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Short answer
The beta ended on August 17, 2026; its rewards carry over
The open beta ran across two weekends in August 2026 and is closed. The first, from August 6 to 10, was early access for people who had pre-ordered and for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members. The second, from August 13 to 17, was open to everyone with no pre-order or membership.
No further beta has been announced. The full game is in early access now and launches for everyone on October 6. Cosmetic rewards you earned in the beta are in your inventory at launch; levels and class progress were reset.
- Early access weekend
- August 6–10, 2026
- Open weekend
- August 13–17, 2026
- Status
- Closed
Beta schedule and access
| Weekend | Start | End | Who could play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early access | August 6, 12:00 p.m. PT | August 10, 10:00 a.m. PT | Pre-orders of any edition; Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members |
| Open | August 13, 12:00 p.m. PT | August 17, 10:00 a.m. PT | Everyone on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox PC app and Steam |
The content was the same on both weekends, and progress carried from the first to the second.
What the beta included
The beta was multiplayer only. It offered Horde Siege on one map, Golden Quarter, set in Kalona’s historic district, with the four launch classes. It also offered 4v4 Versus; IGN’s preview describes two modes, Team Deathmatch and Conquest, on two maps, Market and Outpost.
The Coalition called it a subset of launch content. The campaign was not part of it.
Beta rewards and how they were earned
| Reward | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Blast Damage Mags, Epic character skin | Reach Player Level 20 |
| Crush the Bug, Rare weapon skin set | Extract from Horde Siege 8 times on Infantry difficulty or higher |
| Crush the Bug banner | Get 25 headshots |
| Crush the Bug emblem | Perform 10 revives |
| Crush the Bug icon | Perform 5 Prototype Lancer chainsaw executions |
| Open Beta Medal and “First in the Fight” title | Launch the multiplayer beta |
These were only obtainable by playing the beta.
What carried over to the full game
- Carried over: the beta title, the beta medal and any beta challenge rewards you unlocked.
- Reset: class progression in Horde Siege.
- Reset: Player Level.
- Reset: progress on other medals.
What changed because of the beta
The Coalition patched the beta between weekends on August 12, raising the Prototype Lancer’s base damage, improving hit detection in Horde Siege, and moving the required network port from UDP 443 to UDP 3074 to address the drone-snub error.
The launch notes of September 30 list further changes made since August. The ones most players will notice are below.
- Prototype Lancer damage set between its two beta values; Lancer Mk1 and Vulcan damage reduced; Hammerburst damage increased.
- Gnasher hip-fire made more consistent, with more damage when aiming at range.
- Slide distance and Cover Slip speed reduced; strafing made more responsive.
- Invasions and the Commander and Allfather difficulties made harder; equipment and Squad Perks made more expensive.
- An FOV slider added on all platforms, with options to turn off film grain and chromatic aberration.
- Wave respawn time in Versus reduced, and scoring adjusted in Demolition and Crucible.
Missed the beta?
You did not lose access to anything playable. The beta rewards are exclusive, but they are cosmetic. Everything the beta contained is in the launch game, alongside the campaign, two more Horde Siege maps, four more Versus maps and two more Versus modes.
Quick questions
Is there another Gears of War: E-Day beta?
None has been announced. The beta ended on August 17, 2026 and the full game launches on October 6.
Did beta progress carry over?
Only cosmetic rewards, the beta medal and the beta title. Player Level, class levels and other medal progress were reset.
Did the beta require Game Pass?
No. The second weekend was open to all players without Game Pass or a pre-order.
Sources
Where these answers come from
- Official · Official siteGearsofWar.com: Open Beta Details and FAQBeta dates, access rules, reward challenges, what carried over, account linking steps and the beta-era PC known issues.Published 2026-08-03 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Official · Official siteGearsofWar.com: Emergence Begins – TomorrowSeason 1 dates, ranked start date, changes since the beta, features missing at launch and the launch known issues list.Published 2026-09-30 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Official · Official announcementXbox Wire: How Gears of War: E-Day Renews a Legendary FranchiseLaunch date, platform list, Bravo Squad, the Kalona setting, voice actors, new movement and weapons, and the first Horde Siege details.Published 2026-06-07 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Official · Official siteGearsofWar.com: Editions, Pre-Order Bonus and Open Beta AccessThe edition lineup, Premium Edition contents, pre-order bonus items, platform list and how codes are delivered.Published 2026-06-07 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Official · Official siteGearsofWar.com: Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Deep DiveHorde Siege rules, classes, difficulties and objectives, Versus modes and maps, ranked play, progression, Coins and Iron.Published 2026-07-30 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Press or guide · PreviewIGN: Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer First PreviewHands-on description of the default controls: cover on A, sprint on a left-stick click and jump or vault on Y.Published 2026-07-30 · Checked 2026-10-04
- Official · Official announcementXbox Wire: Free Play Days with the Gears of War: E-Day Open BetaDates and times of the open weekend of the multiplayer beta, the modes it contained and the membership rule on console.Published 2026-08-13 · Checked 2026-10-04