Gears of War: E-Day’s multiplayer beta tests are scheduled to begin in August, according to an announcement from Xbox Game Studios. The beta will be available to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC players ahead of the game’s launch on 6 October 2026.
The beta process will include two distinct periods. The first beta weekend runs from 6 August at 12:00pm PT through to 10 August at 10:00am PT, and will be accessible to players who have pre-ordered the game digitally or are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. The second beta weekend, from 13 August at 12:00pm PT to 17 August at 10:00am PT, will open to all players on eligible platforms regardless of pre-order status.
Players on Xbox who wish to participate in the beta must have an Xbox Game Essentials subscription or higher. PC players on Steam do not require an Xbox or Microsoft account to play, but must link their Steam and Xbox accounts via the beta menu to participate in cross-play with Xbox users.
Details of Multiplayer Content in the Beta
The beta will feature two core multiplayer modes: Horde Siege and a 4v4 Versus experience. Horde Siege mode will offer one map with four classes and two invasion events, while the full game will expand this with three maps, four classes, and four invasion bosses. Versus mode in the beta includes two maps and two modes, compared to the full release which will have six maps and four modes.
The beta content caps character class levels at 10 and player levels at 50, while the full launch supports class levels to 30 and player levels to 100 with multiple re-up ranks. All weapons available in the beta will carry over to the full game, along with a limited set of character customisation options. Progression-based medals are largely restricted in the beta, offering only five medals compared to over 80 in the final version.
Exclusive Beta Rewards and Challenges
Players completing certain challenges during the beta will unlock exclusive rewards usable both in the beta and the full release. Rewards include the Epic Blast Damage Mags character skin unlocked at player level 20, a Rare Crush the Bug weapon skin set earned by extracting from Horde Siege eight times on Infantry difficulty or higher, and various banners, emblems, and icons obtained through performance tasks such as headshots, revives, and executing enemies with the Prototype Lancer chainsaw.
Additionally, participants will receive the Open Beta Medal and the First in the Fight title simply by launching the multiplayer beta test.
PC Requirements for the Beta
The Coalition has also provided PC specifications recommended for running the multiplayer beta. Minimum requirements include an AMD Ryzen 5 2600X or Intel i7-6850K processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600 graphics card, 12GB RAM, and an SSD with 80GB free storage. The game requires Windows 10 or 11 (version 22H2 or later). Recommended specs call for an AMD Ryzen 5 5600 or Intel i5-11600K CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT GPU, 16GB RAM, and the same storage and OS requirements.
Players must update to NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready Driver 610.74 before running the beta to avoid launch issues. The Coalition has noted these requirements are specific to the beta and that final PC specifications will be confirmed closer to the full launch date.
