Players will get their first public chance to try Gears of War: E-Day beginning Aug. 13 as the game’s second beta weekend opens on supported platforms.
The public beta begins at noon Pacific and runs through Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. Pacific on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for PC, and Steam. No preorder is required, although Xbox Series X|S players need at least a Game Pass Essentials membership for online play.
The beta arrives less than two months before Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled for release on Oct. 6. Developer The Coalition is using the testing periods to gather feedback and make adjustments before launch, with several changes already made following the early-access weekend.
Among the updates heading into the public beta are improvements to hit detection in Horde Siege, matchmaking in Versus, connection timeouts, and overall stability. The Coalition also adjusted the Prototype Lancer after players had an opportunity to use it during the first weekend.
One of the main additions players can try is Horde Siege, a new version of the series’ long-running cooperative survival mode. Up to 12 players enter the battlefield as three COG squads, moving across larger maps while completing separate missions and fighting Locust forces.
Instead of remaining in one area and surviving wave after wave, squads move through a large battlefield where objectives can change from one mission to another. Players may be asked to secure an area, repair equipment, defend positions, or complete other assignments before clearing a landing zone and surviving long enough to extract.
The beta includes the Golden Quarter Horde Siege map, set in a damaged section of the city of Kalona. The full game is expected to launch with three Horde Siege maps, followed by additional maps, classes, missions, and other content after release.
Horde Siege changes how squads prepare for each mission. Players select from different classes with their own equipment and abilities, while teams can collect resources and decide how to use weapons, defenses, and upgrades as a match progresses.
Players looking for competition against other teams can also try the game’s 4v4 Versus multiplayer. The Coalition has brought back the same starting loadouts for both teams in Versus matches. Players begin with the same weapons and equipment rather than carrying customized weapons into competitive play.
Team Deathmatch is among the returning modes, along with other social and ranked multiplayer options. Newer players will have opportunities to become familiar with the game before entering competitive matches. E-Day includes a Boot Camp training course, while Combat Training allows players to practice on a multiplayer map while testing weapons and controls. Combat Training can also be played cooperatively with up to four players.
Players can unlock several beta rewards that will carry into the full game. Challenges include reaching player level 20, completing Horde Siege extractions, earning headshots, reviving teammates, and performing executions with the Prototype Lancer.
Players interested in joining can search for Gears Beta through Xbox, the Xbox app for PC, or Steam and download the beta client. The public test closes Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. Pacific, ahead of the full release on Oct. 6.
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