The Gears of War E-Day multiplayer beta gives you a chance to try out the upcoming game for free while allowing the dev team at The Coalition a chance to see how it handles under stress. I'd call that a win-win.
If you want to join in and check out the multiplayer aspect of the upcoming game, here's how to gain access to the latest Gears of War beta, including the dates and times the server is open to all.
Gears of War E-Day beta dates
The Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Beta goes live across two weekends: August 6 - 10, and August 13 - 17, 2026. The first is for players with early access, while the second weekend is open for everyone.
The beta is focussed solely on the multiplayer aspect of the new Gears of War game, including the brand-new Horde Siege mode, which is "an Evolution of Gears' Iconic PvE Mode", featuring 12 players split into smaller squads, each playing cooperatively against the harsh and demanding environment.
You'll be able to try this and of course PvP in both weekends of the beta, so if you want to know how to get involved, read on.
How to join the Gears of War E-Day beta
To get early access to the Gears of War E-Day beta, you must pre-order the game or have an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC subscription. This does mean that there is technically a cost to playing early, but if you already have Game Pass Ultimate, you're in.
Unfortunately, this does mean that those on Game Pass Premium or Essential won't get early access, but you can upgrade your subscription level if you so wish. You can do this or purchase the game any time before the early access beta ends on August 10 to get in.
If you'd rather not make the commitment to the game or Game Pass Ultimate or PC just yet, then you can still participate in the beta during the second weekend, simply by downloading the beta on Xbox or PC nearer the time.
If you're not on PC or Xbox and are wondering about those Gears of War PS5 rumors, we've got a separate article for you.
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