Category: Video Games

Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access

Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access

  • Mike Crump, Studio Head, The Coalition 

Summary

  • Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025, for $39.99 SRP on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, Steam, and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass with Xbox Play Anywhere support.  
    Preorder now for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5 for access to the two-weekend Multiplayer Beta that begins June 13, 2025.  
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass members, and existing owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital) also get access to the Multiplayer Beta.  

For many of us, the original Gears of War in 2006 was a game changer. It pushed the limits of technology, visual fidelity, and ushered in the HD-era on the Xbox 360, led by amazing players all over the world. And we all remember how the beautifully crafted and iconic “Mad World” trailer hit us on an emotional level.  

As we look ahead to the 20th anniversary of the Gears of War franchise next year, we wanted to celebrate this milestone with you by welcoming a new generation of players across devices to the Gears family — and what better way than to revisit the iconic original that started it all.  

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms, arriving August 26, 2025 – and you can get your first chance to play it during the Multiplayer Beta.  

Gears of War Reloaded Screenshot

Join the Multiplayer Beta Starting June 13  

You can experience all the curb-stomping mayhem of the versus multiplayer via a two-weekend, cross-platform and cross-play Multiplayer Beta that runs June 13-15 and June 20-22.  

There are three ways to gain access:  

  • Preorder Gears of War: Reloaded digitally for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam or PlayStation 5   
  • Have an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass membership  
  • Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition*   
Gears of War Reloaded Screenshot

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 1 runs June 13-15 and features a social multiplayer experience in the classic Team Deathmatch mode across three maps including the fan-favorite Gridlock, as well as Raven Down and Gold Rush.  

  • Friday, June 13 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 15 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)  

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 2 runs June 20-22 and adds the competitive King of the Hill mode on the map Canals being added to the mix, along with the maps Courtyard and War Machine for use in Team Deathmatch.   

  • Friday, June 20 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 22 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)  

Official Xbox Podcast: Learn More About Gears of War Reloaded  

As detailed on the Official Xbox Podcast, Studio Head Mike Crump and Studio Technical Director Kate Rayner let us know that Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive release of the iconic original that started it all. Not only does this remaster include all post-launch content from the original and Ultimate Edition, it also delivers a litany of technical achievements that weren’t possible 20 or even 10 years ago.   

We’re talking 4K assets, remastered textures, HDR support, but also platform scaling capabilities that make it possible to play Gears of War Reloaded across a multitude of devices that you own, from the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, to PC, to console, and more. Where the original Gears of War was a technical achievement for Xbox 360 — Gears of War Reloaded is shaping up to be a triumph across all devices. Check out the full episode above.  

Preorder and Game Pass Bonuses: Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud Character Skins  

Preorder Skins for Gears of War: Reloaded

Those that preorder Gears of War: Reloaded, digitally or physically, and Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass PC members will receive two character skins for use in multiplayer, including:   

  • Adam Fenix: Father of Marcus Fenix and legendary military scientist who invented the Hammer of Dawn. Now he’s geared up and ready to help defend humanity from the Locust Horde.  
  • Anya Stroud: The guiding voice of Delta Squad, from the desk at COG CIC to the warzones of Ephyra, Anya is trained and ready to curb stomp some grubs.  

*Multiplayer Beta Access for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Owners: Must have purchased Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital-only) prior to May 5, 2025 at 16:00 UTC.  


Gears of War: Reloaded
Xbox Play Anywhere

Gears of War: Reloaded

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★

Get it now

THE DEFINITIVE RELEASE

The Original, Remastered: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms.

All Included: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost.

Refined Controls: Newcomers can choose a modern, streamlined control layout, while veterans can relive the classic feel they love.

BUILT FOR BROTHERHOOD

Campaign Co-Op: Crush the Locust threat together through campaign split-screen or online co-op. Fight on with your squad in Versus multiplayer running at up to 120fps with unmatched clarity and visual fidelity.*

Cross Play: Gears of War: Reloaded supports cross-play across all platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.*

Cross Progression: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves as well as multiplayer progression will come with you. Signing in with your Microsoft Account required is for cross progression.*

OPTIMIZED FOR XBOX & PC:

Natively Optimized for Xbox Series X|S: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with lightning-fast load times, 4K assets plus remastered textures, lighting, shadows and reflections, HDR and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, as well as up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.*

Optimized for PC & Handhelds: In addition to stunning remastered visuals, Gears of War: Reloaded also delivers PC-first features such as ultrawide support, a benchmark mode, variable refresh rate, mouse and keyboard support, FSR3.1 and DLSS3.5 Super Resolution support as well as controller remapping.

The post Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The Outer Worlds 2 Is Microsoft’s First Confirmed $80 Game

Microsoft has confirmed The Outer Worlds 2 costs $79.99 in the U.S. — it’s the first Xbox Game Studios game to make the jump.

The Steam page for Obsidian’s role-playing sequel revealed the $80 figure for the standard edition. Microsoft had confirmed it would follow Nintendo’s lead and make the jump with its games in time for the holiday season. It seems The Outer Worlds 2 will kick off this new Xbox video game pricing structure when it comes out on October 29, 2025.

Explaining the price-hike decision in May, Microsoft told IGN: “We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development. Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players.”

Much of the industry has been discussing and gradually implementing price increases in recent years, with AAA game prices jumping from $60 to $70 in just the last five years, and Nintendo going with $80 for Switch 2 exclusive Mario Kart World and some other Switch 2 Edition games.

Last month, Gearbox chief Randy Pitchford sparked a backlash in responding to a fan who had expressed concern about the prospect of paying $80 for Borderlands 4, saying: “if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”

During a recent PAX East panel, Pitchford offered his thoughts on video game pricing. “On one level, we’ve got a competitive marketplace where the people that make those choices want to sell as many units as possible and they want to be careful about people that are price-sensitive,” he said. “There are some folks who don’t want to see prices go up, even the ones deciding what the prices are.

“There’s other folks accepting the reality that game budgets are increasing, and there’s tariffs for the retail packaging. It’s getting gnarly out there, you guys. Borderlands 4 has more than twice the development budget than Borderlands 3. More than twice. So the truth is, I don’t know what the price is going to be.”

Given The Outer Worlds 2 costs $80, we can assume the just-announced Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 will too, although it doesn’t have a release date yet. 2026’s Gears of War: E-Day, the new Fable, and the next Forza will surely also cost $80.

For more, check out everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase June 2025.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Mudang: Two Hearts is a stealth action thriller, like Splinter Cell with K-pop and rage zombies

Ubisoft are nowhere to be found during this year’s not-E3 season, meaning there’s no opportunity for the French publisher to announce six new games they’ll never release. I still crave a Splinter Cell fix, however, and Mudang: Two Hearts delivered, kinda. It’s Korean, it’s got fast-moving rage zombies, but it’s also got men shimmying up pipes, cinematic brawls, and a rapid-cut montage of knife crimes. You should watch the trailer.

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Xbox Gets Final Fantasy 16 Today, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade This Winter

Xbox fans finally get a chance to catch up with recent some recent Final Fantasy games — including a shadow drop of Final Fantasy 16 today.

Later this year, sometime this winter, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade will also follow.

After a two-year wait, the sixteenth main Final Fantasy finally drops on Xbox Series X/S right now, having first launched for PlayStation 5 in June 2023, and on PC in September 2024.

Final Fantasy 7 first launched in 2020 for PlayStation 4, before its Intergrade upgrade arrived a year later on PC and PS5.

All of which is to say that Xbox fans have been waiting a long time for these games, but their arrival this year suggests Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will follow in the somewhat not-too-distant future.

“Its excellent story, characters, and world building are right up there with the best the series has to offer, and the innovative Active Time Lore feature should set a new standard for how lengthy, story-heavy games keep players invested in its world,” IGN wrote in our Final Fantasy 16 review.

“[It]s dull filler and convoluted additions can cause it to stumble, but it still breathes exciting new life into a classic while standing as a great RPG all its own,” IGN wrote in our Final Fantasy 7 Remake review.

For more, check out everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase June 2025.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle DLC The Order of the Giants Finally Has a Release Date

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle’s first expansion, The Order of the Giants, now has a release date — and it’s only a few months’ away.

The Order of the Giants will arrive on September 4, 2025, a brief teaser shown during today’s Xbox Games Showcase 2025 revealed. That’s for all platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, and yes, the newer PlayStation 5 version of the game too.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle was one of the best games of 2024, and more of it is a very good thing. It looks like we’ll be seeing more of the game’s mysterious race of forerunner giants in this expansion — though whether that means more of the late Tony Todd remains to be seen.

For more, check out everything announced at Xbox Games Showcase June 2025.

Developing…

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Review: The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube) – A Timeless Treasure

Cel-da? Is…is that you?

In honour of the game’s arrival on Switch 2 as part of the Nintendo Classics GameCube lineup, here’s our new retro review of one of Link’s most memorable adventures…

If I were to put together a list of my favourite pre-Switch-era Zelda games, those that came before the franchise-transforming Breath of the Wild, where would 2002’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker fit in?

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

What’s on your bookshelf?: you are safe to lick the green books again edition

Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week – our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! No cool industry person this week. Instead, fantastic news: thanks to a new device that identifies trace levels of the arsenic once used to make book covers green, you can go back to laying fat St. Bernards on every sour lime flavoured tome you see, safe in the knowledge that the ones liable to give you the rare nosebleeding condition known as the ‘hungry librarian’ have been safely quarantined. Huzzah.

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