This Gears Of War: Reloaded guide is a complete listing of all 33 COG Tag locations, spread over 19 Chapters between the five story Acts.

Act I: Ashes

Chapter: 14 Years after E-Day

1. No matter which path you choose, you will find the first Tag immediately
2. The room where the Locust breach the door
3. Through the breached door, bear left and up some stairs, and left again

Chapter: Trial By Fire

1. The open space after the entering the first building
2. At the exit of the next building, on the left

Chapter: Fish in a Barrel

1. At the fountain

Chapter: Knock Knock

1. Towards the front end of the white van abandoned on the stairway

Chapter: Hammer

1. In the first building with the Wretches, go up the stairs, then down the corridor till the very end
2. In the next building after using the Hammer of Dawn, through the sprayed door, then down

Chapter: China Shop

1. Right around the starting location
2. Near the exit of the final room during the Berserker sequence
3. Out in the open from the previous location, bear left

Act II: Nightfall

Chapter: Grist

1. Go down stairs, and over the stone barrier
2. Descend the stairway and look around underneath it
3. On the left sidewalk just in front of the settlement

Chapter: Lethal Dusk

1. In a shed, immediately after learning about explosive tanks
2. At the end of the spotlight sequence, scan around the starting location

Chapter: Dark Labyrinth

1. Outside the exit of the building, to the front of the sprayed car on the right

Act III: Belly of the Beast

Chapter: Downpour

1. Look for a building marked with a ‘3’ on the right and head down its right to the very end of the path

Chapter: Evolution

1. In the wooden floorboard section, bear right at the entrance and around the generator
2. Go downstairs, before pushing the button

Chapter: Darkest Before Dawn

1. Head right instead of left, after the platform section
2. The building on the right, after sliding downhill
3. At the entrance of the cave before the Corpser encounter

Act IV: The Long Road Home

Chapter: Campus Grinder

1. Post-combat, return to the starting location and check around the short stairs

Chapter: Bad to Worse

1. Right at the start, near the truck wreck

Chapter: Imaginary Place

1. In the destructible wooden desk in the library

Act V: The Long Road Home

Chapter: Comedy of Errors

1. Through the partially open gate in the gardens

Chapter: Window Shopping

1. Head in the opposite direction, to the bottom of the stairway in the parking structure

Chapter: Jurassic Proportions

1. At the start of the Brumak encounter, near the barriers around the other side

Chapter: Train Wreck

1. Plainly visible on the ground on the other side of the breached train door
2. In the third train carriage, just prior to climbing the ladder
3. In the fifth train carriage, press the second button then head through the now cleared platform area and back inside the sprayed carriage, following the path down to the far end where another button awaits

If you have missed out on any COG Tags during a previous run, you can simply load up the relevant chapter with chapter select and play long enough to acquire the missing Tags.

Three of the related trophies/achievements are gained after collecting 11, 22, and 33 COG Tags, and are “Time to Remember”, “Honor-Bound”, and “For the Fallen” respectively. “G-reader” is earned for simply reading the entirety of a comic.

Those are the locations of all 33 COG Tag collectibles in Gears Of War: Reloaded.

It took me back to an era of gaming in which straightforward storylines and mechanics were a thing, with more focused experiences as a result. Getting to play Reloaded on my PS5 ahead of the release of Gears of War: E-Day was a treat, and not just because it’s a solid game that’s a lot of fun to play.

The Gears franchise’s PlayStation debut is quite important in the broader context of a gaming industry that’s gradually moving away from console exclusivity, a factor that used to be a pillar of the value propositions that manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft have long relied on to boost their sales.

It also highlights how the PlayStation has become a very viable vehicle for well-crafted single player experiences – a detail made all the more significant by the PlayStation 5’s advanced haptics and improved capability for great visuals on its games.

It led me to ponder why a franchise that’s had such strong roots on the Xbox felt so natural to play on the PlayStation. And that’s why we’re here. Let’s dive in!

So Surreal That It Feels Unreal

Given that Reloaded presents a remastered version of the Ultimate Edition of Gears of War, I was expecting it to be quite a visual treat already. But The Coalition, Sumo Digital, and Disbelief have done a stellar job of using the power of Unreal Engine to bring a more immersive lighting system to Reloaded.

That worked very well with the improved resolution and framerates, allowing for an experience that felt brand new and even had me wistfully thinking that this was a game that deserved a full-blown remake. Those improvements and the PS5’s innate capability for blazingly fast load times courtesy of its SSD, along with 3D audio and the Dualsense 5’s haptics, made Reloaded feel like it was made for the PS5 all along. And hearing radio conversations play out on my controller’s speaker was a really cool touch!

All of these improvements made Reloaded achieve a level of responsiveness and immersion that the original release on the Xbox 360 simply could not have imitated, thanks to the technology that made all of it possible not existing at the time. That’s a fact that showcases just how much the PlayStation has earned its reputation as a console that makes great single-player titles feel so much better than its rivals.

But I couldn’t help but wonder if it was all in my head.

The PlayStation Perception

I’ve been fortunate to witness the console wars at their peak, and even felt a pang for how the latest iterations of Xbox have failed to keep up with the PlayStation 5 despite being quite capable consoles in their own right.

Personally, I believe that part of the reason for that perception is that younger players who may not have had the chance to be a part of the Xbox’s golden age now see the PlayStation as the console of choice for those who want to enjoy single-player titles without having to worry too much about whether their console can handle them.

That’s further exacerbated by the PS5 Pro, which makes an already powerful console even more formidable. Reloaded can achieve up to 120fps on the Pro in multiplayer, for instance, which would certainly be a blessing in a title that requires careful movements and well-placed shots to get ahead.

Even at 60fps, I found the experience to be so much better than it was when I first played Gears all those years ago on my best friend’s Xbox 360, lamenting the fact that I could not join the fun on my PS3. But things have changed now, and Reloaded feels like a title that’s right up there with Sony’s greatest hits.

Gears of War may very well leave its Xbox-exclusive identity behind. And that may be a good thing if the current approach to console exclusivity from Sony and Microsoft is any indication.

A New Home

With Microsoft moving away from console exclusives and even Sony gradually testing the waters by releasing PC ports of its greatest hits, it’s clear that the gaming industry is moving away from what it was 15 years ago.

Back then, the Xbox was the console to buy if you liked shooters, and the PlayStation favored cinematic experiences that blended sheer scale with narratives that stayed with you long after you were done with them. While that has gradually changed over the years, the clearest signs of changing times are how cinematic titles that were once exclusive to the Xbox have made their way to PlayStation.

Senua’s Saga immediately comes to mind, with its Enhanced Edition making great use of the PS5 and PS5 Pro’s advanced capabilities to present an experience that pushed the boundaries of what a video game can offer its players. Reloaded is another milestone in that journey, allowing the PlayStation to cement its reputation as a console that can handle blockbuster releases with relative ease and subsequently, with style.

That focus on spectacle, and its presentation, aligns perfectly with Reloaded’s emphasis on grand set pieces and shootouts against the Locust hordes that sustain the tension right from the start until you roll the credits on its main campaign. It’s a level of narrative quality that has not only withstood the test of time, but feels almost perfect for the PlayStation, given the manner in which Sony’s console exclusives have always upped the ante when it comes to the experiences they aim to present.

There are a plethora of excellent stories that the PlayStation has brought to life, such as Kratos’ battles against both the Greek and Norse pantheons in God of War, Aloy’s attempts to bridge the past and present in the Horizon franchise, or Nathan Drake’s many hunts for valuable relics from the past in Uncharted, or even Joel and Ellie’s riveting yet melancholy adventures in The Last of Us. I could keep going, but you get the point. 

Marcus Fenix now joins the illustrious ranks of these excellent protagonists, and if I’m being honest, it feels like he was just hovering in the background of that prestigious stage, just waiting for the spotlight to shine on him and his ragtag crew of battle-hardened soldiers.

I’m so joyful that the PS5 has managed to usher him into the fold and let him take his place among some of the greatest names from my many years of playing video games. But is that going to be the norm, or the exception? For my part, I’m hoping it’s the former and there are a few reasons why.

All Paths Lead to the PlayStation

That’s because it creates avenues that could be very beneficial to various facets of the gaming industry as a whole.

Let’s begin with the Gears franchise. Having a presence on a platform as popular as the PlayStation currently is could be an opportunity to expand its fanbase beyond Xbox loyalists, and perhaps even bridge the gap between them and PlayStation fans. Reloaded’s multiplayer options and its emphasis on cross-platform compatibility are a great indication of this, showcasing how the franchise’s greatest strengths are now available to a wide range of players. It could spell great news for E-Day when it makes its way into our hands.

For Sony, having franchises that were once outside of the PlayStation’s reach make their way to it is an opportunity to reinforce its dominance over the single-player blockbuster space. It’s going to be interesting to see if other developers begin to make their games available to PlayStation players in the near future.

Conversely, it could validate Sony’s decision to take its own exclusives to platforms like the PC after they have been given sufficient time to shine on the PlayStation. It’s a tactic that has worked well for franchises like Horizon and Uncharted, and for individual games like Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, allowing each release to earn an extended shelf life quite organically.

For players, it further blurs the lines between console-exclusive titles, effectively spelling out an end to console wars and the rise of the gaming community that enjoys the best titles together. That could lead to larger franchises down the line, as the presence of more potential players could help developers take on ambitious projects with bold new ideas. 

It’s what I would call a win-win-win situation all around. To me, Gears of War: Reloaded isn’t just an impressive release that’s technically sound enough to be a great PS5 title. It’s a symbol of what Sony’s powerhouse can do outside of running visually stunning games. It presents the PlayStation as a bridge between platforms and a console that makes the debut of games from other platforms feel almost inevitable when they make their way to it.

It makes me feel like the PlayStation is just a great home for great games and franchises.. And it doesn’t matter if they were born elsewhere. Now, excuse me while I power up my PS5 and take on another adventure that I’m going to talk about incessantly for the next few weeks.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

With its availability on Game Pass and as a free upgrade for those who own the Ultimate Edition, those likely contribute to a significant chunk of players. On PC, Reloaded peaked at 4,819 concurrent Steam players and currently, only 53 percent of user reviews are positive, resulting in a “Mixed” reception. It also seems that split-screen co-op, previously advertised on the Steam page, isn’t actually included.

That’s not factoring in the technical issues, such as crashes from changing graphics settings and login issues with one’s Microsoft account (which doesn’t occur on the Microsoft Store version). While the latter’s status is unknown, The Coalition confirmed that start-up crashes have been fixed and players can access the Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud pre-order skins.

Stay tuned for more updates, and in the meantime, check out our review of the PS5 version.

As an upgrade/remaster, Reloaded included everything from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, from multiplayer maps and various characters to the DLC. The biggest enhancements include support for 4K resolution with updated textures, 60 FPS in the campaign (with no loading screens), 120 FPS in multiplayer, and cross-platform play.

Cross-progression is also enabled for those who log in with their Microsoft account. Check out our review of the title and whether it’s worth it.

The next game in the series, Gears of War: E-Day, will launch next year for PC and Xbox Series X/S. It’s a prequel focusing on Marcus Fenix and Dom after the Pendulum Wars, when the Locust first emerge and wreak havoc on humanity.

And yet, here we are. Gears of War: Reloaded is planting its flag deep in PlayStation territory. This is a tectonic shift – an emblem of generational loyalty dissolving.  This isn’t just a game arriving late to a new platform. It’s Marcus Fenix curb-stomping Microsoft’s once-unshakable identity, ushering in a new generation of players.

However, Fenix and co. kicking down the doors of PlayStation’s house shouldn’t be seen solely as a coup for Sony. Yes, Gears of War is arguably Microsoft’s most recognised multi-platform  release to date, and evidently legions of PlayStation players have been itching to get their hands on Gears’ trailblazing brand of gritty third-person warfare with Reloaded currently topping the PS Store’s pre-order charts. No, this isn’t just a win for Sony; it’s a prescient signal of post-exclusivity gaming. Gears of War: Reloaded on PS5 is the boldest step yet towards a future where exclusivity is increasingly archaic.

Together with the success of Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Sony’s console, the door is wide open for Halo to walk through. Once Master Chief crosses the fold, will Microsoft and Sony’s generations-deep console war finally be over?

Before we reach that point, we have Gears’ impending arrival on PlayStation to discuss. To understand why this moment feels so seismic, we need to cast our minds back to Gears of Wars’ explosive debut in 2006. Set on the war-torn planet of Sera, and introducing players to the fearsome, subterranean Locust Horde, the game fused militaristic sci-fi with existential horror like never before. Its beating heart was the now-iconic Lancer Rifle and chainsaw bayonet; a symbol of its unapologetic savagery.

Mechanically groundbreaking too; Gears’ cover-based shooting, active reloads, and thunderous ‘roadie runs’ redefined third-person shooters – from The Last of Us to Tom Clancy’s The Division, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine, countless titles since have borrowed from or iterated upon Gears of Wars’ design.

In the years before Microsoft embraced its multi-platform strategy, their goal was to build first-party games compelling enough to sell hardware. In the run-up to Starfield, Bethesda’s Todd Howard spoke openly of the pressure for exclusives to shift not just copies but Xbox consoles too. Gears of War, back in 2006, achieved exactly this. An undeniable platform seller, like Halo: Combat Evolved before it, Gears of War is synonymous with the hardware it released on. Anecdotally, Marcus Fenix’s blood-soaked debut propelled Xbox 360 sales throughout its launch window and into the holiday season.

Its commercial and critical success led to a full-blown trilogy. Arriving in 2008, Gears of War 2 was bigger in scale and scope, introducing newfound emotional depth to the series in its portrayal of brotherly bonds forged through war. 2011’s Gears of War 3 concluded the trilogy with aplomb, refining gameplay further with the introduction of 4-player co-op. Alongside Halo and Forza, Gears of War had established itself as a pillar of Xbox’s brand.

Come 2014, Microsoft had acquired the rights to the IP from Epic and installed Vancouver-based The Coalition to relaunch the series into a new dawn. 2016’s Gears of War 4 began a new saga, introducing JD Fenix – Marcus’ son – to the fold. Released in 2019, Gears 5 expanded gameplay further whilst shifting narrative focus to Kait Diaz. The most accomplished Gears of War title to date, widespread discussions and theorising of its ending reflect Gears’ wider cultural influence, where spin-offs, novels, comics, plus an upcoming animated series and Netflix-created live-action movie are expanding the franchise’s universe.

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbusting original, fully optimised for modern hardware. Included is the original campaign plus bonus act, multiplayer maps, characters, and cosmetics. Full cross-play and cross-progression is enabled at launch. Newcomers have the option for streamlined, modernised controls whilst veterans of the series can relive the series’ classic feel via an authentic layout.

Game feel is the big one for PS5 players. Thankfully, concerns that Gears of War: Reloaded might be a bare-bones port can be laid to rest – The Coalition has clearly optimised the experience for Sony’s hardware. DualSense support includes immersive haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, adding new layers of tactile sensation to every reload, recoil, and chainsaw rev. Comms chatter bleeds through the DualSense’s speaker, whilst during multiplayer matches the light ribbon glows blue for COG or red for Locust in a subtle touch that adds to immersion.

Reloaded is also enhanced for PS5 Pro, with The Coalition confirming PSSR support alongside improved shadow and reflection quality. The opportunity for PlayStation players to engage with the game as if it was originally developed for their chosen platform is reassuring, reinforcing Microsoft’s commitment to a meaningful multi-platform strategy which embraces platform-native integration beyond basic ports.

Does Gears of War: Reloaded landing on PlayStation present broader implications for the industry? Analysts suggest Microsoft’s multi-platform strategy is proving commercially successful; releasing games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch is generating revenue beyond the traditional Xbox ecosystem. The question now is will Sony follow suit? Helldivers 2, a Sony property, is coming to Xbox Series X|S on August 26th, indicating that, from the Japanese giant’s side, gaps in console exclusivity are set to shrink further. The watershed moment will be if PlayStation’s legacy franchises make their way over to Xbox – Uncharted, Gran Turismo, or even more contemporary classics like Horizon or Astro Bot.

Multi-platform’s erosion of generational loyalty is diminishing Microsoft’s identity, but in its place is a service-first approach, particularly in their continuing push to support Game Pass with a ‘Play Anywhere’ ethos.

Reports suggest Sony is gearing up to produce their own handheld which includes local playback and dedicated processing power; stronger connective tissue to the PlayStation ecosystem beyond the PS5’s PlayStation Portal, thereby replicating Microsoft’s ‘Play Anywhere’ policy to an extent. The toughest nut to crack will be whether they’re willing to share their first-party titles beyond PlayStation.

However, a job listing posted at Sony Interactive Entertainment suggests just that: a “critical leadership role in shaping and executing the global commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across all digital platforms” is how the job reads as advertised. There doesn’t seem any other way to interpret this other than Sony is putting the building blocks in place to spread their first-party titles to Xbox and Switch, and perhaps even to mobile and PC via the Epic Games Store.

The biggest grey area shrouding all this theorising is Sony’s current stance on live-service titles. Yes, numerous high-profile titles such as Concord and The Last of Us Online have been cancelled, but Sony hasn’t given up on the model entirely. Moving forward, their approach is to shift focus towards tighter targeting and control. Releasing live-service titles beyond the PlayStation network doesn’t exactly fit in with this strategy.

That said, Gears of War: Reloaded emerging on PS5 tells us that predicting what will happen in the future is a fool’s errand. At one stage, the very idea one of Microsoft’s prime properties would cross such dividing lines was unthinkable. Now, it’s a reality; less a defection, more a symbolic realisation that the walls are crumbling. It’s a monumental event for PlayStation and PS5, sure, but more significant perhaps is where the industry goes from here.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Along with this, the studio has also confirmed that the Canals map will also be part of the beta. The second beta will be kicked off on June 20 at noon pm PDT, and will go on until Sunday, June 22, 9 pm PDT (instead of noon as previously planned).

“We heard you,” posted the studio on social media. “More maps. More modes. More time. This weekend’s Multiplayer beta has been extended and Execution will now be playable along with King of the Hill.”

The first beta took place over the previous weekend, from June 13 to June 15, and was available to anyone who had pre-ordered Gears of War: Reloaded. The beta is also available to those who have subscribed to either Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, as well as those that already own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.

Gears of War: Reloaded was originally announced back in May, and will be coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 26. The title, priced at $39.99, has been described by Xbox Game Studios as a “celebration” of the seminal shooter that first made its debut on the Xbox 360 all the way back in 2006. It is also worth noting that players that already own Gears of War: Ultimate Edition will get Reloaded as a free upgrade.

In a podcast earlier this month, technical director Kate Rayner and studio head Mike Crump spoke about the development of Gears of War: Reloaded, including things like how much of an improvement it offers over the original in terms of visuals, as well as how much work has gone into improving the infrastructure required to support its multiplayer modes.

“It’s fully remastered and enhanced to take advantage of modern hardware,” said Rayner. “Going back to the original, we’ve increased the resolution by 900 percent, 9x, and doubled the frame rate. Campaign running at 60 frames per second now, and multiplayer supporting 60 as well as 120 frames per second. We support variable refresh rate, we support native high-dynamic range lighting, and we’ve also unlocked 4K assets and ultra-resolution textures that were not in the original console versions of the game.”

“We have 7.1.4 3D spatial audio, and we’ve improved the lighting, the shadows, and reflections, and really have pushed the quality of this title to be a full remaster on every device that it’s shipping on.”

When it comes to multiplayer, Rayner confirmed that Gears of War: Reloaded will have dedicated PvP servers in more data centres all over the world, which will all poll for data at a frequency of 60 Hz to make gameplay feel more responsive.

“It’s fully remastered and enhanced to take advantage of modern hardware,” said Rayner when asked whether Gears of War: Reloaded is a remake or a remaster. “Going back to the original, we’ve increased the resolution by 900 percent, 9x, and doubled the frame rate. Campaign running at 60 frames per second now, and multiplayer supporting 60 as well as 120 frames per second. We support variable refresh rate, we support native high-dynamic range lighting, and we’ve also unlocked 4K assets and ultra-resolution textures that were not in the original console versions of the game.”

“We have 7.1.4 3D spatial audio, and we’ve improved the lighting, the shadows, and reflections, and really have pushed the quality of this title to be a full remaster on every device that it’s shipping on.”

The podcast also features some examples of the original Gears of War, running at 720p and 30 frames per second on the Xbox 360, compared to the upgraded visuals and frame rates of Gears of War: Reloaded. The example shows off an early part of the game’s opening level, and also gives us a look at the Ultimate Edition release of Gears of War which ran at 1080p and 30 frames per second.

“And then we have the Reloaded version running at full 4K, with 60 frames per second, and you can see a lot of details from the enhancements we have,” explained Rayner. “You can see like the carbon fibre in Marcus’s armour. You can see the enhanced texture details with the normal maps and the 4K textures in the environment, and you can also see the reflections off the pond, right? Those reflections are real time.”

On the multiplayer side of things, Rayner has confirmed that Gears of War: Reloaded will have a fully modernised back end system to support online multiplayer and matchmaking. This includes the dedicated servers built for PvP multiplayer getting an expansion in the form of more data centres all over the world. The servers also poll for data at a frequency of 60 Hz, further reducing the latency that players will face.

The PC version of Gears of War: Reloaded will also be quite optimised, with Rayner pointing out that the PC release of the title isn’t merely a port. “We’ve optimised the game for what players expect on PC,” she said. “We have uncapped frame rates, we have 4K, but also 5K ultra-wide resolution, we adapt the game to whatever resolution of whatever device that you run on. We have quite a lot of work in scalability to be able to support all the different devices that are out there including gaming laptops and PC gaming handhelds.”

Gears of War: Reloaded is coming to PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 26. The game will also be getting a multiplayer beta from June 13 onwards.

The first beta weekend kicks off at noon PST and features Team Deathmatch on three maps: Gridlock, Raven Down and Gold Rush. In the second beta weekend, you can look forward to the addition of Courtyard and War Machine for TDM alongside Canals in King of the Hill. Cross-play will also be enabled.

As previously announced, multiplayer supports up to 120 frames per second, which should provide a smoother competitive experience (provided you have a supporting monitor). Gears of War: Reloaded launches on August 26th for $39.99 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC alongside Game Pass, and includes every bit of content in the Ultimate Edition and any post-launch additions.

Launching for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on August 26th, the remaster offers 4K assets, improved textures, and improvements to shadows and reflections. It also supports 60 FPS during the campaign and 120 FPS in multiplayer with Variable Refresh Rate. You can also expect all the content from the Ultimate Edition, though current owners can avail of the remaster for free.

Gears of War: Reloaded costs $39.99 and includes cross-platform co-op/multiplayer and cross-save progression. It will also be available on day one for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Unfortunately, there weren’t any details about a potential beta, which emerged on SteamDB late last month. Stay tuned for more details and announcements in the meantime.

The download size is apparently 12.57 GB with the full installation requiring 15.42 GB. Assuming it’s real, the beta could be to test out the game’s multiplayer before launch. Though it features all the content from Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, Reloaded adds 120 frames per second support, cross-platform co-op and multiplayer, and cross-progression (which requires a Microsoft account).

The beta may be announced at the upcoming Xbox Games Showcase on June 8th, so stay tuned for more details. Gears of War: Reloaded launches on August 26th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC and offers 4K assets and textures, improved post-processing and shadows, and more. It retails for $39.99, but those who own the Ultimate Edition can upgrade for free.