Gears of War: Reloadedis a remaster of the beloved third-person shooter set to release in August 2025, but players can experience the improved quality of the original even earlier through two open beta weekends. These betas feature the game’s remastered online multiplayer, which you can join in a variety of ways. You even have the chance to earn exclusive rewards through this pre-release competition.

While thegameplay forGears of War: Reloadedremains mainly the same as its original version, theimproved visuals alone make it worth getting for any fans of the series. From a 4k resolution to 120 FPS in the multiplayer mode, enhanced graphics and audio make this title the definitive version of the classic 2006 game. New features on different platforms also allow you to customize your experience even further.

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Gears Of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Schedule

Battle Against Other Players Across Two Weekends

There aretwo periods of time when players can download and play the Multiplayer BetaforGears of War: Reloadedin the summer of 2025. With the game set to release on July 29, 2025, these betas are brief opportunities to compete in matches and experience the game ahead of time. The chaotic versus matches from the originalGears of Warreturn in full force, with only a few changes to classic mechanics.

The table below goes over the start and end dates for each Multiplayer Beta window:

Gears of War: Reloaded Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud multiplayer character skins

July 09, 2025

7:00 PM UTC (12:00 PM PST)

Each of the Multiplayer Betas feature Cross-Play between all platforms, meaning that any player can fight against each other regardless of their system.Gears of War: Reloaded’s five different platformsinclude these options:

This cross-platform play comes with another benefit for when the game officially launches at the end of August 2025.Cross progression is featured within the Multiplayer Beta, allowing you to earn experience and transfer it to whatever platform you’re playingGears of War: Reloadedon. With XP advancement from both betas being saved for when the game releases, this gives you a way to never lose any progress you’ve made anywhere.

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How To Enter The Gears Of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Betas

Join The Action Through Three Different Methods

At any point during the two Multiplayer Beta weekends,you’re able to join the action by downloading the beta version of the gamein advance. To do this,you must meet certain requirementssince there does not seem to be aphysical release forGears of War: Reloadedplanned.

Here are all the different ways you’re able to make the Multiplayer Beta available to download for your account:

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Having any one of the above requirements will make your account eligible to download the Multiplayer Betawhen it goes live on either active weekend. The multiplayer experience offered is the same no matter what platform you download the beta on. Additionally, players who enter the first beta will automatically gain access to the second one, with all of their progress carrying over for the multiplayer.

Only specific Multiplayer game types and modes are available when you join either beta weekend. For example, the first Multiplayer Beta only features Team Deathmatch, while the second is more focused on the King of Hill match type from the originalGears of War.

Cole and Baird running away from a giant Locust enemy in Gears of War Reloaded.

Each weekend for the Multiplayer Betas highlights a different game mode, with only a few maps being featured each time.For the first beta, players only have access to Team Deathmatch matches, which pit two teams against each other to score the most number of kills. Fan-favorite maps return for this mode, inlcuding Gridlock, Raven Down, and Gold Rush.

For the second Multiplayer Beta, the Courtyard and War Machine maps are added to the Team Deathmatch playlist. In addition,King of the Hill mode becomes active on the second weekend, giving you and your team matches to control a specific location more than an enemy team. While only the Canals map is available in the second beta for King of the Hill, it varies the multiplayer a bit before the last beta ends.

Marcus standing next to a fountain outside a building in Gears of War Reloaded.

Rewards For Participating In The Gears Of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta

Gain Exclusive Cosmetics By Joining Either Beta

As you fulfill one of the requirements necessary to join the Multiplayer Beta, you have a chance to earn free cosmetic rewards based on how you entered.By pre-ordering the game or downloading its Multiplayer Beta through Game Pass (Ultimate or PC), you get two free character skinsto use in multiplayer modes. The free cosmetics you earn are:

Adam Fenix is the father of Marcus Fenix, the mainprotagonist of the originalGears of Warand theReloadedremaster. This military scientist invented the Hammer of Dawn weapon, which may be featured prominently in the multiplayer betas. Meanwhile, Anya Stroud is the director of Delta Squad, now entering the fray herself as an exclusive character skin you won’t find anywhere else.

Marcus looking a ruined building in Gears of War Reloaded.

ForGears of War: Ultimate Editionowners, you can only participate in theGears of War: ReloadedMultiplayer Betas if you purchased yourUltimate Editioncopy at some point before June 22, 2025.

Anyone who has a version of Game Pass can just download these skinsto use immediately. Alternatively, anyone who pre-orders a physical or digital copy of the game will have access to these skins, even within the multiplayer betas themselves.

verify you have enough room on your platform device to download the game’s beta when the multiplayer test windows become active. Once you have everything together, you can start playingGears of War: Reloadedearly through its Multiplayer Beta weekends, earning XP that transfers over into the official release in August 2025.