If you’ve never had the chance to play one of modern gaming’s most iconic titles simply due to the fact that you never owned an Xbox, you might already be considering picking up Gears of War: Reloaded. The 2006 title that started it all is finally making its way to the PlayStation 5, aside from its debut on Steam, in addition to the Xbox Series X|S.
This current-gen remaster of the original title is a great way to dive into a story that has since snowballed into a franchise that built a massive narrative centered on the fictional planet of Sera. With Gears of War: E-Day set to take the story back in time to when the Locusts first attacked the COG, Reloaded is a great starting point for anyone looking to dive into the adventure and meet Marcus Fenix for the first time.
If you’re on the fence about diving into the PS5 or PS5 Pro, here are a few details that could help you make your choice.
1. A Bunch of Graphical Upgrades
While Reloaded may seem quite similar on paper to 2016’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, it brings a ton of graphical upgrades over that version. For instance, Reloaded supports 4K resolution, HDR, and VRR while offering up to 120 fps in its multiplayer modes and 60fps in its campaign modes. In addition, it also comes with Dolby Vision and Dolby Audio support, making it a great way to enjoy the classic title with the power of current-gen hardware.
That’s quite a long list of upgrades that make Reloaded a solid offering from The Coalition.
2. A Massive File Size
You might want to clear up some space on your PS5’s hard drive before you pick up your copy, as the game is set to take up 63.103GB of your storage. If you preorder your copy, you can begin preloading the game 5 days before its August 26, 2025, release in case your internet connection isn’t going to be quick enough to download the title in a single day.
Those graphical upgrades seem quite hefty, all things considered.
3. Bring a Few Buddies Along
For those of you diving in for the first time, you always have the option of calling in a few friends if the Locusts prove too much of a threat for Fenix and his ragtag group of operatives. Cross-play and save progression are going to be quite seamless across platforms, allowing you to make full use of the game’s multiplayer features and perhaps bring along some franchise veterans to help you along on your journey.
It’s going to be great to see Gears of War finally transcend platform exclusivity and have the entire gaming world enjoy its incredible story together.
4. Zero Loading Screens In Campaign Mode
Taking advantage of the PS5’s SSD, Gears of War: Reloaded is leaving loading screens in the past, as it should. The campaign mode is set to be a seamless experience from start to finish, making it all the more immersive in the process.
It’s a long leap from the original version that was released for the Xbox 360, making Reloaded feel like a new game despite it being a remake of the original.
5. PS5 Pro Enhanced – PSSR Support
The Coalition has confirmed that Gears of War: Reloaded is PS5 Pro Enhanced, although details of what improvements those enhancements will bring are currently scarce. However, the studio has confirmed that the remaster will support PSSR, which is the PS5 Pro’s AI-enabled upscaling of image resolution in games that support it.
While your mileage with it may vary based on your display’s capabilities, it’s good to know that Reloaded has been built to last. The Coalition is clearly making the most of its flagship franchise’s debut on other platforms ahead of E-Day’s release.
6. It’s a Remaster, Not a Remake
We thought it best to reiterate that Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the original 2006 classic and not a remake. That means that there will be no major changes from the original game if you happen to have played it in the past, other than its revamped graphics. Enemy designs will remain the same, although they continue to give us the shivers even after all these years, while all of the original game’s quirks will still be present in the new release.
However, it is almost certain to be the definitive way to experience the original title in all its glory and then some, considering its visuals now look excellent and a lot more immersive than what they were back in the day. Given that the Ultimate Edition was already a remake in all but name, Reloaded is going to be the definitive way to experience the story that started it all. And that’s a good thing.
7. Comms In The Palms Of Your Hands
A nifty change from the original or Ultimate Editions is that Reloaded makes use of the DualSense 5’s built-in speaker to play all incoming comms. It’s a nice touch that the original release could not achieve, and is sure to find many takers in both the campaign and multiplayer modes once the game is in its players’ hands.
While it may not be a massive change, The Coalition deserves credit for making good use of every tool at its disposal to make Reloaded stand out.
8. Dualsense 5 Haptics Support
While we’re on the subject of using every trick in the book to deliver a better experience, Reloaded is slated to support the DualSense 5’s advanced haptics, making every shot from your weapon count where it matters the most and adding another layer of immersion that previous versions of Gears of War simply could not replicate.
We can’t wait to see how the Lancer Assault Rifle comes alive in our hands when we first take on the Locusts on the field of battle!
9. All DLC Is Included
Another feather in Reloaded’s cap is that it includes all of the content from the Ultimate Edition, which means that you get access to the game’s DLC right off the bat. That includes extra maps, more story missions, skins and cosmetics, and a whole lot more.
It’s great to have Gears of War’s PS5 debut come with everything that has made it such a great title all in one place for its new bunch of players to enjoy.
10. New Control Layout
The Coalition is certainly doing its best to keep up with the times, offering a new control layout for players looking to wet their toes in the vast ocean that is the Gears of War franchise. The new control layout is sure to reflect the evolution of shooters over the years, allowing players to make better use of the cover system in the game in ways that its previous iterations could not.
However, for those of you who would like to experience the original game just the way it was in the past, there is the option to keep its classic control scheme active for your time in Sera.
11. Light On Your Wallet
If you’re worried about having to fork over a hefty amount of cash for the chance to accompany Marcus on his adventures, The Coalition has you covered, Gears of War: Reloaded comes with a modest $39.99 price tag, leaving you some breathing room to perhaps consider another game to add to your library once you’re done with it.
For a title that has so much to offer with its thriving community of players, that’s a pretty good deal in our book.
12. Physical Copies Are Available For Pre-order
If digital games aren’t your thing, you can pre-order a physical copy of Gears of War: Reloaded and dive into the action as soon as you like. Once again, kudos to The Coalition for ensuring that the franchise’s debut is as accessible as it can be to a wide range of players with varying preferences.
13. 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio Support
If you like gaming with a home theater system handling your console’s audio output, you’re in for a treat with Reloaded. With full support for Dolby Atmos and Spatial Audio, the remaster is sure to be a delight, considering how The Locusts come at you with everything they have.
Being able to tell the direction from which enemies are attacking you is sure to round out the immersion that the game’s updated visuals, DualSense integration, and revamped controls are set to bring to its campaign and multiplayer modes.
14. Multiplayer Madness
While the campaign in Gears of War: Reloaded has quite the story to tell you, its multiplayer modes are nothing to be scoffed at either. Having cross-platform support is going to be such a blessing, considering that you could join games in which there could be up to eight players in versus more. There’s also 2-player split-screen if you want to tackle the adventure with your best mate from your couch, or even play through it online if that’s how you do things.
There’s a whole lot of options, and the likelihood of a ton of players enjoying them once the game is out.
As a bonus, in case you’re looking to dive into the fray from your Xbox Series X|S or PC, you will be pleased to know that if you’ve preordered the Ultimate Edition before the 5th of May, 2025, at 16:00 UTC, you get a free upgrade code that lets you enjoy Reloaded for free. Look for an upgrade code in your messages and follow the instructions to enjoy the new title in all its glory.
And that’s everything you need to know before you pick up Gears of War: Reloaded and enjoy a blast from modern gaming’s past that is sure to keep you entertained for a long time to come. See you in Sera, fellow COG warriors!
