplayer. The full package includes the entire campaign from the original and Ultimate Edition DLC, running at a buttery-smooth 60 FPS in glorious native 4K with no loading screens between acts. Every campaign sequence, boss fight and cutscene has been rebuilt with remastered textures, enhanced lighting and post-processing effects that give Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago’s fight against the Locust Horde a new lease on life.
For fans tracking Gears lore, The Coalition has even more in store. In 2026, Gears of War: E-Day arrives as a full-blown prequel set 14 years before the original, reuniting Marcus and Dom during the earliest days of the Locust War. Think of Reloaded as the ultimate warm-up for what’s billed as the biggest Gears adventure yet.
At a $39.99 USD MSRP, Gears of War: Reloaded hits Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Windows PC and Steam on August 26—and it’s available day one on Game Pass. Whether you’re jumping back in with old friends or discovering Sera’s war-torn streets for the first time on PlayStation, this beta weekend is your chance to see why Gears remains one of the most iconic third-person shooters ever made.
