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Gaming

Gears of War E-Day Multiplayer Beta Kicks Off August 6: Here's How to Play Early

Emily Chen 0 comments 7 min read
Gears of War E-Day Multiplayer Beta Kicks Off August 6: Here's How to Play Early

The new Gears of War prequel is bringing its multiplayer to the masses sooner than expected. Xbox announced that a beta test for Gears of War: E-Day will launch on August 6, split across two separate weekends, giving players their first real chance to test the game's competitive features before its full release.

For those who want in immediately, preordering the game grants early access during the first weekend. Players who digitally preorder receive automatic Early Access without needing a beta code. Physical preorders will come with a beta code at the point of sale from participating retailers.

Game Pass subscribers get a similar perk. Anyone with an active Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass membership will also receive access during that opening August 6 weekend as part of their subscription benefits.

The wider public will get their shot at the multiplayer during the second beta weekend, though Xbox has not yet detailed exactly when that window opens or how general access will be distributed.

Preorders for the standard edition are currently live at major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Walmart at $69.99 across both physical and digital formats. The game is also available on Steam for PC at the same price point. Notably, this one stays exclusive to Xbox and PC, with no PlayStation 5 version announced.

Anyone who preorders now also locks in cosmetic bonuses: a character skin and weapon skin as preorder incentives. For those cautious about the final product, retailers like Best Buy and Amazon won't charge until the game ships in October, allowing preorders to be cancelled penalty-free if the beta experience doesn't inspire confidence.

E-Day is positioned as a prequel to the original Gears of War, meaning the multiplayer beta represents a chance to dive into a fresh chapter of the franchise's competitive scene. The game generated strong interest at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, where the focus was primarily on its campaign offering.

Author Emily Chen: "Getting hands-on time before launch matters more than ever, and splitting the beta across two weekends with early preorder access keeps the hype rolling through summer."

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