Gear up for a return to the battlefield-Gears of War: Reloaded’s multiplayer beta is your ticket to experience the franchise’s epic remaster before launch, with exclusive modes and maps across two intense weekends. Find out how to secure your spot and see the full beta schedule, whether you’re playing on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox.
Across two weekends, the Gears of War: Reloaded beta allows players to test out some parts of the game’s competitive multiplayer, though sadly, nothing to do with the series’ famous horde mode. The first weekend starts with a limited selection (just one mode and three maps), though more playable content will become available on the second weekend. Both weekends also fully support crossplay.
Here’s how to play the Gears of War: Reloaded beta, plus details about the schedule (including dates, times, and available modes) for both weekends.
How to play the Gears of War: Reloaded beta
To play the Gears of War: Reloaded beta, you need to either preorder the game digitally on Xbox Series, PC, Steam, or PlayStation 5; have an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription; or own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition purchased before May 5, 2025. The beta features multiplayer modes like Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill across several classic maps, and supports full crossplay. Access to the beta is automatic for eligible users, and the beta client can be pre-installed across all platforms before the official beta weekends.
There are three ways to get access to the Gears of War: Reloaded beta:
- Preorder Gears of War: Reloaded for either PS5, Windows PC, or Xbox Series X
- Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, first released in 2015 for Xbox One, though note that your copy of the game must have been purchased before May 5, 2025 (when Reloaded was officially announced)
- Subscribe to Xbox Game Pass at either the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass tiers.
Preordering Gears of War: Reloaded or playing it via Game Pass will give you access to the Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud skins (left and right respectively in the image above) in multiplayer.
Gears of War: Reloaded beta weekend #1 schedule
The first Gears of War: Reloaded beta weekend ran from Friday, June 13 at 12pm PDT / 3pm EDT (7pm UTC) and concluded on Sunday, June 15 at the same time, offering a 48-hour window to play. During this period, players could access Team Deathmatch mode across three classic maps: Gridlock, Raven Down, and Gold Rush. Access was available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC for those who either preordered the game digitally, had an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription, or owned a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition purchased before May 5, 2025.
During the first beta weekend for Gears of War:Reloaded, you’ll be able to play Team Deathmatch on three maps: Gridlock (above), Raven Down, and Gold Rush.
The first weekend runs from 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 13, to 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 15 . Here’s when that is in your time zone:
- 12 p.m. PDT for the West Coast of North America
- 3 p.m. EDT for the East Coast of North America
- 8 p.m. BST for the U.K.
- 9 p.m. CEST for Western Europe/Paris
- 4 a.m. JST for Japan
Gears of War: Reloaded beta weekend #2 schedule
The Gears of War: Reloaded beta weekend #2 runs from 12 PM PDT (3 PM EDT) on Friday, June 20, 2025, and extends until 9 PM PDT (12 AM EDT) on Sunday, June 22, with some regions experiencing playtime into the early hours of Monday morning. This second weekend expands upon the first by allowing players to enjoy Team Deathmatch on additional maps, including Courtyard and War Machine, and also introduces the competitive King of the Hill mode, limited to the Canals map. The beta supports full crossplay across platforms, giving players a more varied multiplayer experience ahead of the full game’s release.
During the second beta weekend for Gears of War: Reloaded, you’ll be able to play Team Deathmatch on five maps: Gridlock, Raven Down, and Gold Rush. You’ll also be able to play King of the Hill, though just on one map: Canals.
The second weekend runs from 3 p.m. EDT on Friday, June 20, to 3 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 22. Here’s when that is in your time zone:
- 12 p.m. PDT for the West Coast of North America
- 3 p.m. EDT for the East Coast of North America
- 8 p.m. BST for the U.K.
- 9 p.m. CEST for Western Europe/Paris
- 4 a.m. JST for Japan
How can I maximize my chances to join both beta weekends of Gears of War Reloaded
To maximize your chances of joining both beta weekends for Gears of War: Reloaded, you should secure your access in advance through any of the following methods:
-
Preorder a digital copy of Gears of War: Reloaded on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, or PC (via Steam or Microsoft Store). Only digital preorders guarantee access-physical copies do not include beta access.
-
Be an active subscriber to Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. These subscriptions entitle you to beta access on both weekends automatically.
-
Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition acquired before May 5, 2025. New digital purchases after that cutoff do not qualify, and physical Edition copies do not grant beta access.
Once you qualify via one of the above, download and install the beta client as soon as it becomes available. Players who access the first weekend are guaranteed access to the second weekend, with all progress carrying over.
For maximum reliability:
-
Ensure your digital preorder or subscriptions are active and linked to your main gaming account.
-
Download and update the beta as soon as it is available, to avoid server congestion or last-minute issues.
-
Follow official Gears of War and platform social channels for any last-minute access codes, technical fixes, or updates.
Following these steps will provide the highest likelihood of uninterrupted access to both beta weekends, regardless of your platform.
How can I ensure I qualify for beta access early on
To ensure you qualify for beta access as early as possible, follow these best practices:
-
Preorder a digital copy of the game as soon as preorders open-this is the most reliable and immediate route for guaranteed early access to many game betas, including Gears of War: Reloaded (for physical editions, beta access is usually not included).
-
Maintain active memberships for subscription services that provide automatic beta access-such as Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass for Xbox/PC games, or opt into official beta programs on your platform (e.g., PlayStation Beta Program).
-
Actively monitor official channels and register early-follow the game’s and publisher’s social media, websites, and mailing lists, as announcements often go live there first. Register or submit your interest the moment sign-ups open, as slots may be filled quickly.
-
Ensure your accounts are in good standing (no violations or bans) and use your primary gaming account when registering.
-
Provide complete, accurate information during registration, and respond promptly to any invitation or confirmation emails.
-
Meet all technical requirements (such as owning specific hardware or a qualifying game version) and be prepared to download the beta client as soon as it becomes available.
By being proactive with preorders, subscriptions, and direct sign-ups, and ensuring all requirements and deadlines are met, you can secure the best shot at early beta access to new games.
