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.

At least that’s what activity from retailer GAME España seems to be suggesting.  Caught by a Resetera user, the remastered third-person shooter’s page on the retailer’s website (which has since been taken down) listed upcoming an upcoming physical release for the title on PS5 and PC, but not on Xbox Series X. When asked about the same on Twitter, the retailer responded that it has currently only received release confirmations on PS5 and PC, throwing a physical Xbox launch into doubt.

Of course, this is far from an official confirmation, but given how heavily Microsoft has de-emphasized physical media on Xbox of late, it does set off some alarm bells, especially if you like to make physical purchases.

Gears of War: Reloaded is due out on August 26 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Having already confirmed that Gears of War: Reloaded will feature full cross-platform multiplayer and cross-progression across all platforms, Microsoft has now also stated that the third-person shooter won’t require a Microsoft account – with some caveats.

Those looking to play cross-platform co-op or versus multiplayer will be able to do so with and against players on all platforms without needing to sign in with a Microsoft account. That said, those with an account will get some benefits, such as support for cross-progression in the campaign and multiplayer across all platforms for those who want to hop across platforms without losing progress.

Gears of War: Reloaded is due out on August 26 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for $39.99.