Gears E-Day Open Beta Is Free to Play August 13

The Gears of War E-Day beta opens to everyone on Xbox Series X|S and PC on August 13, 2026, at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET. The free test runs through August 17 and does not require a preorder. Gamers can try the new 12-person Horde Siege mode and 4v4 Versus before the full game launches on October 6. Gears of War’s official beta FAQ confirms that both multiplayer modes will be available during the open weekend.

The first early-access weekend ended on August 10, so this second weekend is the one to watch if you skipped the preorder.

Gears of War E-Day Beta Dates and Times

The open beta begins Thursday, August 13 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET and ends Monday, August 17 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.

Unlike the August 6 early-access test, the second weekend is open regardless of preorder status.

You can play on:

• Xbox Series X
• Xbox Series S
• PC through the Xbox app
• PC through Steam

Xbox console gamers still need at least Game Pass Essentials for online multiplayer. Steam does not require an Xbox or Microsoft account unless you want to send cross-platform squad invites.

Xbox gamers can also check the latest Xbox Game Pass changes before deciding which plan makes sense for E-Day.Eventide Gaming has also covered Xbox Game Pass price changes, which may be useful if you are comparing Xbox subscription options before E-Day launches.

How to Download the E-Day Open Beta

The easiest way to find the beta is to search for Gears Beta once the open weekend becomes available.

Gears of War says the beta client will be available through the Xbox Store, Xbox app for PC, and Steam with no preorder required for the August 13 weekend.

If you already played during early access, you do not have to start completely over. Challenge progress, rewards, class progression, medals, and your player level carry from the first beta weekend into the open weekend.

Horde Siege Brings 12 Gamers Into One Battle

The biggest new mode is Horde Siege, a 12-person version of Gears’ wave-based PvE formula.

Instead of one small squad holding a single position, three COG squads operate across a much larger battlefield. Each squad receives missions while fighting through the same larger battle before eventually reaching an extraction.

The beta includes the Golden Quarter Horde Siege map. The full game is planned to launch with three Horde Siege maps, with additional content coming after release. The Coalition’s multiplayer breakdown also confirms four classes will be available during the beta and at launch.

It sounds closer to several Gears squads fighting through one active warzone instead of the classic “sit here and survive the waves” setup.

4v4 Versus Is Included Too

Traditional Gears multiplayer is not disappearing.

Versus returns as 4v4, with equal starting equipment and no weapon mods. The Coalition says the focus remains on skill, teamwork, map weapons, and making smart decisions during a match.

That makes this beta useful for two very different groups. Horde fans can test the much larger Siege format, while competitive gamers can see how E-Day’s movement and combat changes feel against other people.

Beta Rewards Can Carry Into the Full Game

There are several rewards you can unlock during the beta, including a character skin, weapon skin set, banner, emblem, icon, medal, and player title.

Some require specific challenges, such as reaching level 20, getting 25 headshots, completing revives, or extracting from Horde Siege multiple times. The official beta page lists every challenge and reward.

These unlocked beta rewards will carry into the full game.

Your normal class progression, player level, and other medal progress will not. Those will reset when E-Day launches.

PC Gamers Should Update Their Drivers First

PC gamers should check their drivers before Thursday.

The current beta requires at least:

• AMD driver 26.7.1
• Intel driver 101.8864
• NVIDIA Game Ready Driver 610.74

The Coalition specifically warns that the beta will not launch with older NVIDIA drivers. The beta also has known performance issues, crashes, controller problems on Steam, and a temporary 150 FPS cap.

Those are beta limitations, not confirmed limitations for the finished game.

The Open Beta Is the Easy Weekend to Try E-Day

You do not need to preorder Gears of War: E-Day just to see whether its multiplayer works for you.

Download Gears Beta on August 13, try Horde Siege and Versus, and then decide whether the full October 6 release deserves a spot in your library.

Are you jumping into Horde Siege first, or heading straight for 4v4 Versus?