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Heather Wald

Gears of War: Reloaded – Everything you need to know about the Gears of War remaster

Gears of War: Reloaded key art.

Gears of War: Reloaded is officially out now. The remaster of the original Gears of War game that first launched almost two decades ago in 2006 got a multiplatform release for the very first time, with Reloaded coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Developer The Coalition confirmed release date times ahead of launch, with the game now live as of 8am PDT / 11 am EDT / 4pm BST, 5pm CEST on August 26.

First announced back in May, we got a more in-depth look at the exciting remaster that modernizing the classic third-person shooter during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, which followed Summer Game Fest Live 2025. With multiplayer modes, fresh features, and enhanced graphics, it's a great way to dive into the action for the first time, or revisit it on modern consoles. And if you're curious to learn more, you can read about our time tucking into the adventure on PS5.

Gears of War made a name for itself as one of the best shooters of its day, and it also kickstarted one of the biggest series for Xbox - with a sequel that's still considered to be of the best Xbox 360 games of all time. It's certainly a great time to be a Gears fan, with the upcoming Xbox Series X game, Gears of War: E-Day also set to come. And with the launch of Reloaded, the original game is well and truly back for modern audiences. If you're still debating whether to pick this one up, you can get an overview of all of the Gears of War: Reloaded's features below.

Gears of War: Reloaded release date

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Gears of War: Reloaded released on August 26, 2025.

Xbox initially confirmed the release date in the official announcement on Xbox Wire, with The Coalition studio head, Mike Crump, remarking that the upcoming launch of the remaster comes before the original Gears of War's 20th anniversary in 2026. It's great that longtime fans and newcomers alike can now step into the action before the big milestone.

Gears of War: Reloaded platforms

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

The Gears of War: Reloaded platforms have been confirmed, with the remaster now out on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. It's also available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass for subscribers.

Alongside its release on Xbox Series X, Gears of War: Reloaded launched among the upcoming PC games and upcoming PS5 games August lineup, meaning that the first Gears of War game got a multiplatform release for the very first time.

What is Gears of War: Reloaded?

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the original Gears of War game, with several enhancements and for current-gen consoles, and is described as the "definitive way to experience" Gears of War. Alongside the core campaign of the base game, Reloaded also has all of the post-launch DLC and extra content found in the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, including the bonus campaign act, all multiplayer maps and modes, and the "full roster of classic characters and cosmetics" that are unlockable as you progress.

Gears of War: Reloaded trailer

A Gears of War: Reloaded gameplay trailer dropped during the Xbox Games showcase 2025 during Summer Game Fest. Giving us a look at the impressive remaster with its enhanced textures and cross-platform support, we also see some of the iconic characters and chainsaw weapons in action. You can watch the full trailer above.

Gears of War: Reloaded features

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

The Coalition also revealed all of the Gears of War: Reloaded features that will be included. As a true remaster for current-gen consoles and PC, it boasts 4K resolution, 60FPS support in the core campaign, and 120FPS in multiplayer. It will also have High Dynamic Range (HDR), 4K assets and remastered textures, improved shadows and reflections, zero loading screens during the campaign, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound, and 7.1 3D Spatial audio, and variable refresh rate (VVR) support.

So you can expect smoother gameplay, enhanced visuals and sound, and fast loading speeds overall.

Gears of War: Reloaded multiplayer and co-op

(Image credit: Epic Games, Microsoft Game Studios)

The Coalition confirmed Gears of War: Reloaded will feature eight-player online Versus multiplayer support as well as two-player split-screen and online co-op for the main campaign.

The original Gears of War featured a wealth of different multiplayer maps and modes, including Warzone, Execution, and Annex. The complete multiplayer experience returned in the remaster, with cross-progression support across all platforms in both the campaign and multiplayer.

For a closer look at how it feels to play in online co-op, be sure to check out our Gears of War: Reloaded hands-on preview.

Will Gears of War: Reloaded support cross-play?

(Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)

Gears of War: Reloaded will support cross-play across all platforms, meaning you can team up with players across both consoles and PC. The Coalition confirmed that no Microsoft account is required to play, but "signing in with a Microsoft account unlocks full cross-platform functionality", adding that "it enables cross-progression, so your campaign and multiplayer progress carries across devices. It also allows you to send invites and play with your friends across platforms - like Xbox to PlayStation or Steam to Xbox".

Gears of War: Reloaded betas

(Image credit: The Coalition)

In the announcement confirming pre-orders following the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, The Coalition revealed that anyone who pre-ordered would also gain access to two weekend Gears of War: Reloaded multiplayer betas.

With the first beta kicking off on June 13-15, the second then followed on June 20-22 ahead of its August 2025 release date.

Gears of War: Reloaded price

(Image credit: The Coalition)

The Gears of War: Reloaded price comes in at $39.99 for all platforms, with The Coalition also confirming that anyone who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition prior to "16:00 UTC on May 5" would receive a free upgrade to Reloaded, which was delivered "prior to launch of the game via a direct message to eligible Xbox accounts".

Looking for more action? Check out our pick of the best FPS games you can play right now.

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