Gears of War: Reloaded Release Date, Beta Access, Preorder Bonuses & More

Gears of War: Reloaded, a fully remastered version of the 2006 original, launches on August 26, 2025, with next-gen enhancements, cross-platform multiplayer, and a long-awaited debut on PS5.

A two-weekend multiplayer beta in June gives you an early chance to experience the action. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know, from beta access requirements to preorder bonuses, and much more!

1. How to play Gears of War: Reloaded early?

Gears of War: Reloaded is a fully remastered edition of the 2006 classic, making its debut on PlayStation 5 alongside Xbox Series X|S and PC. This revision of the game will include lots of new upgrades to the game quality, such as:

• 4K resolution support and remastered textures.
• 60 FPS in the campaign and up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.
• HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and variable refresh rate.
• Immersive 7.1 3D spatial audio, and no loading screens for seamless gameplay.
• Enhanced visuals with improved shadows, reflections, and anti-aliasing.
• Full cross-play support across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms.

You can play Gears of War: Reloaded early by joining the multiplayer beta. Players can access this beta if they:

(1) Preorder a digital copy on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC; (2) Are an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriber; or (3) Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition purchased before May 5, 2025.

Only digital versions qualify; physical PS5 pre-orders do not include beta access.

i. Availability & Price

• Physical Edition (PS5 only): $39.99
• Digital Edition (PS5 & Xbox): $39.99
• Xbox Game Pass: Included on day one

The remaster is accessible through cloud streaming on both Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now, providing players with even more flexibility in their gaming experience.

ii. Preorder Bonuses

• PS5 Physical Edition:
  • Adam Fenix & Anya Stroud multiplayer skins
• Digital Preorders (PS5, Xbox, PC):
  • Bonus character skins
  • Early access to the Exclusive Multiplayer Beta
  • Adam Fenix & Anya Stroud multiplayer skins

A free upgrade to Gears of War: Reloaded will be available for all digital owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

2. Gears of War: Reloaded Beta Access

The Gears of War: Reloaded multiplayer beta will take place over two weekends: June 13–15 and June 20–22.

The beta sessions start daily at 12 p.m. PDT, 3 p.m. EDT, 8 p.m. BST, 9 p.m. CEST, and 4 a.m. JST the following day.

Players can preload the beta ahead of each weekend, and the install size on Xbox Series X is approximately 13.4 GB.

The beta is live but currently facing server problems, with players reporting matchmaking errors and session drops.

Microsoft has not yet issued a statement, though the Gears subreddit confirms the issue is widespread.

Many hope the beta will be extended due to the disruptions, but no official confirmation has been made.

i. Gears of War: Reloaded Beta Content

Weekend 1 – June 13–15

• Mode: Team Deathmatch
• Maps: Gridlock, Raven Down, Gold Rush

Weekend 2 – June 20–22

• Team Deathmatch: Adds Courtyard, War Machine
• New Mode: King of the Hill (on Canals map)

Note: Horde mode is not included in the beta.

ii. Gears of War: Reloaded Regional Beta Times

• Auckland: June 14, 7:00 NZST – June 16, 7:00 NZST
• Seoul: June 14, 4:00 KST – June 16, 4:00 KST
• Beijing: June 14, 3:00 CST – June 16, 3:00 CST
• New Delhi: June 14, 00:30 IST – June 16, 00:30 IST
• Sydney: June 14, 5:00 AEST – June 16, 5:00 AEST
• Frankfurt/Paris: June 13, 21:00 CEST – June 15, 21:00 CEST
• London: June 13, 20:00 BST – June 15, 20:00 BST
• New York: June 13, 15:00 EDT – June 15, 15:00 EDT
• Sao Paulo: June 13, 16:00 BRT – June 15, 16:00 BRT
• Los Angeles: June 13, 12:00 PDT – June 15, 12:00 PDT
• Mexico City: June 13, 13:00 CST – June 16, 13:00 CST

iii. Gears of War: Reloaded Beta Free Game Codes

Although originally planned for digital-only owners, Microsoft has begun sending free codes for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition to some physical Ultimate Edition owners as well. 

Check your Xbox inbox as codes may already be available.

What the Code Includes:

• Full game download of Gears of War: Reloaded
• Preorder bonuses: Marcus Fenix & Anya Stroud multiplayer skins
• Beta access for both June multiplayer weekends

Gears of War: Reloaded is shaping up to be the definitive edition of the 2006 classic, bringing better visuals, better performance, and expanded platform support. 

So are you geared up to jump back into the action?

3. About Gears of War: Reloaded

Gears of War: Reloaded is a next-gen remaster of the iconic 2006 third-person shooter, developed by The Coalition and launching on August 26, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The game features enhanced 4K visuals, 60 FPS campaign, 120 FPS multiplayer, HDR, Dolby Atmos, and seamless gameplay with no loading screens. It also marks the franchise’s debut on PlayStation and supports full cross-play. A two-weekend multiplayer beta in June and day-one access via Xbox Game Pass give fans an early look at this definitive remaster.